Latvian national broadcaster LTV has confirmed Latvia’s participation in Eurovision 2026, to be held in Austria. Latvia is expected to select its entry again through Supernova 2026.
The Latvian national broadcaster LTV has officially announced that Latvia will participate in Eurovision 2026, which will be hosted in Austria. Latvia becomes the 21st country to express interest in joining Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria.
Latvia Plans Another Supernova?
Latvia’s national broadcaster confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 to Eurovision news website ESC Today. “Supernova” will again serve as Latvia’s selection platform for the Eurovision entry, marking the 11th consecutive year that the Latvian song will be chosen via Supernova – except for 2021, when Samanta Tina was selected directly after the cancellation of Eurovision 2020. The submission window for Supernova 2026 opened today, until October 1st, 2025. After submissions close, entries will be reviewed by a jury, with the names of artists and songs expected to be revealed in November. The national selection is anticipated between January and February 2026, with exact dates to be announced.
Supernova began as a resounding success for Latvia, when Aminata Savadogo secured sixth place at Eurovision 2015. The following year, Justs brought Latvia to the final again, finishing 15th. However, Latvia then faced six consecutive setbacks, equaling a previous streak of non-qualifications from 2009 to 2014. Heading into Eurovision 2024, luck seemed to return as Dons qualified Latvia for the final for the first time since 2016, defying predictions. The streak continued in 2025 when Tautumeitas led Latvia to an impressive 13th place.
Latvia’s Eurovision Cinderella Story
After Eurovision 2001, in which Latvia finished in 18th place, it was decided that the countries that finished Eurovision 2001 below 16th place would not take part in the next Eurovision. Following this decision, only 22 countries were set to participate in Eurovision 2002 – a lower number compared to previous years, in which the number of participants consistently ranged between 23 and 25. Therefore, it was decided to expand the list of participating countries to 24. The country that finished in 16th place was Israel, which became the 23rd country whose participation in Eurovision 2002 was confirmed. The country that finished in 17th place was Portugal, which withdrew due to financial difficulties, thus freeing the last place on the list for Latvia, which managed to join the list of participants at the last moment and win Eurovision 2002 with the song “I Wanna”, earning 176 points.
Latvia’s Eurovision Journey
Latvia is considered a relatively struggling country in Eurovision. Of its 25 appearances, it has won once, in its third year, when Marie N brought Latvia its only victory at Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia. Latvia has never skipped a Eurovision contest except in 2020, when Samanta Tina’s participation was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite consistent attendance, Latvia has failed to reach the grand final 14 times, finishing last in its semi-final five times, in 2009-2010, 2013, 2017, and 2021. Since the introduction of semi-finals, Latvia qualified for the final only seven times: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2024, and 2025. Still, Latvia has finished in the top five three times – with one voctory (2002), one third place (2000), and one fifth place (2005). Latvia also achieved sixth place in 2015, when Aminata Savadogo performed “Love Injected” in Vienna.
An official and final list of participating countries for Eurovision 2026 is expected to be published in October.
Latvia at Eurovision 2025
“Bur Man Laimi” (in English: “Song for Happiness”) is the name of the song performed by Tautumeitas, representing Latvia at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The song is performed in Latvian – the first song in Latvian sent since 2004!
It placed second in the second semi-final with 130 points, reached the grand final, and finished thirteenth with 158 points – Latvia’s second consecutive qualification and highest achievement since Eurovision 2015.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Latvia’s 26th participation. Latvia debuted in 2000 and achieved its best result in 2002, when Marie N won with “I Wanna”.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
