3 withdrawals in one day: what’s happening!?

Two more countries announced that they would not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest: North Macedonia and Bulgaria. The news came after the Eurovision community woke up this morning with the withdrawal of Montenegro.

North Macedonia

North Macedonia issued a statement this afternoon: “Such a decision is in the best interest of the citizens, taking into account the increased costs due to the energy crisis, which occupy a large part of the budget of the Public Service, as well as the increased registration fee for the participation in Eurovision 2023. This decision will enable the saving of funds that would have been set aside for the Macedonian delegation’s stay in Liverpool, where Eurovision 2023 is being held.”

The North Macedonian broadcaster MRT has announced that they will broadcast the festival. North Macedonia has not been very successful in the past two years. They did not make the final. There was a riot around a flag in both 2021 and 2022. However, in 2019 North Macedonia still won the jury vote. “Proud”, the entry sung by Tamara Todevska, was the country’s most successful ever.

Bulgaria

The Bulgarian withdrawal was different. In a personal message from the Instagram account @bg_eurovision to OGAE Greece, it was announced that Bulgaria was no longer interested in the Eurovision Song Contest. BG Eurovision announces that no Bulgarian entry should be expected in the coming years.

Bulgaria has been very successful in the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years. The country was almost the winner in 2017 with Kristian Kostov and his “Beautiful mess”.

Conclusion?

Twice (Montenegro and North Macedonia) it is a financial reason that is indicated. It is not clear what is really behind the Bulgarian withdrawal. We can only guess.

Both Montenegro (2021) and Bulgaria (2019) have recently skipped a year. Immediately after the most recent Eurovision song contest, North Macedonia already expressed its doubts about participation.

Picture of Martijn

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news
Eurovision 2026

🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 13 7 20 15 l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 33 9 42 10 l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 27 11 38 13 l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 41 15 56 7 l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 32 11 43 8 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 22 18 40 12 l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 3 9 12 16 l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 20 36 56 6 l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 21 11 32 14 l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 5 35 40 11 l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 20 22 42 9 l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 22 39 61 5 l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 77 96 173 1 l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 44 27 71 4 l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 46 47 93 3 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 38 70 108 2 l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

Read More »
February 15, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

🇭🇷 National: Lelek wins Dora 2026

Croatia has chosen their representatives! The annual edition of Dora has taken place, and Lelek have crowned themselves the winner! The group won over both the jury and televote. The girls will represent croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. photo: HRT/ Dario Njavro date: 15 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ananda Dora 13 7 20 15 l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         2 Sergej Scream 33 9 42 10 l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         3 Noelle Uninterrupted 27 11 38 13 l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         4 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame 41 15 56 7 l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         5 Irma Ni traga 32 11 43 8 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         6 Lara Demarin Mantra 22 18 40 12 l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica         7 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas 3 9 12 16 l & m: Lara Pilepić         8 Lima Len Raketa 20 36 56 6 l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         9 Lana Mandarić Tama 21 11 32 14 l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         10 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare 5 35 40 11 l & m: Moris Orbanić         11 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo 20 22 42 9 l & m: Marko Kutlić         12 Devin Over Me 22 39 61 5 l & m: Devin Juraj         13 Lelek Andromeda 77 96 173 1 l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić         14 ToMa Ledina 44 27 71 4 l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         15 Stela Rade Nema te 46 47 93 3 l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         16 Cold Snap Mucho Macho 38 70 108 2 l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak           1st semifinal date: 12 februaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Lima Len Raketa advanced       l & m: Alen Kozić & Damir Božanić         2 Jasmina Makota Higher eliminated       l: Jasmina Makota  m: Jasmina Makota & Marin Hraščanec         3 Ananda Dora advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen m: Ananda Đuranović, Diogo Guerra, Dora Pejačević, Tchiah Ommar Abdulrahman & Ynke Dingenen         4 Tony Sky O Ne! eliminated       l & m: Toni Volar         5 Fran Uccellini Ako bolje bude sutra eliminated       l & m: Fran Uccellini         6 Ema Bubić Vrijeme za nas advanced       l & m: Lara Pilepić         7 Noelle Uninterrupted advanced       l: Bonnie Max, Ivana ‘Noelle’ Crnković, Larissa Tormey & Rebecca Lane m: Bonnie Max, Filipe Nicolau, Larissa Tormey, Rebecca Lane         8 Alen Đuras From Ashes To Flame advanced       l & m: Alen Đuras & Siniša Reljić         9 Fenksta Momento Mori eliminated       l: Abby Dank, Emma Louise Gale & Saša ‘Fenksta” Stević  m: Abby Dank & Saša ‘Fenksta’ Stević         10 Cold Snap Mucho Macho advanced       l: Jan Kerekeš  m: Jan Kerekeš & Josip Novak         11 ToMa Ledina advanced       l: Tomislav Marić  m: Jan Jakovljev & Tomislav Marić         12 Lelek Andromeda advanced       l: Tomislav Roso m: Filip Lacković, Lazar Pajić & Zorja Pajić           2nd semifinal date: 13 FebruaryPlace: HRT Studios, Prisavlje, ZagrebHosts: Barbara Kolar, Duško Čurlić, Ivan Vukušić & Iva Šulentić 1 Ritam Noir Profumi Di Mare advanced       l & m: Moris Orbanić         2 Irma Ni traga advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         3 Gabrijel Ivić Light Up eliminated       l & m: Gabrijel Ivić & Jun Ishida         4 Zevin My Mind eliminated       l & m: Jernej Drnovšek, Nives Cilenšek         5 Ivan Sever Crying Eyes eliminated       l & m: Aidan O’Connor, Ivan Sever & John Doherty         6 Lana Mandarić Tama advanced       l: Zorana Mandarić  m: Zorana Mandarić & Lana Mandarić         7 Stela Rade Nema te advanced       l & m: Anja Grabovac & Jan Jakovljev         8 Devin Over Me advanced       l & m: Devin Juraj         9 Kandžija 3 ujutro eliminated       l & m: Stjepko ‘Kandžija’ Galović         10 Marko Kutlić Neotuđivo advanced       l & m: Marko Kutlić         11 Sergej Scream advanced       l: Laura Sučec, Matej Magdić & Sergej Božić m: Laura Sučec         12 Lara Demarin Mantra advanced       l: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin & Luka Demarin  m: Ananda Đuranović, Lara Demarin, Robert Aralica          

Read More »
February 15, 2026 No Comments
© 2019 – 2026 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: