The Romanian national broadcaster TVR has received a unique and intriguing proposal that could see the country return to the Eurovision Song Contest as early as next year. But what are the chances this will actually happen?

The Romanian national broadcaster, TVR, withdrew from Eurovision 2024 due to financial difficulties, exposing a deeper crisis in the country’s music industry. This reality has heavily impacted Romania’s ability to compete on the Eurovision stage.

Now, however, TVR has received an official invitation to participate in the international songwriting camp “Normania”, set to take place in October in Romania. The camp’s purpose is to strengthen the country’s chances of returning to the international Eurovision stage in 2026.

Why does this matter? While TVR has not yet confirmed participation, initiatives like “Normania” reflect growing international interest in creating high-quality songs for Romania’s national selection process.

Background, Special Details, and Additional Angles

As part of the early preparations for Eurovision 2026, intensive songwriting camps are being organized throughout Europe to create top-tier competition entries. One of the most innovative and intriguing ventures is “Normania” – a camp distinguished by collaboration between Romanian, Norwegian, and international songwriters.

The camp, set for October in Romania and produced by The Woods, will span three days. Its goal: to write and produce new songs destined for various national finals, with a pronounced focus on Selecția Națională, the Romanian national final.

According to the camp’s official website:

“The Normania writing camp brings together composers, producers, topliners, lyricists, and artists from Romania, Norway, and other countries for three intense days of collaboration. Participants will write and produce new pop songs aimed at national pre-selections, especially Romania’s. TVR has been invited, but we will also compose songs for other countries depending on the final artist casting”.

The fact that TVR has been officially invited – despite not yet confirming participation – is viewed by many as a clear sign: Romania is seeking an effective path back to the main stage of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Participation by TVR in such a camp could signal a thaw between the national broadcaster and the Romanian music industry. The CEO of TVR noted that the absence from Eurovision 2024 was due to a decline in song quality submitted by record companies, many of which withdrew after selection procedures were changed to ensure fairness. The Normania camp could serve as the starting point for renewed collaboration between the broadcaster and the industry, thereby raising the level of songs broadcast in the Romanian national pre-selection.

Personal Analysis

As someone who consistently follows Eurovision, I can attest to how crucial song quality is to final results in the contest. From my experience in research and interviews, international songwriting camps like “Normania” can provide creative oxygen and bring fresh talent to the table.

According to experts in the Eurovision community, even countries with low budgets have managed to move audiences with powerful lyrics and professional processes. Romania, too, could return to the stage with compelling, polished performances and perhaps even bring home the trophy.

Romania’s Eurovision Journey

Romania has faced significant challenges in Eurovision over the past decade. On April 22nd, 2016, Romania was disqualified from participating in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm due to unpaid debts to the EBU. This occurred after Ovidiu Anton was selected with his song “Moment of Silence” and had already been assigned a draw position in the second Semi-Final. Despite this setback, Romania returned to compete six more times. In 2017, Romania achieved one of its best results, finishing seventh, but subsequent years saw struggles. From 2018 to 2021, Romania failed to qualify for the final three times consecutively, those were the first three times in its history which Romania was eliminated during the semi-finals. In 2022, against all odds, Romania reached the final and placed 18th. However, Eurovision 2023 marked a painful farewell: Romania finished last in its semi-final for the first time ever and received zero points alongside San Marino.

For Eurovision 2024, Romania delayed confirming its participation while awaiting budget approvals from the Ministry of Finance. After requesting an extension, it officially announced its withdrawal on January 25th, 2024. Hopes briefly resurfaced for Eurovision 2025 when Montenegro confirmed its return after a two-year absence on August 7th, 2024. However, Romania ultimately remained absent from the participant list, marking its longest hiatus since missing three consecutive contests from 1995 to 1997. Can Romania mend fences and return for Eurovision 2026? Only time will tell…

Though Romania’s participation is not yet officially confirmed, the invitation to Normania is a positive sign of a possible comeback, and could mark a turning point in the national broadcaster’s relationship with the local music industry.

If TVR chooses to take an active part, there is real potential for higher song quality, a message of genuine change in selection policy, and a boost in Romania’s prospects for a competitive European showing.

Romania at Eurovision 2023

“D.G.T (Off and On)” is the name of the song performed by Theodor Andrei, who represented Romania in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2023, held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The song placed last in its semi-final with zero points, sharing a tie with San Marino. This was the first time Romania finished last and received no points in the competition.

Source: Eurovisionfun.

Romania has participated in Eurovision 24 times since joining the competition in 1993. Romania has never won the contest, and its best achievement is third place, which it reached twice in 2005 and 2010.