The Romanian national broadcaster, TVR, has announced the winners of the final wildcard ticket for “Selecția Națională 2026”. The winner of “Selecția Națională” will earn the right to represent Romania at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
The Romanian national broadcaster, TVR, which is overseeing the “Selecția Națională 2026”, scheduled for March 4th, has recently revealed the two wildcard winners. The artists who achieved the highest number of views on YouTube advanced to the national final: Antonio Pican with the song “Humans” garnered 240,000 views, while WRS with the song “All the Way” accumulated 219,000 views.
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As previously reported, out of 101 final candidates, ten artists were selected and unveiled as finalists competing in “Selecția Națională 2026”. The five songs that did not initially qualify for the final competed for the last available spot through a public vote, ultimately won by WRS and Antonio Pican. In total, 12 artists will compete in the grand final for the opportunity to represent Romania at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
Who Actually Won the Wildcard?
In recent days, social media platforms have been filled with speculation regarding alleged view manipulation involving Antonio Pican. Some fans pointed to what they described as a sudden spike in YouTube views during late-night hours. By contrast, WRS’s view count appeared relatively stable at certain intervals, consistent with his recognition as a former Eurovision contestant. In response to the growing online debate, TVR opted for a straightforward resolution: advancing both artists to the final. This decision effectively neutralized the controversy while preserving the integrity of the selection process.
“Selecția Națională 2026”: Running Order
- Alejandro Zandes & Emil Range – “Bailando Solo”
- Alexandra Capitaneacu – “Choke Me“
- Edward MAYA x LavBbe x COSTI – “Everybody Needs Somebody“
- Emy Alupei – “Tili Bom“
- HVND – “HVNDS-DOR“
- Monica Odgiu – “Fereastra Pentru Un Orb“
- Olivia Addams – “Croco“
- Robert Lukian – “Fire to the lies“
- Vanu – “Therapy Enemy“
- Yguana – “Happy Birthday“
- WRS – “All the Way“
- Antonio Pican – “Humans“
Click on the song title to listen!
Romania’s Eurovision Journey
Romania has faced significant challenges in Eurovision over the past decade. On April 22nd, 2016, Romania was disqualified from participating in Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm due to unpaid debts to the EBU. This occurred after Ovidiu Anton was selected with his song “Moment of Silence” and had already been assigned a draw position in the second Semi-Final.
Despite this setback, Romania returned to compete six more times. In 2017, Romania achieved one of its best results, finishing seventh, but subsequent years saw struggles. From 2018 to 2021, Romania failed to qualify for the final three times consecutively, those were the first three times in its history which Romania was eliminated during the semi-finals.
In 2022, against all odds, Romania reached the final and placed 18th. However, Eurovision 2023 marked a painful farewell: Romania finished last in its semi-final for the first time ever and received zero points alongside San Marino. At Eurovision 2026, Romania returned to the competition after a two-year absence caused by financial constraints.
Romania at Eurovision 2023
“D.G.T (Off and On)” is the name of the song performed by Theodor Andrei, who represented Romania in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2023, held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The song placed last in its semi-final with zero points, sharing a tie with San Marino. This was the first time Romania finished last and received no points in the competition.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Romania’s 25th participation in Eurovision. Romania joined the contest in 1994 and achieved its best result both in Eurovision 2005 and Eurovision 2010 when Romania finished in third place.
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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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