Drama sessions kicked off the four-week competition on Monday with strict COVID guidelines a big talking point.

Eisteddfod president Meaghan Cooper said the recent lockdown in Orange, Cabonne and Blayney had originally put a hold on plans for the event to go ahead in 2021.

"The last ten days has been intense for our organising committee as we have had to pivot to implement a number of changes so the competition can go ahead in a modified form," she said.

"We have also had to make the decision based on NSW Health advice to cancel all school groups including our Band Day which is always popular. Of course we are disappointed for school students and their teachers, but it is the correct decision at this stage of the pandemic."

Senior dance group sections which involved hundreds of competitors requiring to compete in an environment where the square metre rule could not be met, have also been cancelled.

Mrs Cooper said originally the drama sections of the Eisteddfod were scheduled to run last week.

"But fortunately the Orange Civic Theatre were able to offer this week for the competition to go ahead and a replacement adjudicator was found," she said.

All competitors who had entered who reside in the Greater Sydney area and other hotspots throughout the state have been personally emailed advising they are unable to travel to Orange to compete.

"Last year we ran a COVID safe competition with solo performers only and we were pleased we were able to do so with the valuable assistance of Orange City Council and our fantastic volunteers," Mrs Cooper added.

She said although the organizing committee did not expect to find itself in the situation of cancelling group sections in 2021, she was confident the community understood the reasons for the decision based on the best interests of the city during the COVID pandemic.

The dance sections of this year's competition begin on Saturday at Orange Civic Theatre, followed by the music sections to be held at Orange Regional Conservatorium.

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