They’re the Balkan country known for their sometimes quirky Eurovision entries. But Montenegro won’t be returning to Eurovision in 2021. Broadcaster RTCG has confirmed that the Balkan nation will not make a comeback in Rotterdam.

The broadcaster confirmed their decision to ESCToday. The broadcaster did not give a specific reason for why they weren’t returning to Eurovision.

In late 2019, RTCG confirmed they would not compete at the planned Eurovision 2020. At the time, the broadcaster said their decision was partly financial, partly related to Montenegro’s results at Eurovision. A spokesperson said, “Eurovision costs around €130,000 each year. Our music representatives have achieved modest results for the most part. The finals were hard to come by.”

Instead, the broadcaster intended to reallocate its Eurovision budget towards buying new cars. The spokesperson explained, “This year we decided to invest that money in the RTCG fleet renewal. The plan is to buy five new cars and this significantly improves the safety of our crews, which travel over 1,000 kilometres on a daily basis.”

Montenegro at Eurovision

This isn’t the first occasion Montenegro has taken time off from the song contest. After debuting as an independent nation in 2007 and competing three times, Montenegro withdrew in 2010 and 2011, also for financial reasons.

Montenegro’s best years at Eurovision were 2014 and 2015, where Sergej Ćetković and Knez each made it to the grand final with emotional ballads in the Montenegrin language. Knez’s song “Adio” finished in 13th place in the grand final, giving Montenegro its best-ever result.

Confirmed countries for Eurovision 2021

Fans are one step closer to learning the confirmed line-up for Eurovision 2021. 10 October was the latest that broadcasters could withdraw from the contest without penalty.

So far, 38 countries have provisionally confirmed for Eurovision 2021

But still to confirm are broadcasters from Belarus, Portugal and the UK. As well, while Moldova‘s Natalia Gordienko appears to be working on her entry for Eurovision 2021, broadcaster TRM has yet to comment on their participation.

The EBU is expected to release the list of confirmed acts for Eurovision 2021 in mid-November.

What do you think? Are you disappointed that Montenegro won’t be returning to Eurovision 2021? Which other countries would you like to see return to Eurovision? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Montenegro Eurovision news here

46 Comments
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Alex
Alex
4 years ago

Fans: Why won’t you return to ESC?

RTCG: Hehe our cars go vroom vroom

Ashton
Ashton
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

car go brrr

sam
sam
4 years ago

let’s replace montenegro with hungary, kazakhstan, or BOSNIA

Esc43
Esc43
4 years ago

2014 n 2015 Montenegrin entries were good

ESCFanGA
ESCFanGA
4 years ago

Unfortunately I’m pretty sure Hungary won’t compete in Eurovision next year either (and most likely in the foreseeable future) due to their government.

1998
1998
4 years ago

Now Montenegro officially withdrew.

Yudhistira Mahasena
4 years ago

So that means we’re not seeing G-Friend singing for Montenegro next year? Sorry, I’m a K-pop fan who has always had an imagination of K-pop artists singing in Eurovision.

Ashton
Ashton
4 years ago

This is not a K-pop page. This is a Eurovision page. I dont understand why you would ever believe a K-pop group would EVER represent Montenegro. Please, no more.

sam
sam
4 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

kpop has no place at eurovision or in music in general

Ashton
Ashton
4 years ago
Reply to  sam

That’s not true. Some K-pop is very very good. Just, as of right now, South Korea is not in Eurovision. If one day they are, I will welcome K-pop in with open arms.

Robert
Robert
4 years ago

Maybe bring a good contemporary song to Eurovision is an idea..

Nikko
Nikko
4 years ago

Apparently RTCG needed more cars

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

Looking at the comments, I should better not mention, that “Adio” is my last place of 2015. Lalala, just randomly walking by *whistles* 😀
Anyways, it’s always sad, even if I dislike some or most entries, that’s just personal music taste after all…

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

I’m sorry to hear that, but it wasn’t totally unexpected. For an already withdrawn country to return, perhaps better conditions are needed.
The ESC history of Montenegro in this decade has been interesting, to say the least. For me, they’ve almost always been in either top 10 (Adio, Inje, Moj svijet), or bottom 5 (Space, Real Thing, Euro neuro, Heaven). The only exception was Igranka, the song I’m okay with, but still confused about.
Hope to see them again in the near future.

Last edited 4 years ago by Colin
Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
4 years ago

I don ‘t like most of the entry’s from Montenegro, but I loved their songs from
Sergej ?etkovi? – Moj Svijet and Knez – Adio
I hope they will partcipate in the coming years

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Their Montenegrin language entries (especially the Balkan ballads) were always very good. Definitely one of the countries who benefitted from performing in their native language.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Given that Hungary identified LGBTQ+ and immigrant inclusion in the contest as their issue with it (vile reasoning but it’s Fidesz and they’re in charge) I could see them returning when the contest isn’t hosted by the West and then sticking around for a bit if they do well.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

That’d be pretty freakin’ ironic since they’ve fielded immigrants as contestants before.

NickC
NickC
4 years ago

Montenegro just had a government change, No? Can it be related to this? Particularly because the new government is less pro-Western?

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  NickC

Given how regularly Russia competes, I can’t imagine that itself would be the reason. If the government is really socially conservative as in Hungary’s case, maybe, but a shifting relationship of foreign policy on its own wouldn’t impact participation.

I think the reasoning they gave was actually accurate. It’s costly for small broadcasters, and the opportunity cost of competing/not competing rises when you consistently finish with bad results.

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

Montenegro started of last decade by not competing two years in a row. Is this a trend?

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

If it means that they’ll be back for 2022 I sure hope so

sam
sam
4 years ago

they’re just sore losers. let’s hope for hungary and keep our spirits high for kazakhstans long awaited debut

Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

legends better use the saved money to buy a private jet to reach the eurovision 2022 host city

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

“Instead, the broadcaster intended to reallocate its Eurovision budget towards buying new cars.”
I thought this was a joke on Robyn’s part but no, that’s really what’s up.

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

To be fair, cars used for news gathering are not cheap, assuming RTCG is actually investing on getting new OB vans (outside broadcast vans).

ESC8
ESC8
4 years ago

I was 100% sure that we wouldn’t get Hungary back, but I had really high hopes about Montenegro. Ok, they’re not the powerhouse of the contest, but for me, the more the merrier. My favourite entry was Igranka (2013) because it was something way different and I also like Adio (2015). Regarding the other countries not having confirmed: I don’t think that the UK is withdrawing, but I really don’t know why they’ve been so silent. I thought that maybe Belarus was about to withdraw but since they’ve confirmed for JESC I think that they’ll do the adult ESC as… Read more »

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  ESC8

Hungary still may come back tho.

1998
1998
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Hungary still technically never withdrew. But as time is passing it may happen that Hungary will withdraw as well.

ESC8
ESC8
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

I really hope that they will come back, but I don’t see this happening this year at least. If they were about to make a comeback they would have said something. This year could be more convenient for them, meaning that last year they didn’t specify the reasons for their withdrawal (we suspect that it was a goverment choice, but this was never confirmed). This year they could use the pandemic excuse, they could say that they don’t want to participate due to covid19 concerns.

RavensHeart
RavensHeart
4 years ago

UK will obviously be present. We’ve competed every year since 1959, the longest continual record of ANY country.

Aris Odi
4 years ago
Reply to  RavensHeart

Actually Germany has competed in every contest except for 1996 where they were eliminated in the pre-qualifying round

Lujxk
Lujxk
4 years ago

Not that tragic though, I can’t remember a good song from Montenegro at ESC

kop
kop
4 years ago
Reply to  Lujxk

Adio is great, one and only Zeljko Joksimovic, can’t miss with that formula. Btw hope we will still see Knez’s daughter Ksenija performing for Serbia in 2021!

Ashton
Ashton
4 years ago
Reply to  Lujxk

disregarding slavko’s vocal, space actually slaps

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Lujxk

Moj svijet, Adio, Inje.

NickC
NickC
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Inje was horrendous, sorry. Other two were excellent. I also liked Igranka.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  NickC

It was pretty excellent in my book. I am glad to see you agree from at least two of them. I liked Igranka too, although not as much as these three. It’s an unusual song and they took the risk. Overall, certainly on a good side.

Unfortunately, after these four, my ratings of their songs decline drastically. But this is still a proof they can do well. 🙂

Rottendam
Rottendam
4 years ago

Excuses for Montenegro withdrawing:

2019: New cars
2020: Car owner virus

Kung Frederik 90
Kung Frederik 90
4 years ago

No. Please Montenegro Think twice and don’t quit the show.

Nicky
Nicky
4 years ago

and approach Aca Lukas daddy pls, i’d love that turbo folk god at ESC so badly

Tom
Tom
4 years ago

I think we will have the same number of ESC countries as in 2020 …till 10 of october, countries could withdraw without penalization i guess

esc2021rotterdam
esc2021rotterdam
4 years ago

It really seems like that countries that weren’t to participate in 2020 won’t join in 2021. The only countries from 2020 that haven’t confirmed if they participate are: UK, Belarus and Portugal. I don’t see the UK withdrawing as they are in the big 5 and BBC is participating (but it’s really hard to bet if they choose James again or go with a new act), I actually think Belarus will participate because they’re participating in the junior eurovision this year despite the political situation there but I think that only lukashenko supporters will be able to go, about Portugal… Read more »

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Aren’t the BBC kind of obligated to do ESC annually, because they’re big 5? If they withdraw, wouldn’t they have to relinquish their status? I do think that the BBC can internally select James on a point of fairness, especially when the British public thought the song was decent.

Brits are far more angry with the government and given that the BBC is quite independent for a state funded broadcaster, people wouldn’t really associate Eurovision and the BBC with the government’s callous incompetence during the pandemic.

Nas
Nas
4 years ago

Should we still count on Hungary even if they displayed a disinterest towards Eurovision since 2019 NQ, possibly?

Piotr
Piotr
4 years ago

It’s sad to see any country leave, even if they didn’t serve quality in some time. Hope to see Montenegro return soon (cause in Hungary’s case the return is hardly believable if government stays the same way it is now)