Eurovision 2026 Participation Looks Unlikely – Eurovoix

Following a Board of Directors Meeting at MRT on September 19, it looks increasingly unlikely that North Macedonia will compete in Eurovision 2026.

While President of the MRT Program Council, Davor Pašoski has stated that there is still space for North Macedonia to return to Eurovision, he noted that for participation to occur, MRT’s budget must be approved by the Macedonian Government and expanded if North Macedonia were to return.

Further discussion at the Program Council meeting indicates that no decision has been made on whether to return in 2026, and that there are views that 2027 is a more realistic target. Mr Pašoski, explained that a proper strategy and preparation are required to return in 2027, but that the broadcaster aims to invest in domestic song contests such as Cvetnici and Skopje Fest, arguing that only MRT promotes domestic music.

The board also acknowledged that a large number of fans of the competition had been in contact with MRT requesting that the broadcaster return. Requests came from within North Macedonia, but also abroad, including Australia and Sweden.

It is not known whether MRT submitted paperwork to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 by the deadline, giving them until December to make a final decision on participating in Vienna.

The last time North Macedonia entered the contest was in 2022. Andrea represented the country in Turin with the song “Circles”. She was unable to qualify for that year’s Grand Final, though, finishing 11th in her semi-final with 76 points.

Image source: EBU / Nathan Reinds | Source: MRT

North Macedonia (previously competing as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998. They attempted to participate two years earlier but were knocked out in the pre-qualifying round. North Macedonia’s best result in the contest is a 7th place finish in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, when Tamara Todevska represented the country with the song “Proud”. North Macedonia has not participated in Eurovision since 2022.

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