Slovakia will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year.
Slovakian broadcaster RTVS has confirmed to ESCToday that they will not participate in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. This is following the news earlier in the year that they were unlikely to return. The reasoning behind their non-participation comes down to financial issues and low viewing figures.
They have, however, stated that they haven’t ruled out future appearances at the contest.
Slovakia last took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, when Max Jason Mai finished last in the second semi-final with โDonโt Close Your Eyesโ.
Since their debut in 1994, Slovakia have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest a total of seven times. Slovakiaโs best result was in 1996, where Marcel Palonder finished 18th with the song โKรฝm nรกs mรกลกโ. The country has a history of withdrawing and returning to the contest. They were relegated from the contest in 1995 and 1997. They then withdrew from the contest entirely between 1999 and 2008, and again from 2013 onwards.
All Slovak entries between 2009 and 2012 failed to progress from the semi-finals. Their 2011 entry โIโm Still Aliveโ came the closest to qualifying, placing 13th in the semi final. It was also the first Slovak entry to be entirely in English. Although it failed to qualify, their 2010 entry โHorehronieโ by Kristina is one of the most viewed videos on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
Image source: eurovision.tv / Source: ESCToday