This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been canceled over coronavirus concerns. The event was due to take place at Rotterdam’s 16 000 capacity Ahoy Arena, with the final on 16 May.

The Dutch government had previously banned mass gatherings in an attempt to prevent the virus from spreading.

“We, like the millions of you around the world, are extremely saddened that it cannot take place in May. Over the past few weeks we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead”, - reads the statement of the European Broadcasting Union, the organizer of the event.

This year will be the first time the competition has not taken place since it started in 1956.