Televoting as tie-breaker instead of the jury, a new voting app, and an online rescue round: here is what awaits the contestants in “Eurovizija.LT” this year.
While many enjoy following the suspense and songs competing in Eurovizija.LT, this year brings several innovations that raise questions and curiosity: how will the new rules and format affect both the contestants and the viewing experience? Will audience voting provide a stronger sense of control for the public? And what exactly is the online “second chance round” everyone will be talking about? In the following paragraphs, we delve into all the major changes in Lithuania’s Eurovizija.LT.
Cancellation of the Super-Final and Expanded Opportunities for Contestants
The Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT announced that this year, the super-final stage – introduced over the past two years – will be cancelled. In that format, the top three entries competed again in a second round of voting by both audience and jury during the final broadcast. Instead, there will now be only one round of voting in the final, with the winner directly chosen to represent Lithuania at Eurovision 2026.
Televote as Tie-Breaker Instead of the Jury
One of the most notable changes lies in how ties will be resolved. In previous years, jury votes were decisive in the event of a tie. From this season onward, that decisive voice will belong to the audience. This significant adjustment will likely shift the sense of decision-making into the hands of the viewers at home.
New Voting Channels: App Supplementing SMS
In addition to voting by sending an SMS, Lithuanian viewers will this year gain access to a brand-new dedicated voting app, which will be launched soon. The new system is expected to make the voting experience more accessible and engaging, potentially leading to different voting patterns compared to the past. Additional details on this digital option will be released in the near future.
Semi-Finals: Online Second Chance Round
Under the new rules, the top two contestants in each semi-final will automatically advance to the final. The third-place contestants, however, will compete in a special online “second chance round”. Among these participants, the one gaining the highest number of votes will secure the last available spot in the grand final. This presents an additional, dramatic opportunity to win a place at the decisive event.
Lithuania’s Participation in Eurovision 2026 and the Road to Austria
On July 8th, Lithuania confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 and officially launched its journey to Austria. As part of this path, the national selection Eurovizija.LT – which had been rebranded ahead of Eurovision 2024 – will once again take place. As of now, the Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT has not yet announced the official opening date for participant registration, but preparations are already underway, and it seems Lithuanian audiences can expect quite a few surprises this year.
Lithuania at Eurovision: Between Struggles and Isolated Successes
Lithuania’s choice to organize Eurovizija.LT as its national selection has produced mixed outcomes in the main contest. On one hand, Lithuania has remained relatively consistent in its placements; on the other, recent years have shown a decline in results. Silvester Belt finished in 14th place at Eurovision 2024 with “Luktelk”, a drop of three spots compared to the previous year. A year later, the band Katharsis with “Tavo Akys” placed 16th, another two-spot decline. Nevertheless, since adopting this format, Lithuania has seen an increase in songs performed in Lithuanian, presenting its culture more authentically and uniquely on the Eurovision stage.
Lithuania’s Eurovision journey has not been without setbacks—the country skipped the competition six times (1995–1998, 2000, and 2003). Though it has never won nor reached the top five, Lithuania achieved three top-ten finishes: 6th in 2006, 8th in 2021, and 9th in 2016. Over the course of its 25 participations, Lithuania managed to establish itself as a steady, reliable contender, even if not a frontrunner at the very top of the scoreboard.
Lithuania at Eurovision 2025:
“Tavo akys” (Hebrew: “Your Eyes”) was the song performed by Katarsis, representing Lithuania at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The song finished sixth in the second semi-final with 103 points, qualified for the final, and ultimately placed 16th with 96 points. This marks Lithuania’s longest streak of consecutive qualifications to the Eurovision final, as the country reached the final for the fifth year in a row.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Lithuania’s 26th participation in the contest. Lithuania debuted in 1994 and achieved its best result in 2006, when LT United finished sixth with “We Are The Winners”.
Source: ESC discord.
