It’s the mountain microstate that gave us “Casanova” and “Salvem el món” on the Eurovision stage.

But fans of Andorra at the Eurovision Song Contest are in for a disappointment.

That’s because broadcaster RTVA has now confirmed it has no plans for the microstate to return for Eurovision 2020 in the Netherlands.

The broadcaster announced the news through a tweet.

In a conversation with excited Eurovision fans, the broadcaster thanked them for their enthusiasm, but said it has no plans to return to the contest.

Andorra fans may have had their hopes buoyed by San Marino’s success this year.

The tiny Republic qualified for the Grand Final for a second time and achieved it’s best result ever. San Marino even managed to place fourth in the televote in it’s Semi-Final.

Andorra will not return for Eurovision 2020

The mountain principality withdrew from Eurovision after the 2009 contest in Moscow.

It followed the withdrawal of Monaco three years earlier and previously RTVA has cited financial issues as the primary reason for withdrawal.

In years since renewed success for the Czech Republic and other small states suggests there is now a route for smaller states to qualify from the semi-finals.

In any event, Andorra won’t be among nations at Eurovision 2020, unless something changes in the twelve months between now and then.

Andorra at the Eurovision Song Contest

The mountain state participated six times in the contest between 2004 and 2009.

In back-to-back appearances in the semi-finals, the closest Andorra came to qualification was 12th place in the 2007 contest in Helsinki.

Songs were typically entered in Catalan, with three entries also using English.

What do you make of the news? Do you think RTVA will change their minds? Do you want Andorra back in the contest? Let us know in the comments below!

49 Comments
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noone
noone
4 years ago

I don’t care about Andorra or Monaco to be honest as both had terrible joke entries, but I would really love to see Luxembourg and Bosnia come back.

More countriees
More countriees
4 years ago

I hope we get Luxembourg and Slovakia back and Kosovo and Kazakhstan to debut!

eurovision6
eurovision6
4 years ago

oh just come back, it was one of my favorite countries during 2006-2009

mariahh
mariahh
4 years ago

I hope we’ll see Slovakia come back next year.
Fingers crossed.

joko
joko
4 years ago
Reply to  mariahh

it could be! they should look at the Czechs how they are qualifying two years in a row

A random russian guy
A random russian guy
4 years ago

why 2009 video shooting > 2019 video shooting?

Darren
Darren
4 years ago

I really wish they would come back. Their participation really brought the Catalan language to the world stage. Their 2008 entry was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me back in the day, I hated myself for liking it haha!

Would love to see them back, along with Monaco and Luxembourg. If San Marino can do it, then do can they.

Joshua
Joshua
4 years ago

Can someone who knows more than me explain me why microstates don’t participate? Many claim financial issues, which is understandable, but not really believable. Both Luxembourg and Monaco are extremely rich, San Marino is partially helped by Italy (RTV San Marino is partially owned by RAI)… only Andorra seems to be the only one who can actually and realistically complain about financial issues.

Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

for their broadcasters, participating costs more than they earn. pure economical reasons. also san marino’s broadcaster doesn’t pay for nearly anything as most of the costs are covered by the entrant.

Monte
Monte
4 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Because lets be real, there are little chance to win small country. What San Marino do this year was so great, but usualy nobody from public dont give votes for small countries,this is sad. They are never favourites,people vote only for favourites.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
4 years ago

#prayforluxembourg

Henrikh Mugosa
Henrikh Mugosa
4 years ago
Reply to  MrBrightside

I would love to see Luxembourg back! Monaco & Andorra, too. But Luxembourg is the one I want the most back.

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

Of course it’s an idea that’s easier on paper than to make it actually happen, but I always wondered what it could happen if Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco and San Marino competed together as “European Microstates” or some other name. They could follow the Belgium system (each year, a different broadcaster would be responsible for their entry) or have a “multinational final” between them. It could be fun.

Rimig
Rimig
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

That would actually be really cool!

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

That’s definitely one of the best Eurovision-related ideas I’ve heard in a while! If only some higher-ups could see this…

Carles
Carles
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Or, Andorra could cede its representation to TV3, the Catalan public TV, which does not precisely lack money, so it could be paid without problems. Something like “Andorra represented by Catalonia”. This will promote both our country and Andorra. What do you guys think?

AlexandeerSwe
AlexandeerSwe
4 years ago
Reply to  Carles

Andorra and which country? You maybe meant Spain? Since, as far as I know, Catalan TV3 is financed with the money they get from the rest of Spain, thus Spain would pay the costs of the Andorran representation.

In any case, I wish that Andorra was back on ESC but I reckon that, given the current situation, it’s quite unlikely to see TV3 representing them, since it would be used in a political way.

Cirb
Cirb
4 years ago

Next is Monaco and Luxembourg as usual. LOL

Safiya
Safiya
4 years ago

I would be happy to see any country returning or any new country joining. The more, the merrier.

Jackie Chan on Ramadan
Jackie Chan on Ramadan
4 years ago
Reply to  Safiya

I don’t understand why Bulgaria or anybody else will not return, as long as Europe has singers willing to pay from their own pocket. I don’t like this burden for the singer, but it can be a good start for the country.

Joshua
Joshua
4 years ago

I think that’s exactly the problem: not everyone is able to pay it all by themselves. The guys from Bosnia and Herzegovina did it in 2016, but no one else came the following years to pay a visit to the Bosnian broadcaster saying they wanted to represent them at Eurovision.

Monte
Monte
4 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Thats so sad, Bosnia has great songs and singers. This every year making favourites is bad for ESC because more countries will go away from ESC not come back. Be real before competition this year we all heard for few singers,that is sad.

tom
tom
4 years ago

Fingers crossed for Lichtenstain and Luxembourg …..even Luxembourg when the contest is in Holland !!

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

I would love to see Slovakia return considering Czech Republic’s success in the recent years.

I’m not sure if we’ll see Bulgaria again next year, but Ukraine will be in the Nerherlands for sure.

And Turkey.. please let there be a miracle, I really want to see my country back in the contest!!

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Maybe Kosovo also

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
4 years ago

All I want is Kazakhstan to debut (and Ukraine and Bulgaria ofc but Ukraine is confirmed and Bulgaria probably isn’t going to participate)

JacquesL
JacquesL
4 years ago

The Czech Republic is not such a small state. It is the 14th largest of all 41 participating states this year. 27 states are smaller than the Czech Republic.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  JacquesL

True. I think the comment was more a comment on the poor track record of The Czech Republic before they returned in 2015, which would be comparable to the similar finishes of micro states in the 2000s.

tom
tom
4 years ago
Reply to  JacquesL

They maybe thought about Slovakia lol

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Unless their name is Ukraine, I can’t see any countries returning that haven’t come back recently. And let’s be honest: while it’d be great to see microstates compete again, Monaco and Andorra didn’t necessarily bring the jams.

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
4 years ago

Greetings from Texas. I have been in the Eurovision bubble only four years now. I hope one day to see the following countries participate that I have missed out on: TUR, LUX, LCH, AND, MOR, and SVK. I also hope KAZ gets invited soon. If the EBU can invite AUS, then why not welcome KAZ?

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  KYLLITO

Right, if the EBU can invite Austrailia, how can they justify not letting Kazakhstan participate?

The answer is restricting participation to full EBU members only.

Carles
Carles
4 years ago
Reply to  KYLLITO

Yeah true specially when Kazakhstan has part of it in Europe.

Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

they would’ve qualified easily in 2007 if there had been two semi-finals and no automatic qualifiers based on the previous year’s top ten

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Man, that was a terrible system. Whole load of songs missed out on the final that would’ve totally deserved it.

Alex
Alex
4 years ago

Same with 2006, still kinda feel Kate Ryan and the Polish guys were robbed. If only there had been 2 semis from the beginning. But 2007 was quite ridiculous, the semi was longer than the proper show itself, and it cost Andorra and Portugal , and a few others their deserved place in the final. But hey, at least we didn’t forget about them!

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

I bet you anything Portugal, Andorra, Cyprus, and Iceland would’ve gotten through if there had been two semis. Alas.

Héctor
Héctor
4 years ago

I read not so long ago that they would be open to a collaboration with TV3 (Catalonian broadcaster) as they did before.

Carles
Carles
4 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

I think that was the case when Andorra first participated in 2004. But I would love it.

Jackie Chan on Ramadan
Jackie Chan on Ramadan
4 years ago

Is that time of the year when the only news are :
Andorra has no plans to return
Morocco has no plans to return
Liechtenstein has no plans to return

yodenman
yodenman
4 years ago

Agreed and the Vatican City have declined the invitation. Apparently the Pope can’t hold a tune. Admittedly that didn’t stop San Marino this year.

Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  yodenman

the pope released an album in 2016 but it flopped. it’s called ‘wake up!’

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Seems to have had the opposite effect

Vlad F
Vlad F
4 years ago

Belgium released a song in 2019 but it flopped. It’s called «wake up»!

Jackie Chan on Ramadan
Jackie Chan on Ramadan
4 years ago
Reply to  Vlad F

You all, don’t pretend you don’t know what “wake up” means. Are the last words of super illuminati Madonna. Just own it. It’s an agenda.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Luxembourg might- although I don’t think Luxembourg qualifies as a microstate.

KESC
KESC
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

San Marino: Hold my beer

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Luxembourg is not a Microstate. It’s just a very small nation.

Carles
Carles
4 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

Kinda like Andorra.