RUV, the Icelandic national broadcaster, has announced that it has received a total 157 songs for Söngvakeppnin 2020, hence twenty five more songs have been submitted in comparison to last year.

Now a seven member committee will be shortlist the hundred and fifty seven submitted entries to ten. The selection committee includes representatives from RÚV, the Association of Icelandic Musicians and the Association of Composers and Writers.

A total of 10 songs will be competing at the 2020 Icelandic national selection Songvakeppnin 2020.The names of the 10 lucky candidates, song titles and composers are set to be officially unveiled in January.

Songvakepnnin 2020 will consist of three live televised shows ( 2 Semi-finals and the Grand Final) scheduled to be be held on 8, 15 and 29 February.

Iceland will determine its Eurovision 2020 entry for Rotterdam on Saturday 29 February.

Björg Magnúsdóttir ( Member of the Songvakeppning 2020 Executive Committee) says:

This is about a 20 percent increase in submitted entries compared to last year. It is easy to believe that Hatari‘s participation and the high viewing rates have contributed to the rise in interest amid composers to enter the competition.

Source: RUV

Iceland in Eurovision

Iceland joined the Eurovision family back in 1986 and is yet to win the event. The country achieved its best results in the competition in 1999 (Selma) and 2009 ( Yohanna) when it placed 2nd in the Grand Final.

The Nordic nation has partaken in Europe’s favorite television show 32 times. 2020 will see Icelandic’s 33rd Eurovision participation.

In 2019 Iceland selected Hatari to represent the nation at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with in Tel Aviv. Iceland sailed to the Grand Final with Hatari for the first time in five years, after staying out of the Grand Final for four consecutive years.

The Icelandic band placed 10th in the Grand Final in Israel with their entry Hatrið mun sigra.