The number of countries confirmed to participate in the "Eurovision 2026" international song contest has reached 34: Albania, Germany, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Croatia, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine, Greece.
Medianews.az reports that Armenia is also expected to participate in the contest, which many countries have refused and boycotted.
The contest, hosted in Vienna, the capital of Austria, will hold its first semifinal on May 12, the second semifinal on May 14, and the final on May 16.
The "Eurovision" contest, held since 1956, is a project of the European Broadcasting Union, which brings together public broadcasters. In the competition held 69 times, Ireland and Sweden have won 7 times, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom 5 times, Israel 4 times, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Norway, and Ukraine 3 times, Spain and Germany 2 times, Monaco, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Greece, Finland, Serbia, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Portugal 1 time each.
Azerbaijan has participated in 17 contests: in 2008 Elnur Hüseynov and Samir Cavadzade placed 8th, in 2009 Aysel Teymurzade and Arash 3rd, in 2010 Safura Alizade 5th, in 2011 Nigar Jamal and Eldar Qasımov 1st, in 2012 Sabina Babayeva 4th, in 2013 Farid Mammadov 2nd, in 2014 Dilara Kazimova 22nd, in 2015 Elnur Hüseynov 12th, in 2016 Samra Rahimli 17th, in 2017 Diana Hajiyeva 14th, in 2019 Chingiz Mustafayev 8th, in 2021 Samira Efendi 20th, in 2022 Nadir Rustamli 16th place.
In 2018 Aysel Mammadova, in 2023 Tural and Turan Bagmanov brothers, in 2024 Fakhri Ismayilov and Ilkin Dovlatov, and in 2025 the group "Mamaqama" did not pass the semifinals.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az
