Bosnian public broadcaster BHRT has confirmed it will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, held in Bulgaria.
BHRT has confirmed to ESC Today that they will not compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 for financial reasons, as the broadcaster has debts to the European Broadcasting Union and is under sanctions by the organisation. BHRT has been sanctioned by the EBU since December 2016 due to these unpaid debts and has been unable to return to Eurovision ever since.
The public broadcaster is in a critical financial situation, forcing them to halt most of their programs before openly calling on donations through their official webpage. This situation is mainly due to Republika Srpska public broadcaster, RTRS, retaining the television licence fee they should return to BHRT, despite a judgement by the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska in favour of BHRT.
Bosnia & Herzegovina’s last appearance in the Eurovision was in 2016, when a quartet formed of former representative Deen, alongside Dalal, Ana Rucner and Jala, failed to qualify for the Grand Final with “Ljubav je”, finishing 11th in their semi-final.
Image source: Albin Olsson |Source: ESC Today
Bosnia & Herzegovina debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent country in 1993. At the time the country was at war with Yugoslavia, with the singers having to leave Sarajevo under the cover of darkness to make it to Ireland. Bosnia & Herzegovina’s best result in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 2006, when Hari Mata Hari finished 3rd in the final with 229 points with “Lejla”. The country received eight sets of 12 points, more than any other country. Bosnia & Herzegovina last participated in 2016, when Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner & Jala finished 11th in their semi-final and failed to reach the final.
