Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013

Söngvakeppnin 2013 was the national final format developed by RÚV in order to select Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. The three shows in the competition were hosted by Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir and Þórhallur Gunnarsson and all took place in Reykjavík: the two semi-finals were held at the RÚV studios and the final took place at the Harpa.

Twelve songs in total competed in Söngvakeppnin 2013 where the winner was determined after two semi-finals and a final. Six songs competed in each semi-final on 25 and 26 January 2013. The top three songs from each semi-final, as determined by 50/50 public televoting and jury voting qualified to the final which took place on 2 February 2013. A wildcard act was selected by a jury for the final out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from both semi-finals. The winning entry in the final was determined over two rounds of voting: the first to select the top two via 50/50 public televoting and jury voting and the second to determine the winner with 100% televoting. All songs were required to be performed in Icelandic in the competition, but it will be up to the winning composers to decide if their song will be performed in Icelandic or English at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.[3][4]

On 11 September 2012, RÚV opened the submission period for interested songwriters to submit their entries until the deadline on 8 October 2012. Songwriters were required to be Icelandic, possess Icelandic citizenship or have permanent residency in Iceland. However, exceptions would be made for minor collaborations with foreign songwriters as long as two-thirds of the composition and lyrics are by Icelandic composers/lyricists.[5] At the close of the submission deadline, 150 entries were received. A selection committee was formed in order to select the top twelve entries. The twelve competing artists and songs were revealed by the broadcaster on 12 November 2012.[6] Among the competing artists are previous Icelandic Eurovision entrants Birgitta Haukdal, who represented Iceland in 2003, and Yohanna, who represented Iceland in 2009.

The first semi-final took place on 25 January 2013 where six competing acts presented their entries. Votes from a jury panel (50%) and public televoting (50%) determined the top three entries to proceed to the final. "Lífið snýst" performed by Svavar Knútur Kristinsson & Hreindís Ylva Garðarsdóttir Hólm, "Ég á líf" performed by Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson and "Meðal andanna" performed by Birgitta Haukdal were the qualifiers. The jury wildcard was awarded to an entry from the first semi-final: "Ekki líta undan" performed by Magni Ásgeirsson.

The second semi-final took place on 26 January 2013 where six competing acts presented their entries. Votes from a jury panel (50%) and public televoting (50%) determined the top three entries to proceed to the final. "Til þín" performed by Jógvan Hansen & Stefanía Svavarsdóttir, "Vinátta" performed by Haraldur Reynisson and "Ég syng!" performed by Unnur Eggertsdóttir were the qualifiers.

The final took place on 2 February 2013 where the six entries that qualified from the preceding two semi-finals and a jury wildcard selected from the remaining non-qualified entries competed. In the first round of voting, votes from a jury panel (50%) and public televoting (50%) determined the top two entries: "Ég á líf" performed by Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson and "Ég syng!" performed by Unnur Eggertsdóttir. The top two entries advanced to a second round of voting, the superfinal, where the winner, "Ég á líf" performed by Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson, was determined solely by televoting.[7]