| Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest | |
 | |
| Participating broadcaster | Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) (1993–2025) |
| Participation summary | |
| Appearances | 30 (17 finals) |
| First appearance | 1993 |
| Last appearance | 2025 |
| Highest placement | 7th:1995,2001 |
 For the most recent participation seeSlovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 | |
Slovenia has been represented at theEurovision Song Contest 30 times since its debut in1993, having hosted a qualification round (Kvalifikacija za Millstreet) inLjubljana for seven countries due to the influx of new nations wishing to join the contest.[1] The Slovenian participating broadcaster in the contest isRadiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO).
Slovenia's best result is seventh position achieved on two occasions; in1995 with "Prisluhni mi" performed byDarja Švajger and in2001 with "Energy" byNuša Derenda.[2] Since the introduction of the semi-finals in2004, Slovenia has qualified for the final on eight occasions. As of2025, Slovenia has not made it to the top ten since their seventh place finish in 2001, only making it to the thirteenth position in2002 and2011. Having only missed two contests from 1993 to 2025, RTVSLO opted not to participate in2026 due to the inclusion ofIsrael in the context of theGaza war.
Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) is a full member of theEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1 January 1993, thus eligible to participate in theEurovision Song Contest since then. It has participated in the contest representing Slovenia since its38th edition that same year.
Before its independence in 1991, Slovenia was part ofYugoslavia. SixYugoslavian entrants in the Eurovision Song Contest came from the formerSR Slovenia (1961,1962,1966,1967,1970, and1975). The contest was broadcast in the socialist republic by theYugoslav Radio Television's (JRT) affiliate RTV Ljubljana.
After thefall of Communism across Europe in the early 1990s and theDissolution of Yugoslavia, newly independent Slovenia was one of seven countries that had emerged from theEastern Bloc wishing to join the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the influx of new countries wishing to participate, the EBU introduced a pre-qualifying round for countries that had either never participated in the contest at all, or in the case of former republics of Yugoslavia, had not previously competed as nations in their own right. This was, however, merely a 'sticking-plaster' measure that was plainly not a sustainable solution for future years, as it would not be seen as remotely equitable. But in the meantime, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Estonia, and Slovenia were left to battle it out in a qualification round. The EBU selected RTVSLO to host the event inLjubljana.[3] Held on 3 April 1993 at the RTVSLO studios, Slovenia was one of three countries to qualify, finishing in first place with "Tih deževen dan" performed by1X Band. The band were previously selected to represent Slovenia through RTVSLO's national selectionSlovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1993.
Slovenia's debut at Eurovision fared reasonably poorly finishing in a mere 22nd place with just 9 points. Due to the poor result, Slovenia was relegated from the 1994 contest and had to wait until 1995 to enter again. For their return in 1995, RTVSLO organised the same national selection process as 1993 to determine their entry.Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1995 resulted in the selection ofDarja Švajger with "Prisluhni mi". Švajger achieved Slovenia's best result to date at the contest, reaching an impressive seventh place including ten points from Greece and the United Kingdom.[4] In 1996, RTVSLO introduced its long-running national finalEvrovizijska Melodija (EMA). This selection process was used every year until the country was relegated for a second time in2000 due to a poor average score. Slovenia returned in 2001, using the EMA format again. 2001 marked the second time Slovenia achieved seventh place withNuša Derenda and "Energy". This remains the country's most recent top ten result to date.[2]
In 2004, the EBU introduced a semi-final round in order to control the number of countries entering the contest every year. Due to not placing in the top ten the previous year, Slovenia was forced to compete in the semi-final round for the 2004 contest. After winning the national final EMA 2004, the country was represented by the duoPlatin with the song "Stay Forever". The performance proved to be disastrous with Slovenia only receiving five points placing 21st out of 22, hence failing to qualify for the final. The following two years also saw Slovenia absent from the Eurovision final, withOmar Naber andAnžej Dežan both failing to qualify for the final. By 2007, Slovenia was one of only five countries that had not made an appearance in the final since 2003. EMA 2007 resulted in the victory ofAlenka Gotar with her operatic pop song "Cvet z juga". This became the first ever Slovene entry to qualify for the Eurovision final, placing seventh in the semi-final with 140 points. In Slovenia's first Eurovision final appearance since 2003, Alenka Gotar reached a respectable fifteenth place with 66 points. In the three following years,Rebeka Dremelj,Quartissimo feat.Martina Majerle andAnsambel Žlindra andKalamari all failed to qualify for the final, with the latter only receiving six points in the 2010 semi-final.[5]
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2011 saw a change in Slovenia's luck at the Eurovision Song Contest, qualifying for the final for the first time since 2007. Following her victory at the Slovene national final EMA 2011,Maja Keuc represented the nation with "No One". Participating in the second semi-final, Maja fared extremely well, placing first with the juries with 146 points and seventh in the public televote with 68 points.[6] This meant that Slovenia qualified to the final in an impressive third place. In the final, Maja achieved the country's best result since2002, placing thirteenth with 96 points.[6][7] It was later revealed that the juries placed Slovenia in fourth place with 160 points, while the public placed the entry 22nd with 39 points. Maja's song remains a fan favourite today, with the Slovenian public voting it as the nation's best ever Eurovision entry in a 2020 poll.[8]
Due to the success in 2011, RTVSLO introduced a large scale national final for the 2012 contest inBaku, Azerbaijan.Misija Evrovizija was a five month long selection process that took place between August 2011 and January 2012, which resulted in the selection of two singers to advance to Misija EMA 2012 (phase two of the selection). Ultimately, Eva Boto was selected to represent the country with "Verjamem". Boto failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 17th place only ahead of Slovakia. RTVSLO confirmed Slovenia's participation in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on 15 December 2012 after speculation that a withdrawal was being considered.[9] The Slovenian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest has traditionally been selected through EMA, which has been produced with variable formats. For 2013, the broadcaster opted to forego the use of this national final in order to internally select the Slovenian entry due to time constraints and reduced funding.[10] RTVSLO selectedSlovene-American singerHannah Mancini with "Straight into Love". The entry finished in last place in the first semi-final with just 8 points, marking the first time that Slovenia has finished in last place in a Eurovision event.
For 2014, RTVSLO confirmed that they would organise EMA 2014 after being the last country to confirm participation despite more speculations over a potential withdrawal.[11] The winner of the eighteenth edition of EMA wasTinkara Kovač with "Round and Round". Kovač reached the final marking Slovenia's first final appearance since 2011. The country finished in 25th place with 9 points (8 from Montenegro and 1 from Macedonia). For the 2015 contest, Slovenia was represented byMaraaya with "Here for You". The duo qualified for the final in 5th place, including twelve points from Azerbaijan and Montenegro. In the final, Slovenia finished in 14th position with 39 points - the country's best result since 2011. Following the contest, "Here for You" went on to enter the 'Top 50 Charts' in Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Finland and Belgium.[12]
For the following two years, Slovenia was absent from the final withManuElla and Omar Naber failing to qualify. However, in both 2018 and 2019 Slovenia qualified for the final twice in a row once again. Lea Sirk reached 22nd with "Hvala, ne!" andZala Kralj &Gašper Šantl achieved fifteenth place with 105 points - the most points ever scored by Slovenia in a Eurovision final.
The successful result in 2019 provoked RTVSLO to expand their national final format. In 2020, EMA FREŠ was introduced as a pre-selection for the main EMA competition. The selection gives new and upcoming Slovenian artists a chance to promote themselves and fight for a place in EMA.[13] Having won EMA 2020,Ana Soklič was due to representSlovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with "Voda". However, after the contest was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, RTVSLO internally selected her to represent Slovenia in 2021 with "Amen". She failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 13th place with 44 points.
On 8 October 2021, RTVSLO confirmed that both EMA FREŠ and EMA would return for the Slovenian selection for theEurovision Song Contest 2022, with a revamped format from the first edition.[14] On 19 February 2022, after a three month long process, it was determined thatLPS would represent Slovenia at theEurovision Song Contest 2022 inTurin,Italy. At the contest, LPS finished last with 15 points and failed to qualify from the first semi-final, lengthening Slovenia's absence from the final. It was later revealed that the band finished last in their semi-final, marking Slovenia's worst result at the contest in ten years.
Following the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO considered withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.[15] However, after discussions with the Music Commission of the Programme Council, the broadcaster opted against a withdrawal, and confirmed its participation in the 2023 contest, held inLiverpool, on 15 September 2022.[16] After the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO decided to change both the selection format for the Slovenian entry, deciding to internally choose their act for only the third time and introducing Maša Kljun as the country's new head of delegation. On 8 December 2022, RTVSLO revealed that they had selectedJoker Out to represent Slovenia in Liverpool, with their song "Carpe Diem" released on 4 February 2023, during a special presentation show 'Misija Liverpool' that celebrated 30 years of Slovenian participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.[17][18][19][20] At the contest, Slovenia qualified for the final for the first time since 2019, finishing in fifth place in the second semi-final with 103 points. In the final, Slovenia placed 21st with 78 points, securing twelve points from bothSerbia andCroatia in the jury vote and televote respectively.[21]
Following the highest viewing figures for the contest recorded by RTVSLO since 2015, the broadcaster confirmed Slovenia's participation in the2024 contest on 14 September 2023,[22][23] later announcing that a brand new national finalMisija Malmö ("Mission Malmö") would be introduced as their selection method for the contest;[24][25] however, the broadcaster ultimately cancelled the format, opting for an internal selection.[26]Raiven was ultimately selected and represented Slovenia in 2024 with the song "Veronika". She qualified for the final, marking a second consecutive qualification for the country, ultimately placing twenty-third in the final, with twenty of her twenty-seven points all coming fromCroatia.[27] On 9 March 2024,Mario Galunič [sl], editor at RTVSLO, drafted a document envisaging a plan to return selecting the Slovene entries for the contest through the national final EMA from 2025 until 2028.[28][29]EMA 2025 took place on 1 February 2025, withKlemen selected to represent Slovenia at the2025 contest inBasel with the song "How Much Time Do We Have Left?", who ultimately failed to qualify at the2025 contest inBasel with a thirteenth place finish in the first semi-final.[30]
On 26 May 2025, RTVSLO stated that it would reconsider its participation in the contest if the EBU did not respond adequately to concerns surrounding the "transparency of the vote", referring toIsrael's televote win in 2025.[31] In early September 2025,Evrovizija.com reported that general director of RTV SLO Ksenija Horvat is not satisfied with the EBU's handling of the controversies surrounding the 2024 and 2025 contests. She stated that the broadcaster's questions were "more or less ignored" and added that "we clearly won't be going to the Eurovision Song Contest".[32] The following day, RTVSLO stated that it would decide whether to participate the2026 contest after the EBU makes a decision on Israel's future participation and address concerns surrounding the "transparency of the vote" in December, adding that it would not participate if Israel is allowed to compete.[33] Following the 95th General Assembly of the EBU on 4 December 2025, RTVSLO confirmed that it would not participate in the 2026 contest inVienna, adding that it would not broadcast any of the shows on its channels.[34] This will mark Slovenia's first absence since 2000 and the first time in Slovenia's history as an independent country without a live broadcast of the contest.
Prior to Yugoslavia's dissolution, artists from theSlovene federal unit representedYugoslavia in1961,1962,1966,1967,1970, and1975.
| 1 | First place |
| 3 | Third place |
| ◁ | Last place |
| X | Entry selected but did not compete |
| Songs | Language | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Slovene | 1993,1995,1996,1997,1998,2002,2005,2007,2008,2009,2010,2012,2014,2018,2019, |
| 14 | English | 1999,2001,2003,2004,2006,2009,2011,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2021,2025 |
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Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the performers, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others.[35]
| Year | Head of delegation | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Petar Radović | [36] |
| 2010–2022 | Aleksander Radić | [37] |
| 2023–2024 | Maša Kljun | [38][39][40] |
| 2025 | Aleksander Radić |
| Year | Costume designers | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Jelena Proković | |
| 2023 | Damir Raković [sl] | |
| 2024 | Anika Opara | |
| 2025 | Vesna Mirtelj |
Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals for the semi-finals and final of the Eurovision Song Contest, ranking all entries except for their own. The juries' votes constitute 50% of the overall result in the Eurovision grand final alongside televoting. This was previously the case in the semi-finals as well until the 2023 contest, when the juries were dropped in favour of 100% public voting. The jury panel does still judge semi-final performances in the case of any issues with public televoting.[47] The modern incarnation of jury voting was introduced beginning with the2009 contest.[48]
| Year | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member | 5th member | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Anžej Dežan | Nuša Derenda | Matjaž Vlašič | Aida Kurtovič | Dušan Hren | |
| 2010 | Urša Vlašič | Miroslav Akrapovič | Sandra Feketija | Matjaž Bogataj | Dušan Hren | |
| 2011 | Mojca Menart | Lovro Ravbar | Nuša Derenda | Eva Černe | Miha Vardjan | [49] |
| 2012 | Slavko Ivančič | Omar Naber | Raay | Lea Sirk | Urša Vlašič | |
| 2013 | Dušan Hren | Urša Vlašič | Darja Švajger | Raay | Katja Koren | |
| 2014 | Helena Blagne | Anže Langus Petrovič | Robert Pikl | Izak Košir | Alya | [50] |
| 2015 | Tinkara Kovač | Andrej Šifrer | Sandra Feketija | Miha Gorše | Alex Volasko | [51] |
| 2016 | Marjetka Vovk | Tadej Košir | Klemen Mramor | Urša Vlašič | Eva Hren | [52] |
| 2017 | Darja Švajger | Nika Zorjan | Aleksander Lavrini | Gaber Radojevič | Jernej Dirnbek | [53] |
| 2018 | Raiven | Mistermash | Nikola Sekulovič | Mitja Bobič | Alenka Godec | [54] |
| 2019 | Žiga Klančar | Urša Mihevc | Ula Ložar | Mate Bro | Urša Vlašič | [55] |
| 2021 | Bojan Cvjetićanin | Nuša Derenda | Boštjan Grabnar | Amaya | Raay | [56][57] |
| 2022 | Alenka Godec | Arne Međedović | Gaber Radojevič | Lucija Harum | Tilen Artač | [58][59] |
| 2023 | Ditka | Lara Baruca | Matjaž Vlašič | Hugo Smeh | Jernej Sobočan | [60][61] |
| 2024 | Filip Vidušin | Martin Štibernik | Matevž Česen | Lea Sirk | Maja Keuc | [62][63] |
| 2025 | Gregor Starsbergar | Jon Vitezič | Urban Koritnik | Ana Soklič | Eva Boto | [64] |
Slovenia has never hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, though the EBU selected RTVSLO to host the qualification roundKvalifikacija za Millstreet for the 1993 contest. The show, which was broadcast on 3 April 1993 from RTVSLO's studios inLjubljana, was presented byTajda Lekše [sl].[3]
Between 1993 and 1998, Slovenia sent a native conductor to the contest every year the country took part until the orchestra was dropped by the EBU in 1999.[65]
| Year | Conductor[c] | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 (KzM) | Petar Ugrin | [d] | |
| 1993 | Jože Privšek | [65] | |
| 1995 | [65] | ||
| 1996 | [65] | ||
| 1997 | Mojmir Sepe | [65] | |
| 1998 | [e] | [65] |
For the show's broadcast on RTVSLO, various commentators have provided commentary on the contest in the Slovene language. At the Eurovision Song Contest after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting country to invite each respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote on-screen.[66] RTVSLO has also arranged radio broadcasts of the contest, featuring the respective semi-final that Slovenia is competing in and the grand final.[67] RTVSLO has also organised a live broadcast of the final on its 4D platform with simultaneous television commentary. For the2023 contest, Žana E. Čeh provided online commentary.[68] On 4 December 2025, alongside announcing its withdrawal from the2026 contest, RTVSLO confirmed that it would not broadcast the event at all. This will be the first occasion since the1985 contest that Slovenia’s broadcaster will not provide a live transmission, and the first time since independence that the contest will not be broadcast in the country.
From1961 until1991, SR Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia and JRT's affiliate RTV Ljubljana broadcast the contest with Slovenian commentary.
| Year | Television | Radio | Spokesperson | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel | Commentator(s) | Channel | Commentator(s) | |||
| 1992 | SLO 1 | Miša Molk | No broadcast | Did not participate | ||
| 1993 | Tajda Lekše [sl] | Radio Val 202 | Unknown | Miša Molk[f] | ||
| 1994 | Damjana Golavšek [sl] | Did not participate | ||||
| 1995 | Miša Molk | |||||
| 1996 | Miša Molk | Mario Galunič [sl] | ||||
| 1997 | SLO 1(Slovene), TV Koper-Capodistria(Italian) | Unknown | Andrej Karoli [sl] | Mojca Mavec [sl] | ||
| 1998 | SLO 1 | |||||
| 1999 | Mira Berginc | |||||
| 2000 | Andrej Hofer [sl] | Did not participate | ||||
| 2001 | No broadcast | Mojca Mavec | ||||
| 2002 | Nuša Derenda | |||||
| 2003 | SLO 2 | Andrea F | Peter Poles | |||
| 2004 | TV SLO 1(final) TV SLO 2(semi-finals) | Unknown | Jernej Vene | |||
| 2005 | Mojca Mavec | Radio Val 202 | Katarina Čas | |||
| 2006 | No broadcast | Peter Poles | ||||
| 2007 | Radio Val 202 | Jernej Vene and Aida Kurtović | ||||
| 2008 | Andrej Hofer | Aida Kurtović | ||||
| 2009 | ||||||
| 2010 | No broadcast | Andrea F | ||||
| 2011 | Radio Val 202 | Maruša Kerec [sl] | Klemen Slakonja | |||
| 2012 | Lorella Flego | |||||
| 2013 | Andrea F | |||||
| 2014 | Radio Val 202 Radio Maribor [sl] | Ana Maria Mitic and Domen Savič | Ula Furlan [sl] | |||
| 2015 | Anja Hlača Ferjančič and Maruša Kerec | Tinkara Kovač | ||||
| 2016 | Andrej Karoli [sl] | Marjetka Vovk | ||||
| 2017 | Miha Šalehar [sl] and Maruša Kerec | Katarina Čas | ||||
| 2018 | Amaya | |||||
| 2019 | Andrej Karoli | Lea Sirk | ||||
| 2021 | Mojca Mavec | Miha Šalehar, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj | Lorella Flego | |||
| 2022 | Andrej Hofer | Maruša Kerec | ||||
| 2023 | Maja Stepančič, Maruša Kerec, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj(SF2) Maja Stepančič, Miha Šalehar and Uršula Zaletelj(final) | Melani Mekicar [sl] | ||||
| 2024 | TV SLO 1(SF1, final) TV SLO 2(SF2) | Mojca Mavec | Radio Val 202 | Maj Valerij and Igor Bračič | Lorella Flego | |
| 2025 | TV SLO 1(final) TV SLO 2(semi-finals) | Maj Valerij(SF1, final) and Igor Bračič(final) | ||||
| 2026 | No broadcast | No broadcast | Will not participate | |||
| Show | Commentators | Channel | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kvalifikacija za Millstreet | Gregor Krajc [sl] | TV SLO 1 | |
| Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest | Andrej Hofer [sl] | ||
| Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits | No commentary | ||
| Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light | Andrej Hofer |
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Mr Hoffer has been the Slovenian commentator at the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008...
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