Armenia Is Expected to Participate in Eurovision 2026!

The Eurovision supervisor, Martin Green, announced that five countries are expected to withdraw from the contest. From this it can be inferred that Armenia has confirmed its participation in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

After the contest supervisor, Martin Green, revealed the estimated number of participating countries in the upcoming contest, it was confirmed that Armenia will take part in Eurovision 2026, which will be held in Vienna, Austria. Armenia is the 35th country expected to participate in Eurovision 2026, following Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the host country, Austria.

The Armenian national broadcaster AMPTV has not yet officially announced its confirmation, and the assumption that it will participate stems from cross‑checking Green’s statement with the fact that the final date to confirm participation or withdraw from the contest has already passed. Therefore, it can be inferred that Armenia was the missing piece in the 35‑country puzzle that Green hinted at ahead of Vienna.

The five countries that withdrew from the contest are The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, which withdrew one after another in protest, just hours before the end of the general committee meeting held on December 4th. The fifth country to withdraw is Iceland, which announced its decision yesterday (Wednesday). Consequently, it can be inferred that Armenia’s participation will remain in place. Armenia’s participation has always left fans wondering, since the country is known for confirming very late, and there have been instances where it announced a withdrawal at the last minute.

Armenia’s Eurovision History: A Late Recognition After Every Edition

Armenia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 17 times, never winning the contest, missing it twice, and once more not implementing its participation at Eurovision 2020, when the participation of Athena Manoukian and her song “Chains On You” was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Armenia finished twice in fourth place (2008 and 2014) and reached the top ten in the contest six additional times, placing twice in 7th place (2010 and 2016), three times in 8th place (2006, 2007 and 2024) and once in tenth place (2009).

Armenia was considered, from the moment it joined, a very successful country in the contest, when on its debut participation in 2006 it reached eighth place, and in its first five years it did not drop out of the top ten. In 2008 Armenia, with singer Sirusho, achieved its best result to date – fourth place, which was matched again in 2014. Eurovision 2011 shattered Armenia’s fresh image when the country finished 12th in the first semi‑final and, for the first time, failed to qualify for the grand final.

Armenia’s first Eurovision withdrawal was recorded ahead of Eurovision 2012, when the country decided to withdraw mainly for security reasons, since the contest was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and for Armenia at that time Azerbaijan was considered a particularly hostile environment due to repeated wars over the Nagorno‑Karabakh region, a conflict that appeared twice within Eurovision itself. The first time was in 2012, when Azerbaijan used this region for its postcard in the Baku contest. The second time was four years later, when Armenia’s representative, Iveta Mukuchyan, was caught waving the controversial Nagorno‑Karabakh flag in the Green Room in Stockholm.

Eurovision 2014 again worked in Armenia’s favour and brought it back to the high altitudes it had breathed at the beginning, when Aram MP3 and his song “Not Alone” equalled Armenia’s best result in the contest and finished once more in fourth place. Armenia’s selection for Eurovision 2015 was conducted in a special manner, as six singers of Armenian origin were chosen and assembled into a group that would present a song marking 100 years since the Armenian genocide. The idea was, on the surface, original and special, but the song “Face The Shadow” failed to replicate Armenia’s previous achievement and ended only in 16th place.

Ahead of Eurovision 2018, Armenia took a particularly bold step and, for the first time, sent a song performed entirely in Armenian. The move did not work out, and Sevak Khanagyan and his song “Qami” (in English: “Wind”) failed to reach the final. Even in Tel Aviv, Srbuk and her song “Walking Out” failed for a second consecutive time, and these are also Armenia’s two lowest results to date, with the 2019 song receiving significant appreciation only after the contest.

Armenia’s second withdrawal was ahead of Eurovision 2021 after another round of fighting with Azerbaijan in December 2020. Ahead of Eurovision 2022, Armenia chose Rosa Linn and the song “Snap”. The song finished in 20th place with 61 points, but after the contest it became one of the most played Eurovision songs worldwide, when it was used as background for many videos on social media. Armenia continued its streak of qualifying for the final with Brunette in Liverpool, where she reached 14th place. In 2024, Armenia returned to a more ethnic direction by sending the band Ladaniva and the song “Jako”, which brought Armenia back to the top ten once again. In 2025, Armenia returned to the bottom of the grand final scoreboard when Parg finished again in 20th place.