RUV, the Icelandic national broadcaster, has just released the rules for Songvakeppnin, their national selection for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Next year’s Contest will also mark 30 years of Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Songwriters wishing to submit their songs for Songvakeppnin must have an Icelandic citizenship, or a permanent residence in Iceland between the 1st of September 2015 and the 15th of May 2016. Also, Icelandic songwriters are allowed to co-write the songs and lyrics with non-Icelandic songwriters in such way that two thirds of the song and one half of the lyrics must be made by Icelandic composers and lyricists. All the songs must be uploaded on RUV’s website here (click).

Songvakeppnin 2016 will consist of two semi finals, on the 6th and the 13th of February, with six songs taking part in each semi, where the top three in each semi will qualify for the Grand Final, with will be held on the 20th of February. All songs in the two semi finals must be performed in Icelandic, and Icelandic lyrics must be attached when submitting the song. In the Grand Final, all six songs must be performed in the language that the artist(s) intend to perform the song in Eurovision, should he/she/they win.

Maria Olafs represented Iceland in Eurovision in Vienna earlier this year with her song “Unbroken”, which unfortunately failed to qualify to the Eurovision final.