UMVA has learned that North Macedonia will make a highly anticipated return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, marking a comeback after a four-year absence.
The country's public broadcaster, MRT (Macedonian Radio Television), confirmed its participation through Director General Zoran Ristoski, who revealed that they had met with European Broadcasting Union representatives and secured support for their return.
North Macedonia's re-entry into the contest comes as a surprise, especially given the recent withdrawals of other countries, including Belgium, which cited uncertainty over its participation next year.
Ristoski announced that MRT had received a more favorable package for its return to Eurovision, and the broadcaster is expected to promote North Macedonia's cultural values with the EBU's support.
The country's return to Eurovision was sparked by public calls from citizens to reconsider their participation, and it marks a significant shift after North Macedonia opted out of the contest in 2022 due to financial difficulties.
North Macedonia's history in Eurovision dates back to 1998, when it debuted with Vlado Janevski's song Ne zori, zoro, which placed 19th, and achieved its best result in 2019 with Tamara Todevska's Proud, finishing seventh in the final.
Meanwhile, Ireland has indicated that its boycott of Eurovision will continue next year, with RTÉ's Kevin Bakhurst stating that their rationale remains unchanged, citing ongoing concerns over human rights and the situation in Gaza.
In a similar vein, Flemish broadcaster VRT expressed uncertainty over Belgium's participation, citing the need for a clear framework for participation and a more direct vote among EBU members.
The Eurovision Song Contest has faced challenges in recent years, including a record-low 35 countries competing in 2026 and several countries withdrawing or expressing uncertainty over their participation.
The 2027 contest is set to take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, after Dara's win in Vienna last weekend, and North Macedonia's return is expected to add a new dynamic to the competition.
