Bulgaria still on a break! We won’t see them at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna

Bad news for Eurovision fans comes from Bulgaria! The Bulgarian national broadcaster (BNT) has confirmed that the country will not participate in the prestigious music competition in 2026.

This decision prolongs a break that began after their last participation in 2021. The main reasons remain unchanged: financial and organizational challenges.

Although fans were hoping for a comeback, Bulgarian media have confirmed that BNT is not ready for such an undertaking. Since this is the third consecutive year that Bulgaria is not participating, it raises the question of when—or if—this talented nation will ever return to the Eurovision stage.

Bulgaria at Eurovision: A short but impressive history

Bulgaria made its Eurovision debut in 2005 in Kyiv and has since participated 14 times. Despite periodic breaks, their history is marked by remarkable successes. Although they failed to qualify for the final on nine occasions, when they did get through, they did so with great style. Out of their five final appearances, they finished in the top five on three occasions!

Their string of successes began in 2007, when Elitsa and Stoyan with the song „Water“ took 5th place. After a less successful period, Bulgaria made a big return in 2016.

Poli Genova, with her dynamic song „If Love Was a Crime“, secured a fantastic 4th place, hinting at a golden era for Bulgarian participation.

The peak came the very next year, in 2017, again in Kyiv. The young and talented Kristian Kostov with the song „Beautiful Mess“ brought Bulgaria its best result to date, finishing in second place. It’s interesting to note that he was the first performer at Eurovision born in the 21st century to achieve such a high ranking.

After another success in 2018, when the group Equinox finished in 14th place with the song „Bones“, Bulgaria took a break again. They returned in 2021 with Victoria and the song „Growing Up Is Getting Old“, securing a solid 11th place in the final.

In 2022, they were represented by the group Intelligent Music Project with the song „Intention,“ but they failed to qualify for the final.

Although that was their last participation, it is clear that Bulgaria, despite its instability, has had moments of brilliance that have placed them among the most successful countries in the last decade of the competition.

While Bulgarians await stabilization and a return, Eurovision fans remain deprived of the performances that have brought them some of the most memorable moments in the recent history of the competition.

Bulgaria’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kiev