As we await the official list of countries competing in next year’s competition in Malmö, it has been reported by local media that Montenegro will not be participating in next year’s competiton.
Sitting out Eurovision for another year
In 2022, RTCG announced that Montenegro would be withdrawing and not be participating in 2023, citing costs of participation lack of sponsors, and redirection of expenses. Nearly a year since this announcement, it has been reported by CDM, that the country would continue its non-participation in 2024, with no reason reported as to why the country will not be in Malmö.
This is not the first occasion that Montenegro has not participated in the competition. Since its debut in 2007, the country has participated 12 times, where they made the final on 2 occasions (2014 & 2015). The country did not participate on five occasions (2010, 2011, 2020, 2021 and 2023), and this was mainly citing costs as the reason.
At the time of writing, RTCG is yet to comment on the reports, as well as revealing if they will be participating in next year’s competition or not.
Montenegro’s Eurovision Journey
There has been a Montenegrin presence at the Eurovision Song Contest as far back as 1983, when the nation was a part of Yugoslavia. Montenegrin entries went on to represent Yugoslavia in 1983 and 1984, placing 4th and 18th respectively. Similarly, the nation also sent an entry as part of Serbia and Montenegro in 2005, placing 7th with No Name’s “Zauvijek moja”.
As an independent nation, Montenegro debuted in 2007 with Steven Faddy’s “Ajde, kroci”. This began a string of non-qualifications, until their first appearance in a Grand Final in 2014. Montenegro’s best result came in 2015 with Knez’s “Adio”, scoring 44 points and placing 13th. Their most recent appearance in the Contest was in 2022, when Vladana finished in 17th place in the semi-final with 33 points with her song “Breathe”.
What do you think of the latest developments in Montenegro? Would you like them to return to the contest? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all the latest Eurovision news.
News Source: CDM
Photo Credit: EBU/Andres Putting
