Serhat who represented San Marino twice in the Eurovision Song Contest wants to return and compete for Turkey. Could Turkey rejoin the contest after 13 years of absence?
The Turkish singer Serhat, who represented San Marino twice in Eurovision in 2016 and 2019, has expressed his interest in returning to the competition if Turkey will participate. In a statement from Bodrum, where he is currently vacationing, Serhat expressed his enthusiasm:
“If Turkey participates in Eurovision again, I would be happy to represent it. I’m confident I will be successful”.
Will Turkey Return to Eurovision?
Serhat’s announcement is significant for Eurovision fans, as Turkey’s return has been a subject of international discussion for years. Another Turkish singer, Demet Akalın , has also declared her desire to represent Turkey at Eurovision. Despite the rising interest from artists and numerous fans, the broadcaster national, TRT, has yet to declare its intent to rejoin Eurovision, apparently due to the Turkish government’s Islamist policies that conflict with the contest’s liberal values.
Serhat Praising: “Turkey’s True Star”
Additionally, Serhat referred to the singer Ajda Pekkan in an interview, stating:
“She is the only name in Turkey who truly deserves the title of ‘star'”.
Pekkan represented Turkey in Eurovision with the song “Pet’r Oil” and finished in 15th place. Although it was a relatively modest achievement in Eurovision, Pekkan is considered one of Turkey’s most successful artists, with more than 20 albums and over 30 million copies sold worldwide.
Serhat’s Journey in Eurovision: 2016 and 2019
Serhat first represented San Marino in 2016 with his song “I Didn’t Know”. San Marino did not qualify for the final, finishing 12th in the first semi-final with 68 points. In 2019, Serhat returned to represent San Marino again with “Say Na Na Na”, bringing San Marino to the final for the second time in its history, not seen since 2014. He finished eighth in the first semi-final with 150 points, and in the grand final, San Marino placed 19th with 77 points – its best result ever – and ranked tenth in the public vote with 65 points.
Turkey in Eurovision
Turkey withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 due to disagreements with some contest rules, such as the automatic final qualification of the Big Five countries (Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain). Some sources indicate that the contest’s support for the LGBTQ+ community also influenced the decision of conservative Turkey to leave. The European Broadcasting Union has welcomed Turkey’s return several times. In January 2019, a surprising statement was released by the chairman of the Eurovision focus group suggesting that Turkey might be added to the Big Five countries.
Turkey’s last participation was in Eurovision 2012 with the song “Love Me Back,” performed by Can Bonomo, who placed seventh. Before its withdrawal, the Middle Eastern country was one of the major contestants with a dedicated viewership. In 2009, Eurovision achieved ratings of 58.54%, with tens of millions watching the contest.
Turkey has won Eurovision only once, in 2003, when singer Sertab Erener performed the song “Everyway That I Can”.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
