ČT – the national broadcaster in Czechia – has announced it will be participating at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. It comes following their failure to qualify for the final in Basel.
Internal selection once again for Czechia
In a post uploaded to its Eurovision-related Instagram account, ČT announced it would be taking part at Eurovision 2026. However, it would be continuing to select its act internally, meaning its usual national selection – ESCZ – would not be used.
Interested artist are now able to submit their entries to be evaluated using a SurveyMonkey form. Artists will have until October 19th to submit their song. After this, a panel of music experts – together with input from the public – will be used to determine who will represent Czechia in Vienna.
Czechia’s Eurovision journey
Czechia made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, with Kabát’s “Malá dama”; however, their debut entry finished last in a 28-song semi-final, scoring only 1 point. This kicked off three consecutive non-qualifications, with their best result coming in 2008, finishing in second-last place. Having withdrawn in 2009 due to poor results, Czechia returned to the Contest in 2015. In 2016, Czechia qualified for the first time with Gabriela Gunciková’s “I Stand”.
Czechia reverted to an internal selection for 2025, selecting ADONXS with “Kiss Kiss Goodbye”. The song scored 29 points in the second semifinal, placing twelfth and missing out on the Grand Final for the second consecutive year.
Are you happy that Czechia is back at Eurovision for another year? Who would you like to see represent the nation? 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, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News Source: ČT
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtsson / EBU
Euan T