Hungarian Prime Minster, Peter Magyar, calls the country’s Eurovision boycott “nonsensical”, as national broadcaster MTVA targets a potential return for Eurovision 2027.
Hungary withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 after the edition held in Tel Aviv, and has since opposed a return each year. Last night, elections were held in Hungary, and the far-right government fell, in a step that paved the way for the country’s return to the competition. Now, the elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar proudly states – I will act for Hungary’s return to Eurovision as soon as possible.
The Hungarian national broadcaster MTVA was heavily influenced, according to many, by the policies of the Hungarian government, which in recent years was controlled by the far-right “Fidesz” party led by Viktor Orban. Orban’s party is characterized by anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and in the eyes of many, this is the reason why Hungary withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest, which openly promotes the LGBTQ+ community.
In the past month, elections were held in Hungary and their result was a historic upset in favor of the “Tisza” party, a center-right party led by Magyar, which champions pro-Europeanism. In an interview Magyar gave to the network ORF, he described the Hungarian boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years as “nonsensical”, and said he would instruct those in charge of the field to examine options for a return.
Now, the elected Hungarian government faces challenges including “cleaning house” of officials from the previous regime, changes to the constitution, and strengthening the country’s orientation towards the European Union and the EBU.
If the government succeeds in all its challenges, and the Hungarian national broadcaster is fully functional by this coming autumn, all signs indicate that, in all likelihood, we will soon watch the Hungarian national broadcaster announce its return to Eurovision 2027.
A Celebration of Returning Countries
Hungary is not the first country signaling a return to Eurovision 2027 after a number of years of non-participation. North Macedonia confirmed yesterday its participation in Eurovision 2027, and Slovenia, which also underwent a political transformation, could also announce its return to Eurovision after the boycott it led this year.
Bulgaria’s victory in Eurovision 2026 opened a window, perhaps a one-time opportunity, for a renewed dawn of Eastern European countries in Eurovision. It brings a cheap and “close to home” Eurovision that could slightly ease the burden on these countries, most of which are not very rich in resources and money.
Hungary in Eurovision
Hungary last participated in Eurovision in 2019, represented by singer Joci Pápai with his song “Az én apám“. Hungary did not qualify for the final, the first time this happened since 2009, and subsequently withdrew from Eurovision 2020, which was ultimately canceled.
