Upcoming 66th Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is set to be the 66th edition of the European song contest, Eurovision Song Contest. The contest will took place in Italy, afterwards the nation's victory at the 2021 contest, Måneskin performing "Zitti e buoni". With that, the country, Italy hosts the contest, after hosting 1965 and 1991 contests, held in Naples and Rome, as well as the first Eurovision event to be held in the country since the last edition of Jeux Sans Frontières in 1999. The contest is due to be organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radiotelevisione italiana (RAI).
Location
Italy hosted unanimously for the Eurovision Song Contest after the country won the previous edition.
Preparations and sets
Hastily, after Italy won the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the preparations of the next contest begins in May 23, 2021. Martin Österdahl, will be the executive supervisor of the contest on European Broadcasting Union (EBU), for the second time. It will be broadcasted by Italian participating broadcaster, RAI. On the other hand, there are a documents, USB drive, tools to begin the work needed to host the 2022 contest in Italy.[1]
Bidding phase
Location of shortlisted cities (in green), other bidding cities (in red) and cities that expressed interest but ultimately did not bid (in grey)
Between 23 and 28 May 2021, many cities across Italy expressed interest in hosting the contest. Representatives from the cities of Bologna, Milan, Pesaro, Naples and Turin voiced their interest,[2][3][4] as well as the Mayor of Reggio Emilia, Luca Vecchi, who hoped to host the contest in the new RCF Arena, the largest open-air arena in Europe with a capacity of 100,000 spectators.[5] The mayors of Rome, Rimini and Florence soon after also expressed interest in hosting the contest[6][7][8] and were joined by Sanremo, Verona and Bari.[8][9][10] Marco Di Maio [it], member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, also suggested that if Rimini were to host the contest, it should be a coproduction with San Marino RTV.[11]
On 7 July 2021, Italian host broadcaster RAI and the EBU launched the bidding process and published a list of criteria and requirements for the host city and venue:[12][13]
- The venue must be available for at least 6 weeks before the contest and one week after the conclusion of the contest;
- The venue must be indoors with air-conditioning, have a well defined perimeter and an audience capacity in the main hall of around 8,000 – 10,000 during the event;
- The venue must have a main hall with the capacity to house the set and all other requirements needed to produce a high level broadcast production and have ample space within easy access of the main hall to support additional production needs, such as: a press centre, delegation spaces, dressing rooms, artist facilities, staff facilities, hospitality, audience facilities, etc.;
- The host city must have an international airport no more than 90 minutes from the city;
- The host city must have over 2,000 hotel rooms in the area close to the event.
In the first phase of this process, any interested cities were to present their bid through certified email by 12 July 2021, after which RAI and the EBU would proceed to send all of them a bid book with more detailed requirements for the cities to submit their plans for review.[14]
On 9 July 2021, the city of Turin officially announced its bid.[15] On the same day, the city of Pesaro did the same, proposing the Vitrifrigo Arena as possible venue to host the event.[16] They were followed by Bologna and Jesolo on 12 July,[17][18] and Rimini and Bertinoro (jointly with Forlì and Cesena) on 13 July.[19][20] On 13 July 2021, RAI announced that 17 cities had submitted their bid for hosting the contest and would be provided the following day with the bid books. They had until 4 August 2021 to draft and submit their detailed plans, which 11 cities did. The choice among them will be made by the end of August.[21][22][23]
Key:
Shortlisted
Provisional list of participating countries
As of August 2021,[update] the nation delegations will be potentially confirmed the next contest:
Other countries
Eligibility for potential participation in the Eurovision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active EBU membership that would be able to broadcast the contest via the Eurovision network. The EBU has issued invitations of participation in the contest to all active members. Associate member Australia does not need an invitation for the 2022 contest, as it had previously been granted permission to participate at least until 2023.[79]
Active EBU members
Andorra – On 1 August 2020, during an interview on Eurovision fansite Wiwibloggs' podcast, the 2009 Andorran representative Susanne Georgi revealed that she had held a meeting with Prime Minister of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora, during which they called for the country to make a return in 2022, having not returned for the previous year's contest due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic.[80] However, on 19 June 2021, the Andorran broadcaster RTVA stated that the principality would not return in 2022.[81] Andorra last took part in 2009.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – In June 2021, Bosnian broadcaster Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) stated that it was unlikely that the country would return to the contest in the upcoming years, unless sufficient funding to do so is secured.[82] Bosnia and Herzegovina last took part in 2016.
Croatia – In March 2021, it was confirmed that the Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) and the city of Opatija signed a three-year long contract regarding the organization of HRT Music Days and Dora, which is used as the Croatian national selection, meaning both of these events will be held in the city annually until 2024. The broadcaster is yet to formally confirm their participation in the upcoming contest.[83]
Luxembourg – On 18 August 2021, RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg confirmed that Luxembourg would not participate in 2022.[84] Luxembourg last participated in 1993.
Slovakia – In June 2021, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) confirmed that they would not participate in 2022.[85] Slovakia last took part in 2012.
Turkey – In June 2021, it was confirmed by both the EBU and Ibrahim Eren, the Director-General of Turkish national broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), that they were in talks about the country potentially returning to the contest in 2022. Turkey last took part in 2012.[86]
Non-EBU members
Belarus – On 28 May 2021, the EBU Executive Board agreed to suspend the membership of Belarusian broadcaster BTRC. The broadcaster was given two weeks to respond before the suspension came into effect, but did not do so publicly.[87] BTRC was expelled from the EBU on 1 July, therefore losing the rights to broadcast and participate in the Eurovision Song Contest; the broadcaster subsequently released a statement affirming that they would not be supporting Belarus' participation in upcoming years, including 2022.[88][89] Belarus last took part in 2019, though they had intended to take part in 2020 and 2021.
Liechtenstein – In August 2021, Liechtensteiner broadcaster 1 FL TV announced that they would not debut in 2022. The broadcaster had attempted to become an EBU member in the past but halted its plans when its director, Peter Kölbel, unexpectedly died. It would also need the backing of the Liechtenstein government to be able to carry the cost of becoming an EBU member and paying the participation fee for the contest.[90]
