Moldova: Discussions Underway on the Entry’s Selection Method for Eurovision 2026

Moldova’s national broadcaster TRM held a meeting with artists and songwriters to decide how the country’s entry for Eurovision 2026 will be chosen.

Moldova’s national broadcaster TRM officially announced that the country will participate in Eurovision 2026, following its dramatic withdrawal from last year’s contest at a late stage. TRM has now met with selected artists and songwriters to decide together on the best way to choose Moldova’s representative and song for Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria.

For The First Time: Withdrawal and Return

Moldova withdrew from Eurovision 2025 due to disagreements surrounding the quality of its national selection and financial considerations. The national broadcaster had already organized a national selection audition day featuring 26 songs and had even set a date and lineup for the final before announcing its withdrawal.

This year, it seems the broadcaster has learned from the experience. The confirmation of participation came with a detailed message to local artists announcing cooperation with them to produce a higher-quality, more professional national selection.

The Options on the Table

In its statement, the national broadcaster emphasized:

“Dear artists, the Eurovision Song Contest is a unique opportunity for Moldova to present to the world our most treasured values: the talent, music, and creative energy of our artists. This stage gives Moldova the chance to be heard by millions across Europe. TRM warmly invites you to an honest and open discussion on Moldova’s participation in the 70th Eurovision. We want to know how you perceive this competition, whether you plan to take part, and if you have prepared works or ideas for projects. We firmly believe that only together can we create a beautiful and respectable participation that reflects the artistic spirit of our country”.

The discussions between the national broadcaster and the artists focused on several key points: the selection format, possible rule adjustments, promotional strategies, and support mechanisms for creators. Participants also voiced concerns about the challenges facing Moldova’s next Eurovision act and offered suggestions for improvement.

Moldova Towards Eurovision: Usual National Selection and Returning Artists

Moldova has chosen its Eurovision entries 20 times, with 19 of them selected through the national selection Etapa Națională, which has undergone several format changes over the years. The only song chosen internally was the 2021 entry, “Sugar”, following the cancellation of Eurovision 2020, when Natalia Gordienko was once again selected to represent the country. The 2022 selection process also went a bit differently: due to budget constraints, the second round of the national selection was canceled, and Zdob Si Zdub & Fratii Advahov were directly selected after winning the first round.

It seems that Moldova’s pool of representatives is relatively small – about two-thirds of Moldova’s songs were performed by only six representatives:

• Zdob Si Zdub – Represented Moldova in 2005 (6th place), 2011 (12th place), and alongside Fratii Advahov again in 2022 (7th place).

• Natalia Gordienko – Represented Moldova in 2006 (20th place) alongside Arsenie Todiraș, and by herself in 2020 (canceled) and 2021 (13th place).

• Natalia Barbu – Represented in 2007 (10th place) and 2024 (13th place in first semi-final).

• Sunstroke Project – Represented in 2010 (22nd place) alongside Olia Tira, and by themselves in 2017 (3rd place).

• Pasha Parfeni – Represented in 2012 (11th place) and 2023 (18th place); was pianist in 2013 for Aliona Moon’s performance.

• Aliona Moon – Represented in 2013 (11th place) and served as backing vocalist for Pasha Parfeni in 2012.

Moldova at Eurovision: Distinct Identity and Style

Moldova has participated in Eurovision 19 times without achieving a victory, missing only one contest. In 2020, it planned to compete with Natalia Gordienko and her song “Prison”, but the contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Gordienko returned the following year.

Moldova’s absence from the most recent contest marked the first time the country had ever skipped the event. Its debut came in 2005 with Zdob Si Zdub’s “Boonika bate doba” (in English: “Grandma beats the drum”), finishing in sixth place. Since then, Moldova’s results have fluctuated widely. Its best-ever result came in 2017 when Sunstroke Project placed third with “Hey Mamma”.

Moldova is known for showcasing songs that feature local musical flavors, proudly doing so in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2018, 2022, and 2023, achieving a place in the final each time – many of its best results were tied to songs with ethnic influences.

Aside from missing the top prize, Moldova has experienced nearly every position on the scoreboard – from third to last place. In 19 appearances since 2005, Moldova has qualified for 13 finals, with one notable non-qualification streak between 2014 and 2016, reaching its lowest result in 2014 with a last-place finish. Conversely, the country placed in the top half of the scoreboard in 2005, 2007, 2011–2013, 2017–2018, and 2021–2022.Currently, Moldova’s Eurovision outlook remains pretty underwhelming since its last participation ended its recent qualification streak.

Moldova has never won Eurovision and has reached the Top 5 only once, in 2017. with four additional Top 10 finishes – 6th place in Eurovision 2005, 7th place in Eurovision 2022, and another twice finishing 10th, in Eurovision 2007 and Eurovision 2018.