Lied van Liedjes 21

This was the twenty-first Lied van Liedjes to be held. Semi-Finals would occur on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April 2002 on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Golden Duels / Second Chance night would occur on Friday, 26th April 2002 with the final happening on Saturday, 27th April 2002.

=Organization= Sarajevo was chosen to host in Bosnia and Herzegovina as it was considered the safest city in the previously and recently war torn nation. Željka Husnjak, a Croatian-Bosnian film producer was brought on board to coordinate the contest. She had a Croatian passport but had lived in Bosnia for the previous 6 years doing television work. Hans Weiss remained on as Executive Producer. Annie McLoad didn't attend the contest due to safety concerns, so her assistant, Poppy Doherty became full director.

=Contest= Despite this being the first contest ever with no debuting nation, the contest was expected to have 55 nations: Andorra, Armenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Moldova, Monaco returning, and zero withdrawing - which was too high above capacity. To solve this, another temporary entrant fee price hike was introduced for a single edition similar to the 19th edition. This would lead to just 3 countries returning:, and. Withdrawing were, , , (who recently only rejoined). They did this because of the hike of price, and not because of who was also absent. and who only just debuted in the 20th edition would withdraw due to low funds. would withdraw in this edition due to the contract. and withdrew out of protest who argued smaller nations were prejudiced. This left 42 nations participating, a more manageable number.

Following on from the previous edition, the 21st edition would maintain 3 semi-finals and the Golden Duels. Five countries, the top 5 from the previous edition, would automatically qualify. This left 37 countries in the Semi Finals. The first Semi Final would be weighted with the extra nation having 13, while the second and third Semi Finals would have 12. 6 would qualify from each Semi Final, alongside 2 going to the Golden Duels. The three qualifying from the Golden Duels, with the 6 from each Semi Final and the 5 automatic qualifiers leaves 26 countries in the Grand Final.

Due to the 's withdrawal, their place as an automatic qualifier will be taken by last edition's 6th place which is. Alongside them, the host and Herzegovina,, , and  will automatically qualify to the final.

=Semi Finals=

Semi Final 3
=Final=

Grand Final
=Other Countries= Withdrawing due to the participation fee change: Didn't return or debut due to the participation fee change: Didn't participate due to general financial issues: Other reasoning:
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee.
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee but unlikely to have taken part without the increased fee.
 * - withdrew to protest the prejudice of smaller nations with the increased participation fee.
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee but unlikely to have taken part without the increased fee.
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee.
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee.
 * - withdrew to protest the prejudice of smaller nations with the increased participation fee.
 * - withdrew due to the increase of the participation fee.
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee. they last took part in the 19th edition
 * - originally supposed to make a return and take part, they withdrew following 's withdrawal and 's return but blamed it on the increase of the participation fee. they last took part in the 18th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee. they last took part in the 19th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee, and likely the large mass of Arabic nations withdrawing. they last took part in the 16th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee. they last took part in the 19th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee, and likely the large mass of Arabic nations withdrawing. they last took part in the 10th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee, and likely the large mass of Arabic nations withdrawing. they have yet to debut.
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee. they last took part in the 19th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee. they last took part in the 19th edition
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee, and likely the large mass of Arabic nations withdrawing. they have yet to debut.
 * - didn't take part due to the increased fee, and likely the large mass of Arabic nations withdrawing. they have yet to debut.
 * - announced they would not take part in the 21st edition due to financial reasons before the increase in participation fee. They last took part in the 18th edition
 * - announced they would not take part in the 21st edition due to financial reasons before the increase in participation fee. They last took part in the 18th edition
 * - under a contract to take part independently every other edition, with this edition being absent and participating as part of.
 * - originally supposed to make a return and take part, they withdrew before the increase in participation fee due to financial reasons. They last took part in the 18th edition
 * - made no official statement. they did not appear on the final list of participants. they last took part in the 7th edition
 * - rumoured to have made an applicable to join, but made no official statement. they did not appear on the final list of participants possibly due to the aim to keep the amount of participating countries low.
 * - rumoured to have made an applicable to join, but made no official statement. they did not appear on the final list of participants possibly due to the aim to keep the amount of participating countries low.