If you love campy over-the-top pop numbers, then we have some bad news: This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been canceled.
This marks the first time the televised contest will not be held since its inception in 1956.
“Over the past few weeks we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead,” the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the event, announced Wednesday. “It is impossible to continue with the live event as planned.”
“We are all heartbroken that the Eurovision Song Contest will not be able to be staged in May but feel confident that the whole Eurovision family, across the world, will continue to provide love and support for each other at this difficult time,” the statement continued.
It is still being decided whether this year’s selected artists—like Swedish favorites The Mamas—will be allowed to perform their submitted songs in 2021.
The EBU said “it is currently too early to discuss any specifics regarding the event next year.”
The Eurovision final was set to be held on May 16 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The country is currently on lockdown in an effort to stop the coronavirus from spreading.
Eurovision, which ABBA famously won in 1974, is always a queer spectacle. Trans Israeli singer Dana International took home top honors in 1998, and Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014. Last year’s event included cyber-bullied gay French competitor Bilal Hassani and queer BDSM techno band Hatari from Iceland; bisexual Dutch singer Duncan Laurence took top honors.