Participation At Risk: Luxembourg’s RTL executive Dave Gloesener says the country’s Eurovision participation now depends entirely on future government funding decisions.
Luxembourg may not participate in Eurovision in the coming years, as the country’s future in the contest now depends on whether the Luxembourgish government decides to continue financing the project.
In an interview with Luxembourgish national broadcaster RTL, Dave Gloesener, one of the network’s senior executives, revealed that Luxembourg’s Eurovision participation is far from guaranteed. According to him, a crucial meeting between RTL management and the government is expected to take place in the coming weeks, during which the country’s future in the contest will be decided.
Gloesener explained that the governmental funding allocated for Eurovision participation was originally approved for a limited three-year period between 2023 and 2026, with the goal of enabling Luxembourg’s return to the competition after decades away from the Eurovision stage. Now that the funding period has expired, a new decision is required. He stressed that the discussion is not connected to Luxembourg’s recent Eurovision results, but rather to broader budgetary considerations.
Eva Marija’s Result Raises Questions
Luxembourg participated this year in Eurovision 2026, held in Vienna, Austria, and was represented by Eva Marija with the song “Mother Nature”. Despite high hopes for a successful result, Luxembourg finished 12th in the second semi-final, ending the night 62 points away from qualification. It marked the first time in Luxembourg’s Eurovision history that the country failed to qualify for the Grand Final.
Following Luxembourg’s dramatic Eurovision return after more than three decades away from the contest, the country initially received relatively positive reactions. In 2024, Luxembourg finished 13th with Tali and the song “Fighter”. The comparison between the two recent participations raises an obvious question – did the disappointing result in 2026 lead Luxembourg’s leadership to reconsider its investment in Eurovision?
RTL Awaiting Government Decision
While RTL is responsible for producing the national selection and choosing Luxembourg’s Eurovision artists, the national broadcaster does not finance the project alone. According to Gloesener’s statement, Luxembourg’s participation in Eurovision is entirely dependent on governmental support, and without that funding, participation would not be possible.
Such a development would not be unusual in a country where cultural projects often rely heavily on state support. However, the key question now is whether the Luxembourgish government still sees value in maintaining Eurovision participation, especially following the underwhelming result in Vienna and the significant financial costs associated with producing a Eurovision entry.
Luxembourg in Eurovision 2026
“Mother Nature” is the title of the song that was performed by Eva Marija, who represented Luxembourg at Eurovision 2026, to be held in Vienna, Austria, in the second semi-final on May 14th. Eva finished 12th in the second semi final, with 60 points, which wasn’t enough for her to qualify for the Grand Final.
Eurovision 2026: This was Luxembourg’s 40th participation in Eurovision. Luxembourg joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. Luxembourg’s last victory was at Eurovision 1983 with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by singer Corinne Hermès. In 2024, Luxembourg returned to the competition after a 31-year absence.
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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
