Eurovision 2025: Today is the last day for registered countries to withdraw from the competition without financial penalty.

Today marks a crucial date for Eurovision 2025 participants. October 11 is the last day for countries to withdraw from the competition without facing financial penalties. This deadline comes after the initial registration period, which ended on September 15.




The Significance of the Withdrawal Deadline

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rarely imposes fines on countries that withdraw after the set date. In the past, Ukraine had to withdraw from the 2019 contest when their chosen representative, Maruv, was disqualified for refusing to cancel her performances in Russia. To our knowledge, Ukraine did not face any financial penalties at that time. However, the last known instance of such a fine being imposed was in 2005 when Lebanon was set to compete but refused to broadcast the Israeli performance by singer Shiri Maimon in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Confirmed Participants and Potential Returnees

As of now, 33 countries and their respective broadcasters have expressed their intention to participate in Eurovision 2025. The EBU is expected to release the full list of participating countries in the coming weeks. Here’s the current list of confirmed participants:

  • 🇦🇱 Albania – RTSH
  • 🇦🇹 Austria – ORF
  • 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – Ä°ctimai
  • 🇧🇪 Belgium – RTBF
  • 🇭🇷 Croatia – HRT
  • 🇨🇾 Cyprus – CyBC
  • 🇨🇿 Czechia – ÄŒT
  • 🇩🇰 Denmark – DR
  • 🇪🇪 Estonia – ERR
  • 🇫🇮 Finland – YLE
  • 🇫🇷 France – FT
  • 🇬🇪 Georgia – GPB
  • 🇩🇪 Germany – NDR
  • 🇬🇷 Greece – ERT
  • 🇮🇸 Iceland – RÚV
  • 🇮🇪 Ireland – RTÉ
  • 🇮🇱 Israel – IPBC
  • 🇮🇹 Italy – RAI
  • 🇱🇻 Latvia – LTV
  • 🇱🇹 Lithuania – LRT
  • 🇱🇺 Luxembourg – RTL
  • 🇲🇹 Malta – PBS
  • 🇲🇪 Montenegro – RTCG
  • 🇳🇴 Norway – NRK
  • 🇵🇹 Portugal – RTP
  • 🇸🇲 San Marino – San Marino RTV
  • 🇷🇸 Serbia – RTS
  • 🇸🇮 Slovenia – RTVSLO
  • 🇪🇸 Spain – RTVE
  • 🇸🇪 Sweden – SVT
  • 🇨🇭 Switzerland – SRG SSR
  • 🇺🇦 Ukraine – Suspilne
  • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom – BBC

Several broadcasters that competed in the past have not yet publicly declared their return for this year:

  • 🇦🇲 Armenia – AMPTV
  • 🇦🇺 Australia – SBS
  • 🇲🇩 Moldova – TRM
  • 🇵🇱 Poland – TVP
  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands – AVROTROS (given an extension until November 1 to announce their participation)

Countries that have participated in the past but have not yet confirmed their participation include:

  • 🇧🇬 Bulgaria – Last participated in 2022
  • 🇭🇺 Hungary – Last participated in 2019
  • 🇲🇨 Monaco – Last participated in 2006
  • 🇴🇲 Morocco – Last participated in 1980
  • 🇲🇰 North Macedonia – Last participated in 2022
  • 🇷🇴 Romania – Last participated in 2023
  • 🇹🇷 Turkey – Last participated in 2012

Monaco, which gained full membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in early 2024, has not yet confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2025, but its return is possible. As for Liechtenstein, it may make its debut if it achieves full EBU membership by the deadline. Radio Liechtenstein announced last summer that it is considering joining the EBU, a move that could allow the small country to participate in the contest

Confirmed Non-Participants

Andorra, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have already announced that they will not participate in the 2025 contest. Additionally, Kosovo’s attempt to join the EBU was rejected, making it ineligible to participate. Belarus and Russia remain suspended from EBU membership due to rule violations and cannot participate in Eurovision.




The Dilemma Facing Participating Countries

The deadline for withdrawal without penalty puts countries in a dilemma: whether to proceed towards Eurovision 2025 or consider withdrawing at a significant financial cost. Meanwhile, the list of participating countries is taking shape, and soon we will know which nations will take part in the grand celebration of European music this coming May in Basel.

Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15, and 17, 2025. The St. Jakobshalle arena, which will host the competition, is expected to accommodate about 12,000 spectators for each show. The contest will take place in Switzerland following the country’s third historical win with the song “The Code”, performed by singer Nemo. This will be the third time the competition has been hosted in Switzerland, after the contest was held there in 1956 and 1989.