Azerbaijan’s national broadcaster ITV has opened submissions for its internal selection to choose the country’s entry for Eurovision 2026, scheduled to take place this May in Vienna.
Azerbaijan’s national broadcaster ITV announced on Monday evening the opening of its selection process to find the act that will represent the country at Eurovision 2026, set to take place this May in Vienna, Austria. In a statement published on İTV’s official Instagram account, it was confirmed that Azerbaijan will once again select its representative through an internal selection process.
The announcement explained that the internal selection method means both the artist and the song are chosen by a professional committee appointed by the national broadcaster, without a televised national final open to public voting.
Azerbaijan has largely relied on this method since joining the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, with only a few exceptions. During those years, televised national finals were held, allowing public participation choosing the representatives through formats such as “Milli Seçim Turu” in 2008, 2010 and 2011 and “Böyük Səhnə” in 2014. Since 2015, İTV has consistently maintained an internal selection process, giving it full control over both the artist and the song sent to the competition.
Artists, composers, and bands interested in representing Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2026 may submit their applications along with an original song to the official email address: [email protected], no later than January 18th. Submissions must include a final version of the song and comply with Eurovision’s international rules, including the requirement that the song must not have been released or publicly performed before September 1st, 2025, and must not exceed three minutes in length.
Azerbaijan, which won Eurovision 2011 with “Running Scared” performed by Ell & Nikki, namely Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, is widely regarded as one of the competition’s most invested participants, consistently delivering polished performances and maintaining a high artistic standard each year.
Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2025
“Run With U” is the song that will be performed by the band Mamagama, representing Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2025. The song was written by band member Safael Mishiyev, along with Roman Zee and KHVS. This is the first Eurovision entry for these songwriters, and the song is performed in English.
The band finished 15th and last place in the first semi-final, with 7 points, which failed Azerbaijan qualifying to the final for the third consecutive time.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Azerbaijan’s 18th participation in Eurovision. Azerbaijan joined the contest in 2008 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2011 when singers Ell and Nikki, won first place with the song “Running Scared”.
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A writer and content creator with a strong specialization in the Eurovision scene, particularly across Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. His work highlights the artistry, storytelling, and cultural variety that define the contest, offering readers a deeper look into both established performers and emerging voices.
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