Montenegro at Eurovision 2026: A month before Vienna rehearsals, Tamara Živković has shared initial staging details and an English promo version, though she will perform in her native language. Is she the contest’s next “dark horse”?
Montenegro’s representative for Eurovision 2026, Tamara Živković, provides a first glimpse of what to expect on the magnificent Eurovision stage in Vienna, Austria. With only one month left until the start of official rehearsals, Tamara confirmed in an interview that no dramatic revolutions are expected in the staging of the song “Nova Zora“. The staging is expected to be similar to the national final but will be adapted for the big stage. The song will participate in the second half of the first semi-final of Eurovision 2026, which will take place on May 12th in Vienna, Austria.
Similar Staging to the National Final – with Added Dancers
Tamara revealed that the staging concept seen at Montesong, Montenegro’s national final, will serve as the basis for the Eurovision performance. Juat like the National Final’s performance, she will not be alone on stage: the singer confirmed that in the Austrian capital, she will be joined by dancers who will accompany the performance. “The concept will be similar to that of Montesong,” she noted, indicating that the Montenegrin delegation has chosen to maintain the aesthetic line that already worked for them at home. In the interview, Tamara also shared her experiences from the promotional tour (pre-parties) in Oslo and Stockholm, noting that she is very excited by the warm reactions she received from fans in Europe. “I remain optimistic ahead of the competition and hope to bring Montenegro to the Grand Final,” she added.
Watch the national final version – Montesong:
Alongside the reveal of the staging details, the singer released an official English version of her Eurovision entry today. It is important to clarify that this is purely a marketing move as part of the song’s promotion to the international audience, and Tamara will perform the original Montenegrin version on the Eurovision stage.
Watch the English version of the Montenegrin entry:
Is Montenegro the “Dark Horse” of the Year?
Despite the singer’s optimism, the betting odds currently tell a different story. Montenegro is lingering in 34th place, far from having a realistic chance of qualifying for the final. The fact that the staging will be similar to the one seen in the national final raises the question of whether the Montenegrin representative has any “tricks up her sleeve” that could surprise us during the rehearsal period.
On one hand, a lack of visual changes might keep the song under the radar. On the other hand, we have already learned at Eurovision that a perfect vocal performance and a precise execution of an existing staging can turn a song into a “dark horse” that rises in the charts when it matters most. Will Tamara manage to beat the odds and qualify for the final? We will have to wait for the rehearsals in Vienna to find out, but in the meantime, tell us in the comments what you think about Montenegro’s song?
Tamara Živković – Who Are You?
Tamara Živković is a Montenegrin musician who burst into the Eurovision fan scene last year when she replaced a withdrawn artist in the national pre-selection “Montesong 2024″.
Following that withdrawal, she sought to represent Montenegro in 2025 with the song “Poguban Let”. Despite being one of the fan favorites, she eventually reached ninth place. This year, competing again with “Nova Zora”. she entered as a leading contender — and ultimately won the national selection. Over the past year, she has released several singles that, unfortunately, did not achieve significant commercial success.
Montenegro in Eurovision 2026
“Nova Zora” (in English: “A New Dawn”) is the song to be performed by Tamara Živković, representing Montenegro at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria on the second half of the first semi-final on May 12th. The track was written by Boris Subotić, the notable composer behind last year’s Montenegrin entry “Dobrodošli”, and co-produced with Marko Drežnjak.
The song “Nova Zora” is a dramatic female empowerment anthem, depicting a journey of awakening and liberation from a stifling and toxic relationship. The protagonist refuses to be redefined, choosing strength over submission. Through vivid imagery of storms, rain, and fire, the lyrics portray emotional upheaval leading to rebirth – a “new dawn” symbolizing freedom, independence, and self-renewal.
Currently, Montenegro is ranked 34th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Montenegro’s 14th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Montenegro joined the competition in 2007 and achieved its best result in Eurovision Song Contest 2015 when singer Knez reached 13th place with the song “Adio”.
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Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
