How many countries will participate in Eurovision 2026?

[mattyindi]

If we get below 33 or so, options could be the big 5 competing in the semi finals, fewer qualifiers e.g. 8 qualify out of 13 countries, or as suggested, reverting back to the one semi final system used from 2004-2007. Or perhaps 8 qualifiers per semi, with wildcards filling the remaining slots after semi final 2, giving hope to the songs in Semi Final 1 that miss out they could still get a wildcard.

I think if we get less then 33 countries we could just make one big grand finale instead of having semi finals

 

[Harry]

Look, I understand your objections,
but I would go it even further:
Make them (Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Chile and South Africa) permanent finalists.
So, the Grand Final, would have Big 5, the host country, + 5 countries from ROTW.

We are talking about countries that do have an interest on Eurovision, and also we are talking about 170 million people.

Intervision is a thing again now…

Not to get all “NIMBY” on this, but I love being European and it showcases the very best of European culture - whether that be for the talent or for the entertainment. It’s the one week a year where we can all unite in front of our TV screens as one European people with a shared love and joy of our homegrown talent.

I welcome Australia to remain as a one-off; however Eurovision for the most part should remain European. Naturally some non-European countries (geographically) are legible to enter and some even do - but to increase that number would take away the premise of the contest.

 

[mattyindi]

What if eurovision could have a random guest that lasts every ten eurovisions like Australia being the guest from the 60th-69th eurovision and possibly Chile being the special guest from the 70th-79th eurovision

Intervision is a thing again now…

Not to get all “NIMBY” on this, but I love being European and it showcases the very best of European culture - whether that be for the talent or for the entertainment. It’s the one week a year where we can all unite in front of our TV screens as one European people with a shared love and joy of our homegrown talent.

I welcome Australia to remain as a one-off; however Eurovision for the most part should remain European.

 

[Harry]

What if eurovision could have a random guest that lasts every ten eurovisions like Australia being the guest from the 60th-69th eurovision and possibly Chile being the special guest from the 70th-79th eurovision

With all due respect, nobody has ever asked for that or would want that in Europe. Australia joining raised some eyebrows and I think their status in the contest may be in question soon with the frequent poor televote results.

I don’t think there’s a desire within the EBU to invite other countries who aren’t legible even as a one off because Australia raised eyebrows as the appetite wasn’t there to begin with.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

With all due respect, nobody has ever asked for that or would want that in Europe. Australia joining raised some eyebrows and I think their status in the contest may be in question soon with the frequent poor televote results.

I don’t think there’s a desire within the EBU to invite other countries who aren’t legible even as a one off because Australia raised eyebrows as the appetite wasn’t there to begin with.

I suspected interest in the contest in Australia isn't as high as we were led to believe when they joined in 2015. Talking to a (admittedly small) sample of Aussies since then, I still believe this to be true.

I'm not a great fan of Australia's inclusion as they're not in Europe or even near it. The only Aussie song I liked was Voyager in 2023. But it's just 1 country so I don't care too much. If EBU starts adding new 'guests' outside Europe though (like Canada, Brazil etc), I will be annoyed though. It's a European contest and it especially feels wrong when there are countries actually in Europe who struggle to afford participation.

 

[Harry]

I suspected interest in the contest in Australia isn't as high as we were led to believe when they joined in 2015. Talking to a (admittedly small) sample of Aussies since then, I still believe this to be true.

I'm not a great fan of Australia's inclusion as they're not in Europe or even near it. The only Aussie song I liked was Voyager in 2023. But it's just 1 country so I don't care too much. If EBU starts adding new 'guests' outside Europe though (like Canada, Brazil etc), I will be annoyed though. It's a European contest and it especially feels wrong when there are countries actually in Europe who struggle to afford participation.

I definitely think there’s more appetite there than in most countries however as you say, it’s not exactly drawing in the viewing figures that you’d expect from a participating country. 1.66% of the Australian population watched the contest (both live and on replay) and I’d imagine the viewership share could be under 1% from that stat…

Most countries that participate boast 50% plus of viewership on the night. The contrast is substantial.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

I definitely think there’s more appetite there than in most countries however as you say, it’s not exactly drawing in the viewing figures that you’d expect from a participating country. 1.66% of the Australian population watched the contest (both live and on replay) and I’d imagine the viewership share could be under 1% from that stat…

Most countries that participate boast 50% plus of viewership on the night. The contrast is substantial.

Australia's results haven't been very good either in recent years (bar Voyager in 2023). If they won or even had a run of a few really good results, maybe interest would increase in Australia.

 

[Harry]

Australia's results haven't been very good either in recent years (bar Voyager in 2023). If they won or even had a run of a few really good results, maybe interest would increase in Australia.

They peaked in 2016 and it’s been very and up and down since. I think budgets is an issue as well, SBS isn’t the biggest broadcaster and is the equivalent of Channel 5 in the UK I believe. Maybe if a Seven or Nine (the two biggest Australian broadcasters) took it over, there’d be a big enough budget for the return of Australia Decides to really drum up interest in the pre-season.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

They peaked in 2016 and it’s been very and up and down since. I think budgets is an issue as well, SBS isn’t the biggest broadcaster and is the equivalent of Channel 5 in the UK I believe. Maybe if a Seven or Nine (the two biggest Australian broadcasters) took it over, there’d be a big enough budget for the return of Australia Decides to really drum up interest in the pre-season.

Yes I remember Voyager had to get sponsorship from the Western Australian tourist board, and I saw a comment here recently that Sheldon Riley is still in debt from his participation. I don't know if Electric Fields or Go Jo had to get sponsorship or invest money themselves.

 

[GRE]

At the moment we have 17 confirmed countries.
Andorra & Bosnia Herzegovina will not attend the 70th anniversary edition.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

I think the threats by some broadcasters to pull out were hollow. I don't think any current participant will exit because of it. It might be a slight discouragement to 'lapsed' countries returning but tbh I don't think many of them would return anyway given current state of ESC

 

[rasmuslights]

I think the threats by some broadcasters to pull out were hollow. I don't think any current participant will exit because of it. It might be a slight discouragement to 'lapsed' countries returning but tbh I don't think many of them would return anyway given current state of ESC

I think most were hollow. But for us, I'm truly not sure if we are going to participate.

 

[GRE]

According to this article, another microstate is willing to participate, but I think it's too early.

“We would love to enter Eurovision”: The “microstate” that dreams of making its debut at the contest - Eurovision News | Music | Fun

Of all the plans Daniel Jackson has for the Free Republic of Verdis, perhaps the most surprising is his desire to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. The 20-year-old “president,” who founded Verdis when he was just 14, says that competing in the contest would be “a dream for our citizens”...

eurovisionfun.com

 

[Harry]

According to this article, another microstate is willing to participate, but I think it's too early.

“We would love to enter Eurovision”: The “microstate” that dreams of making its debut at the contest - Eurovision News | Music | Fun

Of all the plans Daniel Jackson has for the Free Republic of Verdis, perhaps the most surprising is his desire to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest. The 20-year-old “president,” who founded Verdis when he was just 14, says that competing in the contest would be “a dream for our citizens”...

eurovisionfun.com

The last time he got this strip of land press attention Croatian forces entered and demand he leave