Eurovision 2016 is still the guts of a year away, but already speculation is mounting as to what countries might make their debut in Sweden. On the eve of this year’s edition, China’s head of delegation confirmed that they were exploring participation options. The next day, a Kosovan politician tweeted that he knew the partially recognised state would participate in the 2016 contest. Both events sent the rumour mill into overdrive… until today, when the EBU denied that either country would be taking part.
The denials were made on Twitter in answer to fan questions. Interestingly, there is a subtle difference in the responses. On Kosovo the wording was unequivocal – Kosovo “cannot take part in Eurovision”. In contrast, there are “no plans for China to take part right now”.
The EBU on Kosovo
@escserbia @eurovisionpress Currently Kosovo has neither an Active nor Associate EBU Member and therefore cannot take part in @Eurovision
— EBU (@EBU_HQ) June 3, 2015
The EBU on China
@electrowaffle @Eurovision No plans for China to take part right now – but they do have an Associate EBU Member — EBU (@EBU_HQ) June 3, 2015
Does this mean we should expect a Chinese participation sooner rather than later? And after Australia’s unprecedented “guest” spot in Vienna, is it even safe to completely rule out Kosovo? Share your thoughts below.
As a chinese, i would prefer that China will not participate. Otherwise, due to the voting system, China will definately win (as there are many chinese all over the europe), which will make the Eurovision less fun.
Hope they invite Argentina this year…we are huge fans of the show…the first south american 12 points! A dream to be come true!!!
I think china Won’t Debute in 2016 but maybe 2020 or 2025
kosova really need to be part of eurovision kosova is in europe austalia is not azejbarchan is not and they are in eurovision why kosova cant and thanks guys for suporting.
sorry for mistakes english problem
OMG don’t believe anything until the official list from EBU about participants in 2016. Australia was announced as a participant in February 2015. So it’s not official for China. And Kosovo have a hope to participate. Do you remember also, the returning of Italy in the official annoucement of the participants? So Andorra Luxembourg which have announce their no participation it’s not official!
As a Chinese, I am so happy that China will not participate. Actually, not a lot of people in China know Eurovision…
“China isn’t European enough! Like Australia!” Basically these people are complaining that China isn’t white. Firstly, China has been interacting with Europe since the Roman Empire, long before Australia was colonised. Secondly, Asian countries already compete (Israel) and Morroco has taken part so why is everybody getting so buthurt about China, it sure as hell be the first dictatorship in Eurovision….. *COUGH COUGH* Russia *COUGH COUGH*
Here`s the thing. Serbia and Kosovo have an Agreement (19th April 2013) by which both sides agreed to not block each other on European organisations for membership including EBU, EU, UEFA, etc, so if Serbia really keeps ists word than there will not be such a disaster . Also in this agreement Kosovo will have its national prefix number (Austria is going to apply in ITU in the name of Kosovo, and Kosovo will not pay any rent to Austria ) so about the tele-voting there is now problem. RTK , national Kosovo`s broadcaster is an observer member and there… Read more »
zoharica When Kosovo participated in Eurovison young dancers in Norway , RTS had chief, said then that Serbia wili not participate in that contest or any contest with Kosovo. Serbia participate with Kosovo and European first game in Baku 2015, and Olympic in Rio 2016 (Serbia in this moment can send minimum 16 athletes to OI in Rion 2016) only because we had many athletes who wili compete in that game . At Olympics in London , Serba sent 115 athletes in 15 sport. If we had only 1 to 6 athletes (6 people is maximum for Eurovison on stage)… Read more »
I hope to no see Australia at Eurovision 2016, because of voting from their one jury members. We read about that on this bloggs.
Chris
Because to provokate Serbia, and they have huge suport in countries like USA, Germany, UK …who support war at Kosovo in 1999 and then declaration of indepedence without support from Serbia and UN.
Thank God the rumors are untrue …
China … no comments … Let Iran take part, why not?
Kosovo … people must love geopolitical voting so much that another share of votes between Kosovo and Albania in the same vein as Cyprus and Greece would be …. spectacular … to say sarcastically the least …
More great music, but not an avalanche of countries to point of too much, please!
No to both China & Kosovo. China does not have a European culture like Australia has & their music industry is pathetic (as earlier said, Taiwan & HK dominates Chinese pop, not mainland China. We will just end up with imitation songs). Kosovo is not even a real country. If Kosovo is allowed, they then should allow Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossettia, Nagorno Karabakh & Northern Cyprus to participate. They are unrecognized states. I’d rather they convince back Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, Slovakia etc to join the contest as they are real countries rather than failed state Kosovo. If they truly which… Read more »
50 European countries are taking part in the first European Games in Baku next week. Kosovo will also compete there, together with Serbia, Russia, Spain and all the other countries that don’t recognize them. And no one even thought for a second to withdraw, not even Serbia. So I really doubt it Serbia will boycot Eurovision if/when Kosovo joins! Or anyone else. European Games and Eurovision are both international contests, only in different things.
@ Yudhistira Mahasena
Turkey is also an European country. Istanbul is on the European territory. Moreover, Turkey is a candidate to join the EU.
@ Deven O’Kearney
In Kazakhstan there is a Polish minority. So I would add also Poland.
Australia’s entry in Eurovision 2015 was PAID for under a commercial agreement as per other posts …
It would be great to see Kosovo, another nation, another opportunity to build ties and for healing of such a fractured part of the world.
Australia PAID to be included in Eurovision 2015. This was done through a deal with the network that televises the competition as well as through Sony Records (Guy Sebastian’s label) to expand Guy’s music into the European market.
As I stated a few days ago, we cannot rule out anything regarding China and Kosovo after Australian case. The EBU is able to change every rule. The door has been opened. I’m only curious what made this Kosovan politician to announce the debut without the EBU’s approval?
All that I ask is that whoever is permitted to participate, it should be done within the contest’s established rules for that year. It hurts the credibility of the contest when the organizers unilaterally suspend several rules after song submissions have already started, the way they did this year with Australia.
China is TOO much a stretch. Australia makes sense at least cause of some historical ties. China has absolutely nothing in common with our current countries. As for Kosovo, you would definitely see Serbia withdraw and likely the others that don’t recognize it. The EBU does not want to cause conflicts between members so it is the right decision to hold off with Kosovo.
I’m gutted that we won’t be seeing Kosovo in Eurovision. But I’m kinda relieved that China won’t be taking part. It’s way too soon for them to be taking part.
One country I’m eager to see in Eurovision in Kazakhstan. Even if it means another 12 points to Russia or Ukraine.
Here are the countries I expect will be friendly with Kazakhstan:
OBVIOUSLY!!!!!!
Russia
Ukraine
Azerbaijan
Turkey
Belarus
MOST LIKELY
Armenia
Georgia
Latvia
Lithuania
Moldova
Bulgaria
Israel
Montenegro
Serbia
Bosnia Herzegovina
Hungary
Czech Republic
Albania
MAYBE
San Marino
Am I the only person who thinks China participating would be cool?
CookyMonzta
Okay, if you say so. Nice username btw.
yay good thing to know
@Deniz: The buildup for Australia started even before Eurovision 2014, especially when they invited Jessica Mauboy to sing. Come 2015, it happened.
Book this one. I think we will see China in Stockholm next May. I’ve got short money on it, even though I still believe they’d sooner go to South America first, and get Brazil.
That actually makes complete sense. China is an Asian country, therefore doesn’t take part in Eurovision. There are already a few Asian countries in Eurovision: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Israel. But Kosovo? For me Kosovo is a part of Serbia, so Kosovars are admitted as Serbians or Albanians in Eurovision.
Kosovo 2017
I’d rather have Kosovo take part, than China. However I don’t think either should take part. China shouldn’t take part as one, they are not even a member of the EBU in any form, two they have no Eurovision History, and three has not really got the European links Australia has.
However, I would like Kosovo to take part. But I don’t think they should, as the geopolitical situation is still difficult to get over, and it could risk withdrawals from the nations who don’t recognise Kosovo.
China’s an Asian country.
NO China it’s the Eurovision song contest not Asia as all ????
Personally I’d like to see Kazakhstan in the contest. Even though they are partly in Europe, they’re not in the EBA. However, since the broadcasting area was expanded in 2007 to include Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, I can’t see a reason not to expand the eastern border of the EBA from the 40° to 50° parallel to include these countries naturally. It would make sense! It does for me at least. If an expansion like that would happen in the future, it would lead to Kazakhstan being inside the EBA. Then there would be nothing to hold Kazakhstan back from… Read more »
To ditch Australia now would be so unfair. Let Australia stay, say no to China and say yes to KOSOVO when fully recognised and has EBU membership..simple.
No China please
the asian nations like kazakhstan, china and the others will never stop trying to join eurovision unless asiavision becomes a reality.
Australia’s participation this year was fun, it was a celebratory year and it’s always great to mark a special occassion. And in 10 years time fine invite them back for another party. But until then can we please let Eurovision be Eurovision.
Why have other countries got to get involved ??? just go away
The only reason why the responses were different for both Kosovo and China is that China, like Australia has got a broadcaster that is a associate EBU member, whereas Kosovo does not yet, they are neither associate of full members of the EBU. So, realistically, as it stands now, China has more of a chance at participating at Eurovision than Kosovo has, but since they are associate members, they would have to be a once-off, guest participant. Would I like to see Kosovo join ESC? YES! of course, they are a European country. Would I like to see China join… Read more »
Awww I was getting excited for Kosovo, but I have a gut feeling if they don’t debut in 2016 they will in 2017. My gut feeling also predicted Australia this year so you never know 😉
Kosovo will never take part as long as it is not a recognized country by ALL the EBU states (Greece, Serbia, Cyprus, Spain, Russia have not recognized Kosovo)
I doubt China will take part, Australia was interested in Eurovision due to the european population living in the country. In China, nobody watches Eurovision (or even know what it is). BUT they could be asked to send an interval act. That’s interesting.
I’d love Kosovo, but inviting China would be overkill on the non-European thing. I would like Australia back though if they continue with high quality acts like Guy!
They didn’t seem to rule out Australia’s participation though. Interesting to see if we will have another Australian entry next year.
Glad about China not participating (Australia is near enough European whilst China is nowhere near). Kinda sad about Kosovo since the more countries the merrier but I’m glad at the same time because it would politicize the contest a bit more than it already is. Im also hoping that Australia don’t get to return (it was nice having them for one year but anymore than that, you may as well call the contest World vision) but I’ve a feeling they will come back in Stockholm/Gothenburg/Malmo/Linköping
I’m sure nobody wanted to see Serbia withdraw so this is generally a good thing
as for China I have a sinking feeling they will ultimately end up participating, but not this year <3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Never trust the word Rumour. I always do, and I always fail.