After a two-year hiatus that left fans eagerly awaiting its return, Romania is officially back in the Eurovision Song Contest. The decision, confirmed by the Romanian national broadcaster TVR, will see the country compete in the 70th anniversary edition of the contest in Vienna, Austria. The milestone poignantly coincides with TVR’s own 70th birthday, marking a doubly symbolic comeback.

The green light came from the Board of Directors of the Romanian Television Company (SRTv) on October 30, 2025, ending a period of speculation and confirming the nation’s participation in the May 2026 event. The move signals a fresh start for Romania at the world’s largest music competition, underpinned by a promise of significant internal reform.

Dan-Cristian Turturică, the President-Director General of SRTv, explained that the break was a necessary period of reflection and strategic realignment.

“We proposed the resumption of Romania’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest because, in the two years of absence, we had the time to better understand what did not work in the relationship between TVR, the music industry and the creators,” Turturică stated. “We understood what we need to change on our part to have a more competitive selection process and a show commensurate with the scope of the contest, so as to consistently increase the quality of our presence in the final stage.”

Romania’s absence from the 2024 and 2025 contests was officially attributed to “financial constraints” and a desire to better prepare for a “high-performance level” participation. However, the withdrawal followed a period of disappointing results, culminating in a difficult 2023 campaign where representative Theodor Andrei finished with zero points in the semi-final. Following his participation, the artist was critical of the lack of support from the broadcaster, highlighting a strained relationship that TVR now seems determined to mend.

Turturică acknowledged that rebuilding these bridges was a priority during the hiatus. “Since participating in Eurovision is a team effort, we spent a lot of time harmonizing the expectations and efforts of everyone who must collaborate so that Romania has the best possible representation,” he added, also expressing gratitude to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for its understanding and flexibility.

With its return, TVR has pledged to reset its approach, emphasizing stronger collaboration with Romanian artists and the broader music industry to ensure a more robust and competitive entry.

“With today’s decision, TVR reaffirms its commitment to supporting Romanian artists, to capitalizing on the creative potential of the music industry and to promoting Romania on one of the most prestigious international stages,” Turturică concluded.

While details of the new national selection process have not yet been revealed, the broadcaster’s statements suggest a move away from past methods towards a system designed to attract top-tier talent and produce a world-class performance.

Romania’s journey at Eurovision, which began in 1994, has been a mix of celebrated highs and recent lows. The country boasts strong past performances, including two third-place finishes with Luminița Anghel & Sistem in 2005 and Paula Seling & Ovi in 2010, as well as a fourth-place result for Mihai Trăistariu in 2006. These achievements stand in stark contrast to the recent struggles that led to the voluntary withdrawal.

As Austria prepares to host the competition in Vienna—following their 2025 victory in Basel with JJ’s “Wasted Love”—all eyes will be on Romania. The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place with semi-finals on May 12 and 14, and the Grand Final on May 16, 2026. With a promise of internal reform and a renewed commitment to its artists, the nation’s return is more than just a participation; it’s a statement of intent. Fans now await details of the new selection process, hopeful that this comeback will mark the beginning of a successful new chapter for Romania on the world’s biggest musical stage.

Source: TVR

Image: © EBU/ Sarah Louise Bennet