Romania celebrates return to ESC 2026: music scene is revitalized!

Romania celebrates return to ESC 2026: music scene is revitalized!

Romania is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) with renewed vigor and will take part in the 70th edition of the popular competition in Vienna next year. This return comes after a two-year hiatus in which the country did not take part in the competition. The announcement was made by Dan-Cristian Turturică, President and General Director of Televiziunea Română (TVR), on the channel's website. He emphasized the need for self-reflection during the break and the importance of improving the selection process and strengthening cooperation with the local music scene.

Romania's participation in the ESC was approved by the Board of Directors of the Romanian Television Company (SRTv). This is intended not only to promote the tradition of presenting Romanian music internationally, but also to enable a more transparent and competitive selection process. Romania's last appearance in 2023 unfortunately ended without points when Theodor Andrei was unable to convince with his contribution.

A look back: Romania's ESC history

Since its debut in 1994, Romania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest a total of 23 times. In the past, the country has achieved impressive success, finishing in the top ten on six occasions. The best results were achieved in 2005 with “Let Me Try” by Luminița Anghel and Sistem and in 2010 with “Playing with Fire” by Paula Seling and Ovi, both of which took third place. These successes are part of a long tradition in which Romania has been an integral part of the competition.

What is particularly noteworthy is that Romania finished among the top 20 participants every year from 2004 to 2015. Despite these successes, there were also setbacks. In the last five participations, Romania had to experience failure to advance to the semi-finals four times. 2023 was particularly bitter as the country had to end up with no points.

The future: A new chapter in the ESC

By deciding to return in 2026, Romania shows that it is ready to get going again. The Selecția Națională, the national preliminary competition, will continue to play an important role. This has been carried out annually since 1993 and has used various voting procedures to help find the right song for the ESC. From televoting to jury voting, everything is included to ensure the best talent and contributions are selected.

The country's return to competition could also be a positive development for the Romanian music scene. Turturică said that the analysis of previous processes in cooperation with the music industry should help Romania to flourish internationally again in the future.

The exciting developments surrounding Romania's return to the ESC show that the country has learned lessons from the past and is now looking to the future with a clear focus. In Vienna 2026, Romania will certainly shine a spotlight on its talented music scene. So all that remains is to say: Here’s to a new year, Romania!

For more information about Romania's return to the ESC and the country's historic successes, read reports from here ESC Compact and Wikipedia.