Iceland: Hera Björk, Bashar Murad, and Sigga Ózk to the Söngvakeppnin 2024 Final
Hera Björk, Bashar Murad, and Sigga Ózk advanced to the Final from tonight's Semi and still have the chance to represent Iceland at Eurovision 2024
Tonight, the second Semi-final of the Icelandic national selection Söngvakeppnin took place. Hera Björk with "Við förum hærra" and Bashar Murad with "Vestrið villt" got the most votes from the public and will be competing in the Final in March.
Söngvakeppnin 2024 – Semi-final 2
After the second Semi-final tonight, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV had the opportunity to select a wildcard participant who would also move on to the Final.
With this, the broadcaster selected Sigga Ózk with her song "Um allan alheiminn" to advance as well.
Söngvakeppnin 2024
Once again, the Icelandic national contest Söngvakeppnin is made up of two semi-finals and a final. The two Semi-finals took place in the Truenorth Studios in Reykjavik. Next week's Final will be held in Reykjavik's Laugardalshöll. All shows are hosted by Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson, and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.
17 February: Semi-final 124 February: Semi-final 2- 2 March: Final
10 artists are competing to be the representative for Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. Five acts will perform in each of the two Semis, with two advancing to the Final. After the second Semi-final, the broadcaster has the option of adding a wildcard fifth finalist. The voting is decided by 100% televote.
Icelanders against Eurovision 2024 participation
About half of the citizens of Iceland are against Iceland's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, according to a fresh poll from Gallup, published by Icelandic RÚV.
And it's all about Israel and the Israel-Hamas war.
If Israel doesn't compete in Eurovision 2024, it wouldn't be an issue. Half of the respondents are against Iceland's participation in Eurovision 2024, while three out of 10 are in favor of it. About a fifth haven't taken a stand.
About 80% of those who said they were against Iceland's participation in Eurovision reported that they would agree to participate if Israel is banned from participating.
Due to the Israel-Hamas war, the Icelandic broadcaster has opened up the idea of withdrawing from the contest. The decision will be made jointly by the broadcaster and the winner of Söngvakeppnin 2024.
In other words: It isn't certain that we'll see Iceland on the Eurovision stage in May.
Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Iceland's debut in the Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and they've participated 35 times since.
Their best results are two second-place finishes with Yohanna in 2009, and Selma in 1999.
Since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004, Iceland has qualified for the Grand Final 11 out of 19 times.
Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
