It’s the Balkan country that notoriously withdrew from Eurovision in 2020 so the broadcaster could buy a fleet of cars. But now it appears that Montenegro will return to Eurovision 2022. Broadcaster RTCG has reportedly confirmed their intention to compete in Turin next year.

The broadcaster confirmed their Eurovision comeback to Eurovision news site ESCToday. No further details were given of the comeback so it’s not known the broadcaster’s reasons for returning or how they will select their entry for Eurovision 2022.

Most recently, Montenegro used the national final Montevizija. Prior to that, the broadcaster internally selected an act.

Montenegro’s 2020 withdrawal

Montenegro last competed at Eurovision in 2019. The Balkan country had provisionally confirmed for Eurovision 2020, however they were not on the list of confirmed acts released by the EBU.

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 and 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.”

It is not known if RTCG followed through with its plan to buy new cars.

The broadcaster also opted to not return to Eurovision 2021. No reason was given for this decision.

Montenegro at Eurovision

This isn’t the first occasion Montenegro has taken time off then returned to 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.

What do you think? Are you happy to see Montenegro return to Eurovision? Who would you like to see represent Montenegro in Turin? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Montenegro Eurovision news here

81 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
PP77
PP77
2 years ago

They comeback to ESC 2022, maybe only because Italy is their neighbour by sea. If we have ESC in nordic country , I think we wouldn t see Montenegro in ESC 2022.

Azaad
Azaad
2 years ago

I think Montenegro just wanted a break and didn’t want to return in a pandemic year so they were never aiming for a permanent departure. The broadcaster’s only issue with ESC is results.

Luc
Luc
2 years ago

Ok, I didn’t see this coming, but welcome back Montenegro! The more, the merrier 😀

Pork Loin D’ici
Pork Loin D’ici
2 years ago

bring back the astronauts from Baku.

Dandi Dansa
Dandi Dansa
2 years ago

Those astronauts were from 2013 when the contest was held in Malmö, Sweden.

Jar
Jar
2 years ago

Inb4 triggered Americans discover Montenegro for the first time and try ‘cancel’ an entire country. Rofl… where did it all go wrong?

Efraim
Efraim
2 years ago
Reply to  Jar

What are you even talking about?

Sale
Sale
2 years ago
Reply to  Efraim

Sometime time this year some americans discovered that Montenegro exists, and they were offended by it’s name because it has Negro in it and said that the name is rascist. It was funny tho cause negro literally means black in spanish and italian lol and the full name meaning being the black mountain

Bird Lover
Bird Lover
2 years ago

montenegro is a terrible country at eurovision in terms of the music they bring.. but i kinda like seeing them compete, what a cute country

Devito
Devito
2 years ago

And that’s how Serbia is guaranteed with 24 points in 2022. 😀

DonutLover
DonutLover
2 years ago
Reply to  Devito

Well jury gave Serbia 8 points back in 2016. so maybe 20 lol

1998
1998
2 years ago
Reply to  DonutLover

Wrong. Montenegrin jury gave to Serbia 6 points in 2016.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

What a pleasant surprise! I wasn’t expecting them to come back this year, since they left for financial reasons and I assumed the pandemic would hurt them even more. I hope they got their cars too!

Chr
Chr
2 years ago

I assume they will internally select Isak Sabanovic.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Chr

Who’s that?

DonutLover
DonutLover
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

He became quite popular after the regional music competion where he ended up in 2nd place.. In the competiotion singers from several exYu countries can participate!

Alvaro
Alvaro
2 years ago

How exciting! Hope they bring something unique and current.

Also wishing for Armenia’s return, them not compiting this year was sad and understandable.

Denis
Denis
2 years ago

I guess they have saved up enough cash to pay for both cars and ESC:)
Who is sponsoring?

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

Welcome back Montenegro if this is true.
Hopefully Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey can come back too.

Jay
Jay
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Unfortunately, Slovakia said no, at least for ESC 2022. It’s kinda sad for me as a Slovak citizen, but no surprise

Jo.
Jo.
2 years ago

yay let’s see the dmol members going solo

esc_fl
esc_fl
2 years ago

Welcome back Montenegro!

Eugenie
Eugenie
2 years ago

Great! Can’t wait for new entry for them.

Heyey
Heyey
2 years ago

I hope they internally select Nina Žižic (2013) or Andrea Demirovic (2009, 2019 NF). With a good song they could make it back to the finals.

Last edited 2 years ago by Heyey
Pineaple
Pineaple
2 years ago
Reply to  Heyey

Why do they need someone who has already done Eurovision before? I just hope we get someone fresh with a good song!

Heyey
Heyey
2 years ago
Reply to  Pineaple

Yeah I guess you are right. But it might be just that I don’t know many Montenegrin singers outside of Eurovision. And I guess they might be more eager to go to ESC since they know the experience and could maybe get their revenge for NQ. “Jam sam ti san” was also a bop so I trust in Andrea that she could produce another one.

Joe
Joe
2 years ago

I’m so pleased that we know at least one country is coming back for sure (yes, we’re treating the Armenian comeback as an open secret, but I’m not saying anything until we get it in writing). Welcome back Montenegro! The more the merrier!

Aeria
Aeria
2 years ago

I’d be more than happy to see them back. They’re like a total wildcard every year. You have absolutely NO idea what kinda stuff they’ll come up with. Hope it’s true!

DonutLover
DonutLover
2 years ago

*Serbia is twerking*
Jokes aside welcome back Montenegro,be smart about your approach this time around!

CatcoolH
CatcoolH
2 years ago

Welcome back Montenegro!!! I can’t wait to see what you’ll bring us!!!

Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Excellent news!!! 🙂

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Sot
Sot
2 years ago

Oh my God let’s goooo! You won’t believe this but Montenegro is one of my fav countries in ESC, they’re just so funky and they personally never let me down… We love you Montenegro!

Guorga
Guorga
2 years ago

Great news! I still listen to their 2018 entry.

Heyey
Heyey
2 years ago

Yaay! Welcome back Montenegro! Wasn’t expecting this, but it is always the more the merrier. Hopefully they can bring something along the lines of Adio, Igranka or Moj Svet. I feel like 2022 could be their year.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

italy bringing all the boys to the yard ! this is amazing news, i hope turkey comes back as well.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
2 years ago

I want Senidah for Montenegro 🙂

1998
1998
2 years ago

Interesting, I thought they would skip and this one…

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago

They need to change approach. since they are very close with serbia they can do the same tactic that cyprus follows, taking famous people from Greece (in this case Serbia) and internally selecting them for the contest. Montevizija if you dont have the sources is doomed to fail

Sot
Sot
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

They COULD do that but Cypriots are TECHNICALLY Greeks, while Montenegro is as similar to Serbia as Bosnia and Herzegovina (which means ever so slightly…) Not wanting to bring politics here of course

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

Sorry Sot, but your info are not correct. I am from Montenegro and it is true that Montenegro and Serbia are the same nation. Just like Greece and Cyprus. Don’t wanna bring politics but also don’t want to read false information 🙂 Anyway, I am very happy that my country is in Eurovision again!

Sale
Sale
2 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Montenegro and Serbia are not the same nation lol

gea
gea
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

Yes, they have to change their approach, but we have seen with Serbia that even big or popular names (like Hurricane) have only regional appeal, rarely more than that. Montenegro needs a song that will receive points from random countries, not only from their neighbours and ex Yugoslav diaspora. Btw, Serbian music industry is full of Montenegrin singers, backing vocals and musicians in general, they don’t have to borrow a big Serbian name for a contest. But they might need all the production available in Serbia (which is the largest and the most influential music market in ex YU), but… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by gea
BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  gea

Well, I think Serbia’s 15th place is less that they had only regional appeal and more that there were just too many diva dance bops in the Grand final and the votes just got split all over the place. Yes they had a top 10 placing in the Televote but The really low jury score kept them out from the top 10 overall.

Denis
Denis
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

And that top 10 televote appeal is no doubt mostly regional votes,neighbours plus diaspora votes.That is the problem with most Serbian and Montenegro entries, they haven’t had mass appeal since Joksimovic bowed out of composing..

gea
gea
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

If you analyse from which countries Serbia received televote points, you will see it is mostly neighbours + diaspora. Serbia received very high marks from limited number of countries and zeros from the rest. Also, Serbia was ranekd quite low in most countries where Serbia did not receive any points. If you look at the average score, Serbia drops from 9th place in televote to between 15th and 18th. I am not saying anything against the girls, they were excellent. I am just saying even the high televote result for Serbia this year was the result of a strong diaspora… Read more »

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago

Woohoo! I didn’t expect that. Now it remains to be seen what Turkey will do..

Last edited 2 years ago by Frisian esc
Apollo
Apollo
2 years ago

This was totally unexpected! However, let’s be honest, we don’t have high expectations for Montenegro at all.

Roelof M
Roelof M
2 years ago

Ah, welcome back Montenegro! They have sent some real gems in the past, too bad their most recent entries have been nothing but lacklustre. I hope they’ve grown in their time off and that they’re now back to finally crack the top 10. Their return is welcome, but it’s honestly not that surprising given that their reason for withdrawing was monetary issues instead of “moral issues” like with Hungary and Turkey.

Jar
Jar
2 years ago
Reply to  Roelof M

HUNGary just wants to pound Turkey in its oppressed hole. Let nations with little to no human rights fester and rot together far away from an inclusive event like ESC

Tuvia
Tuvia
2 years ago

In 2019, the Swedish broadcaster commentator said of the Montenegrin group “It’s a group made up by individual singers who all have a failed solo career behind them. So they all teamed up, so they can fail together instead.”

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago
Reply to  Tuvia

did he confused the mamas with dmol or what-

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

well unlike dmol the mamas had a good song

esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton

but they are not juries pets like Sweden so I guess that explains a lot Bjorn

Last edited 2 years ago by esc1234
Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

not my name but go off

Denis
Denis
2 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

LOL, at least the Mamas has a career. Where is D-Mol¨s career? Not even people in Montenegro supports them or listens to them. So where are they?

Last edited 2 years ago by Denis
Matt Church
Matt Church
2 years ago
Reply to  Tuvia

And yet it was still better than Slavko’s X-Factor performance at judges houses.

kir
kir
2 years ago

Welp, another mediocre song with poor staging resulting in a streak of NQ plus biased/rigged voting both jury and public.
Welcome back, Montenegro!

Sale
Sale
2 years ago
Reply to  kir

Yeah, no.

Croatia
Croatia
2 years ago

I am very surprised by Montenegro’s return to Eurovision, firstly because of the complicated political and social situation in the country, and secondly because of the debt to China, for the highway, I hope that despite this chaos they will choose a song in the national language, something like Igranka or Adio

Sale
Sale
2 years ago
Reply to  Croatia

China dept has been resolved and the political situation is not that bad pls stop putting us in such a bad light all the time. Thanks.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

Well, Call me surprised. I didn’t think Montenegro was going to come back, but yay more for the party. I guess they just needed a little break to re-organize themselves after failing to qualify four years in a row. Let’s hope 2022 is their comeback year.

Ulvi-Roko Oosterhuis
Ulvi-Roko Oosterhuis
2 years ago

Montenegro is my favourite ESC country, I’m so happy. Podgorica 2023 after Paris 2022!!!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
2 years ago

paris 2022 ? in your dreams lmao

sam
sam
2 years ago

i dont know if paris 2022 is gonna work

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
2 years ago

Great news !! Welcome back Montenegro, I’m hoping for a great song !!

Alo
Alo
2 years ago

Good news for them and for Serbia who has already 24 points haha

Lorenzo
Lorenzo
2 years ago

Welcome back! Hope they don’t send the same type of songs of the last years

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  Lorenzo

Let’s hope Montenegro has used it’s time off wisely and bring something that could actually make it to the final for once.

Lorenzo
Lorenzo
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

They showed they can actually do it.
Something like Igranka (even if it failed to qualify, it still was probably the highest televoting result ever for Montenegro) or Adio should do the job. Not a copy of them, just something as GOOD as those two

esc2022milan
esc2022milan
2 years ago

Even though I don’t like their entries I’m happy that their are back and with the chain of long withdrawals recently every country that will be back will be welcomed. Armenia, now it’s your turn!

Ellen
Ellen
2 years ago

Such good news to read!! I thought they wouldn’t be back because of the contractual and economical conflict the country have with China. But I’m wrong I guess.. Now I’m waiting for Turkey to return!

1998
1998
2 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

I thought they won’t return because they were crying over their bad results. For Turkey, don’t expect them to return at all.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago
Reply to  1998

Latvia, Turkey, Bosnia and Slovakia are/were crying over their bad results. Montenegro is BY FAR the smallest countries out of these 5 so have you thought about the broadcaster being close to bankruptcy? (They aren’t but it’s still complicated)

Cokono
Cokono
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

Turkey crying over its bad results with entering the top 10 in almost every year is beyond ridiculous lol.

1998
1998
2 years ago
Reply to  Sot

I clearly read the statement regarding their participation in 2021 contest when the head of delegation said: “Ladies and gentleman, let me cheer you up by saying that we will not embarras us again in Eurovision!”

Ellen
Ellen
2 years ago
Reply to  1998

You never know. I didn’t expect at all Montenegro to come back next year but here we are. Let’s have a little bit of hope for Turkey – and Armenia and Hungary too!

Sale
Sale
2 years ago
Reply to  Ellen

China dept has been resolved, the salaries are going higher here so I don’t see any economical conflicts now in Motnenegro, the situation is pretty stable and I still don’t know where all the fuss is about, coming from a person that lives here. Participation was never about funds, it was about the DESIRE to do something, to do Eurovision, which the board at RTCG at that time didn’t have, but now the board has been changed so I hope for better results too. The country is stable so pls enough with the conflict stories. Thank you. P.S. RTCG is… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Sale
Ellen
Ellen
2 years ago
Reply to  Sale

I read the information about the conflict with China in an article a long time ago and didn’t know it had been solved since (btw I didn’t want to start any drama here). It is good to have an answer from a local. Thanks.

Sale
Sale
2 years ago

Omg I’m soo happy, now I hope we cancel Montevizija and go internal and produce a good song that can go top 10

Ashton
Ashton
2 years ago

love this for them and for us

Nils
Nils
2 years ago

yes! good, unexpected news. really happy to hear that! welcome back, montenegro!