Macedonian Radio Television has confirmed that the country will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, ending an absence that stretched across four consecutive editions of the competition. Zoran Ristoski, the newly appointed Director General of MRT, made the announcement on 21 May 2026 at a public session of the broadcaster’s Programme Council, attended by representatives from industry associations, media organisations, and public institutions.

Ristoski told those present that he had held direct meetings with officials from the European Broadcasting Union and could state with confidence that North Macedonia would send a representative to the 2027 contest. That edition is set to take place in Sofia following Bulgaria’s historic first Eurovision victory last week, when singer DARA claimed the top prize with her song “Bangaranga,” sweeping both the public vote and the international jury.

North Macedonia’s departure from Eurovision was not a single decision but a slow unravelling. MRT withdrew from the 2023 contest in Liverpool, citing the economic and energy crisis gripping the country at the time. Broadcaster MRT announced its withdrawal on 14 October 2022, attributing the decision to rising participation costs, including travel and accommodation, at a time when domestic households faced steep energy price hikes.

Before this, the country had competed at every Eurovision since 2004. The withdrawal marked the first gap in their participation since the early years of their involvement in the competition.

A return looked possible for 2024. A proposed budget set aside funds for North Macedonia’s participation in both Eurovision and Junior Eurovision, and there were even plans with a specific singer chosen to represent the country, though she ultimately declined. In the end, MRT cited the 60th anniversary of Macedonian television as the reason for redirecting its limited budget elsewhere for that year.

The pattern continued into 2025. MRT’s budget for 2025 contained no allocated funds for Eurovision participation, with financial constraints cited as the primary reason for the ongoing absence. The Balkan country was absent from the competition for a third consecutive year.

When Eurovision 2026 came around, MRT’s Programme Council recommended in October 2025 that the broadcaster not take part, emphasising that effective participation required a clear strategy, thorough preparation, and proper production and financial support. North Macedonia instead chose to broadcast the Vienna contest, a requirement under EBU rules for any country wishing to return to competition the following year.

“The Era of Non-Transparent Selection Is Over”

Ristoski’s announcement on Wednesday carried a pointed message beyond the simple confirmation of return. He stated that the period of opaque, behind-closed-doors selection of artists was finished, pointing to an already-published public call for submissions for North Macedonia’s Junior Eurovision 2026 entry as evidence of the change in approach.

The comment lands against a backdrop of longstanding frustration among Macedonian Eurovision fans, who for years questioned how representatives were chosen and whether the process served the country’s best interests on the Eurovision stage.

The Director General also noted that MRT has received backing from the EBU and expects the broadcaster to benefit from a more favourable participation package to ease the financial burden of re-entry. EBU representatives reportedly expressed willingness to provide technical and organisational support to facilitate the country’s participation, following North Macedonia’s previous decisions to delay its return due to economic reasons.

North Macedonia debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 and has competed 21 times in total, qualifying for the Grand Final on nine occasions. Across those appearances, the country produced moments that lodged in the competition’s memory, even if outright success proved elusive.

The high-water mark came at Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv, when Tamara Todevska placed seventh in the Grand Final with “Proud,” a performance that generated genuine international attention and remains the best result in the country’s Eurovision history. Elena Risteska came close in Athens in 2006 with “Ninanajna,” finishing twelfth in the Grand Final.

North Macedonia’s last appearance at the contest was in Turin in 2022, when Andrea represented the country with the song “Circles,” finishing eleventh in her semi-final with 76 points and failing to qualify for the Grand Final.

MRT has not yet confirmed how it will select its 2027 representative, though Ristoski’s pointed comments about transparency suggest an open national selection of some form is on the table. The broadcaster is expected to announce further details in the months ahead as preparations gather pace.

During MRT’s Programme Council meeting in December 2025, council members expressed clear support for participating in Eurovision 2027, with discussions highlighting enthusiasm from both the broadcaster and EBU representatives about a Macedonian return.

After four years on the sidelines, the country’s fans will hope the groundwork laid now translates into a performance worthy of the occasion when the Eurovision spotlight falls on Sofia next spring.