NPR

Eurovision Song Contest To 'Shine A Light' With Pandemic Special

Instead of leaving super fans without glitter, glam and hard-rock hallelujah, the annual event now in it's 64th year, will air a live two-hour special available for viewing in more than 40 countries.
Dutch singer and television host Jan Smit dances on stage as presenters prepare for Saturday's Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light special.

Each year, the Eurovision Song Contest unites 180 million viewers in more than 40 countries for an electric-falsetto night of glitter, glam and hard-rock hallelujah.

This year, the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the contest for the first time in its 64-year history. But instead of leaving so many super fans (ABBA), the song contest has instead decided to air a live two-hour special, , Saturday on public broadcasting channels in more than 40 countries. (The U.S. is not one of them, so anyone living in that country will have to watch on Eurovision's , where the show will be live-streamed.)

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