Bosnia and Herzegovina may return to Eurovision 2026 after a decade-long absence due to financial debts. Former head of delegation stresses: the comeback depends on settling the EBU debt and a joint effort.
Former Bosnian head of delegation, Lejla A. Babović, stated in an interview that there is a possibility Bosnia and Herzegovina could return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. The country was forced to withdraw from the contest nearly a decade ago due to financial debts owed by the national broadcaster BHRT to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The primary reason for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s prolonged absence is the significant debt of approximately €10 million owed by BHRT to the EBU. This substantial debt led Bosnia and Herzegovina to withdraw from EBU services, including Eurovision.
The Main Obstacle: Outstanding Debt to the EBU
Babović emphasized that the country’s return to the contest largely depends on repaying the debt to the EBU and on a collective effort from all involved stakeholders:
“If we pay the debt by November and start working seriously, we can return in 2026. […] But this requires effort from BHRT, the state, sponsors, and the public to choose the right song and return as serious competitors”.
She said in an interview with Bosnian television.
Despite these challenges, public interest in Eurovision remains strong in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with many Eurovision fans both in the country and abroad eagerly awaiting its potential return. If BHRT manages to settle its debts and overcome the economic and political hurdles, Bosnia and Herzegovina may indeed rejoin the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Balkan nation, formerly part of Yugoslavia before its dissolution, joined Eurovision in 1993 and has yet to secure a victory. Its best result came in 2006, when Hari Mata Hari performed the moving ballad “Lejla” and finished in third place. After several years, the country withdrew from Eurovision in 2013 and returned for a single participation in 2016 in Stockholm, where Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala represented Bosnia and Herzegovina with the song “Ljubav Je” (“Love Is”), finishing 11th in the semi-final. The country then withdrew again due to financial debt and has not returned since.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Eurovision 2016
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most recent participation was in Eurovision 2016, held in Stockholm, Sweden, where, for the first time in its history, the country failed to qualify for the grand final. Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala were internally selected by the national broadcaster and represented the country with “Ljubav Je” (“Love Is”), after the group members offered to cover participation costs themselves through private sponsorships. The group did not advance to the final, finishing 11th in the first semi-final with 104 points – 26 from juries and 78 from the public vote. Bosnia and Herzegovina was 29 points short of 10th place, Croatia, and thus missed out on the grand final.
Previously, Bosnia and Herzegovina had missed three consecutive contests between 2013 and 2015. Since the 2016 contest, the country has not participated in any subsequent Eurovision broadcasts.
Source: EurovisionFun.
