Despite hopes for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Eurovision 2026 comeback, ongoing economic and political crises make its return increasingly unlikely.
The return of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Eurovision Song Contest depends on settling the national broadcaster’s financial debts to the European Broadcasting Union, totaling around 10 million euros – the reason the country was forced to withdraw after Eurovision 2016. However, it appears this debt will not be resolved soon. The Minister of Communications and Transport, Edin Forto, expressed disappointment at the ongoing lack of a solution to the economic crisis facing BHRT, following recent meetings in the Council of Ministers.
Political Stalemate and Eurovision: The Council of Ministers’ Approach
During the session, ministers were expected to discuss the national broadcaster’s debt to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), but the topic was pushed aside – reflecting a deeper lack of political commitment. “For far too long, we have been going in circles around the BHRT issue, and the situation is only getting more complicated. As of now, BHRT’s accounts are frozen due to lawsuits filed by employees over unpaid social insurance contributions,” said Forto.
He noted that his attempts to initiate political action to resolve the crisis have been unsuccessful: “I received quite a few explanations, mainly technical ones. But from experience, I know that where there’s a will, there’s a way. At the moment, there simply isn’t a genuine desire to help BHRT.”
In conclusion, Forto expressed regret that the current Council of Ministers is either unwilling or unable to support the struggling public broadcaster. “We keep picking topics like at a Swedish buffet, while urgent issues remain unresolved. Unfortunately, this council simply lacks the ability to move things forward,” he concluded.
Challenges Facing Public Broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The crisis at BHRT exemplifies a broader problem affecting public broadcasting in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, where underfunding, political pressure, and ethnic divisions are common. While other European countries invest in their public broadcasters, Bosnia struggles to maintain the independence and quality of its national broadcaster. The collapse of BHRT would have severe consequences: undermining press freedom, diminishing media pluralism, and weakening democracy.
Eurovision Fans React: Community and Personal Reflections
As a journalist who began covering Eurovision after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s withdrawal, I can attest that the country’s ethnic-inspired entries are truly missed, even if they did not always reach the top of the scoreboard. In conversations with Eurovision fans from the EuroMix community, there is a strong sense of loss. Many recall Bosnia’s memorable performances, such as in 2006 when the band Hari Mata Hari finished third, and express sadness that the country cannot return to the main stage. Some fans hope the nation’s leaders will allocate the necessary resources, while others believe the political and economic situation will not improve soon.
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” (in English: “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,” 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.
