Despite not having participated at Eurovision since 2012, Slovakian broadcaster STVR has signalled it may be willing to participate in the future. This comes after STVR was spotted in the press centre during the Contest in Vienna.
Slovakia looking to return in 2026
Speaking to local newspaper Dennik N, the Director-General of broadcaster STVR’s radio department, Jindřich Bardon, that STVR was investigating a return to the competition in 2026. However, this did not materialise due to the sheer cost of participation. He explained:
The plan was to return for this edition, but in the end, the management realized it was too costly. Paying for licensing, production, and logistics costs apparently isn’t worth the overall impact on the Slovaks.
Until the late 1980s, Eurovision had a slightly different name than we do. In the 1990s, after the change of regime, the perception of this contest began to cool.
Right now, for us, in a phase of consolidation, it’s not at all easy. But we’ll return, sooner or later, to the world’s largest music competition.
Bardon also pointed out that in the last few years of Slovakia’s participation, the Contest had pulled in low ratings, which only hardened the broadcaster’s stance of staying out of the competition. However, in recent years, Slovakians have graced the Eurovision stage – most notably, ADONXS, who represented Czechia in Basel last year.
Slovakia’s Eurovision journey
Slovakia last participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. Their best result came in 1996 with Marcel Palonder’s “Kym nas mas”.
After taking an extended break from the contest in the 2000s, Slovakia returned in 2009 to less success, failing to qualify for the final for four consecutive years before withdrawing again. Their final entry in 2012 was Max Jason Mai’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”, which finished last in its semi-final.
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News Source: Dennik N
Photo Credit: ARD / NDR
Samantha