The Icelandic broadcaster, RÚV, has revealed more information about their national selection show Söngvakeppnin 2025. A month ago we informed you about the artists reveal date and today we are bringing you news regarding the format of the show and the rules change which is being introduced.

Söngvakeppnin is sticking to its traditional format, the contest will be featuring the two semi-final evenings which are set for 8th and 15th of February and the decision about the winner and their representative at Eurovision 2025 will be made through a grand final show which is set to take place on 22nd of February. Tickets for all shows will go on sale on 21st of January. The hosts will be: Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir, Benedikt Valsson and Fannar Sveinsson. The venue will be RVK Studios in Gufunes. Representative of Iceland at Eurovision 1999 and 2005, Selma Björnsdóttir will be the artistic director of Söngvakeppnin 2025 together with Thomas Benstem.

A total of 110 submissions were sent to RÚV for Söngvakeppnin 2025, like previous years 10 will be selected to advance to the next stage of the show. The artists will be revealed on 17th of January 2025, as part of the program Lögin í Söngvakeppninni 2025 hosted by Árni Beinteinn Árnason. Unlike the previous years when the show featured a 5 act grand finale this year the broadcaster is scratching the wild card as the best three out of five semi-final acts will advance and we will be watching the 6 acts grand finale. Like in the previous editions of the show all songs will be performed in Icelandic in the semi-final while in the final the artists could perform the English language version of the song if that is the version which they would like to perform on the ESC 2025 stage.

Another novelty is that for the first time since 2013 the decision of the winner won’t be made after the superfinal round. The decision will be made by the public and international votes (50:50). Seven international juries will be casting their votes. Head of Icelandic delegation, Rúnar Freyr, revealed that they are very excited to adopt the Swedish way and it is expected that method will bring even more exciting competition.

Iceland finished last at Eurovision Song Contest 2024 as the returnee Hera Björk scored only 3 points in the first semi-final performing “Scared of Heights”.