The final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 will take place on March 2nd.
Icelandic broadcaster RÚV has shed more light on the 2024 edition of Söngvakeppnin, and have revealed information regarding the dates and format of the show, the names of the artistic directors, and the venue.
The final of Söngvakeppnin 2024 is expected to take place on March 2nd, with two semi finals on February 17th and 24th respectively. Five songs will be competing in each semi final, with two songs from each advancing to the final, making it a four-song final.
The last two editions of Söngvakeppnin have taken place in a film studio in Gufunesi, Reykjavík, but this year will see two different venues hosting the show. The two semi finals will be taking place at TrueNorth film studio in Fossaleyni, Reykjavík, whilst the final will take place Laugardalshöll, a multi-purpose sports and exhibition venue in Reykjavík.
Rúnar Freyr Gíslason, Söngvakeppnin manager, is very happy with the two venue choices for next years edition: “With this tournament, we can welcome half as many spectators as in Gufunes, both during the so-called family event on March 1 and then on the final night on March 2. The group is very happy to go back to the Hall, where the results took place in 2016-2020 with good results.”
Selma Björnsdóttir returns!
"This is part of increasing the emphasis on the creative aspect of the competition. We are thrilled to have these powerful artists join us."
The names of the artistic directors for Söngvakeppnin 2024 have also been revealed, and there is a very familiar face in the line-up! Högni Egilsson, Selma Björnsdóttir, Samúel Bjarki Pétursson and Gunnar Páll Ólafsson will be the four artistic directors for next years show. But who are they?
Högni Egilsson is a composer and singer, and has been a pioneer in the Icelandic music scene since his band Hjaltalín attracted attention in 2007. He has since worked with the band GusGus, performed all over the world and has worked on music for film and television.
Selma Björnsdóttir is a very well known Icelandic singer, actor and director, most known outside of Iceland for her Eurovision participations in 1999 and 2005. Aside from her singing career, Selma has directed large shows, plays and musicals all over the world.
Samúel Bjarki Pétursson and Gunnar Páll Ólafsson are both directors, and are the other half of the ownership group of production company Skot Productions efh. they have produced and directed numerous projects in Iceland and abroad for over 20 years, some of which include award-winning commercials, television shows and music videos.
The Iceland broadcaster has received a total of 118 submissions for Söngvakeppnin 2024. The final ten partcipants will be decided by the producers of the show. On January 27th, the show Lögin í Söngvakeppnninn will be broadcast, where the artists and their songs will be revealed. The presenters will be Ragnhildur Steinunn Jónsdóttir, Sigurður Þorri Gunnarsson and Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson.
Iceland was most recently represented by Diljá, who performed “Power” in semi final 2 of Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool, finishing in 11th place with 44 points.
Are you excited for Söngvakeppnin 2024? Which Icelandic artists are you hoping to see in the competition? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
