Kosovo’s Eurovision dreams dashed as EBU rejects participation request for 2025. Full membership in the union remains a prerequisite for contest participation.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has denied Kosovo’s request to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will be held in Switzerland. This decision comes after Kosovo’s national broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), formally applied to join the competition. In June, RTK’s Director General, Shkumbin Ahmetxhekaj, sent an official letter to Eurovision’s Executive Supervisor and the EBU’s General Director, expressing Kosovo’s strong desire to participate. The letter emphasized the importance of Eurovision participation for Kosovo’s European integration efforts.

However, the EBU rejected the application, citing political reasons according to Kosovo’s official Eurovision X account. The EBU also informed RTK that full membership in the union is a prerequisite for participation in the contest.

Kosovo had been preparing for potential Eurovision participation by establishing its own national song contest, “RTK Festivali i Këngës”, earlier this year. The competition aimed to promote local music and select a potential representative for Eurovision 2025. Despite the success of its first edition and plans for a second, Kosovo’s Eurovision debut remains unlikely in the near future.

While Kosovo won’t be participating directly, it has had indirect representation in the past. In 2023, Albina Kelmendi and her family, who are from Kosovo, represented Albania with the song “Duje”.

Kosovo’s situation reflects its complex international status. Since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo has gained recognition from 104 countries, including Israel. However, many nations, including Serbia and Spain, do not recognize its independence, and Russia blocks its United Nations membership. This controversial status complicates Kosovo’s efforts to join international organizations and events like Eurovision.

Source: Eurovisionfun