They last participated at Eurovision back in 1993 with “Donne-moi une chance.” And now, after a thirty year absence, Luxembourg has announced its returning to Eurovision in 2024.
Christophe Goossens, CEO of RTL Luxembourg, says:
“We are delighted that Luxembourg is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest – and even more excited that RTL Luxembourg will take on the exhilarating task of selecting the 2024 delegation. As a media company that is dedicated to the people of Luxembourg, we are looking forward to broadcasting the star-studded live shows. Viewers will be able to experience the Eurovision Song Contest in its full glory.”
Martin Österdahl, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest said:
“We are thrilled to welcome back Luxembourg to the Eurovision Song Contest after 30 years. The country has one of the most successful records in the Contest with 5 wins in the first three decades of the competition alone. We very much look forward to working with RTL on their return to the world’s biggest live music event in 2024.”
RTL Luxembourg will release details of its selection process in July 2023.
Luxembourg returns to the Eurovision Song Contest
Luxembourg last competed at Eurovision 1993. Due to changes to the Luxembourg television system, the current EBU member broadcaster RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg — a Luxembourgish news channel — is different to the French and Luxembourgish Télé Luxembourg channel that organised Luxembourg’s Eurovision entries in its 20th-century heyday.
Luxembourg has a larger population than several regular Eurovision competitors, such as Montenegro, Malta, and Iceland. The landlocked country also has a substantial local Eurovision fanbase who would love to see Luxembourg return to Eurovision.
In 2016 the government debated a potential comeback, but RTL ruled out making a comeback due to financial reasons.
At the time, the then director of programming for RTL Luxembourg, Steve Schmit, explained that RTL is a small station that only produces two hours of local television per day. While RTL is a commercial channel that also has public service requirements, he explained that “our strategy is focused on information and magazines.”
Despite being one of the smaller nations in Eurovision (it has a similar population as Montenegro), Luxembourg was one of Eurovision’s heavy hitters. In the 37 years it competed, Luxembourg racked up five wins — matched by France, the UK and the Netherlands and topped only by Sweden and Ireland.
But Luxembourg usually looked abroad for its Eurovision acts. All five of its winners came from outside the Grand Duchy, mostly from France.
Yes discuss
It’s great how Luxembourg will return to the contest after 30 years. For such a small country, they are a Eurovision beast, with 5 wins. But hopefully they wouldn’t pick a French singer singing in French or an English song next year. Luxembourg should preserve their beautiful Luxembourgish language.
Idk how Luxembourg will do, the contest has changed so much since the 90s. France, Netherlands, Belgium, and other western/central countries will prob use bloc voting. And also while this is great when can Kazakhstan debut.
How about Gibraltar? They’re at the Olympics
No they are not?
Apres toi is one of my favourite Eurovision winners, but that was from a long lost era. it’s nice to dream that Luxembourg’s could somehow bring that era back with them
What about Kosovo i hope and they can join
Everyone is excited about another microstate in Eurovision until the televote lines open and they’re immediately forgotten.
Was drunk when I first read this, thought how much have I had.
Woke up bit more sober now, and it’s still here
unaware of what nightmare they will get themselves into, poor luxembourg
What if this surprising comeback fuels the return of more countries to the fold? Andorra? Turkey? Slovakia? Bosnia and Herzegovina? Maybe even the Liechtenstein debut?
By the way, no more news have been heard about Kazakhstan wanting to join.
So excited!!! Good luck to them. I’ll be devastated if Australia doesn’t get our participation extended though!
One of the power house back then is back!!!!
The more the merrier! Welcome back, Luxembourg. 🙂 “Tu te reconnaîtras” and “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” are between my favorites entries ever.
Great news, welcome back Luxembourg!
What about Australia? Hope they extend our participation or ideally make us a permanent member. This year our present agreement ends.
Australia’s so good,
It’s one tough act to follow,
A cure for those weary brown eyes,
And it don’t come easy, it don’t come cheap,
But you don’t give up when you got love,
Cos nothing’s holding you down,
You’ve given everything you have here,
You can do whatever,
And even though we’re not the same,
I promise you that everything’s gonna be alright.
oh-oh-oh-oh
What great news! I hope more countries return… but especially Bosnia and Herzegovina, their entry Bistra Voda is my favorite Eurovision song of all time, Lejla also great.
I’m not sure what to think about this. On one hand the more the merrier and Luxembourg was a powerhouse back in the day, on the other hand they became a powerhouse by recruiting the best talents France had to offer – which would probably not be as successful nowadays.
Does Luxembourg’s music scene has anything to offer, or will they be another country who sends Melfest rejects?
Yeah, also from other countries but mostly France and usually they did better job than actual French entries. I’d hope they will bring their own singers this time around. Song in Luxembourgish would be pretty special too.
I had to check if we were in April. But actually I’m really excited about this. Will Monaco or Andorra be the next? Maybe the wait until the 2024 edition results to see if Luxembourg qualifies. Hope they do honestly.
I don’t know how to take this news, a former contestant coming back is always great news, but being a former powerhouse makes me curious about what they’ll bring next year! 😮
A song in french for sure.
who knows, Ireland is a former power house, and that’s not working out so well these days!
Exactly that’s why it makes me curious
Congrats to Portugal bc this means 12 extra televote points for them!
Don’t forget to congratulate Turkey for all the 12 they can get from the German televote in case they ever decide to return …
My all time favourite Eurovision song was the Luxembourgoise entry in 1988 – Croire – was also the first contest I was lucky enough to attend. Such lovely news.
Amazing news, next Monaco!
What a beautiful news! Welcome back, Luxembourg! I am very happy and wish them the warm welcome into the contest and its all new modern features. I want to embrace their future creativity and music! Sending love to Luxembourg!
Expect Turkey next year, too! One of the election promises of the opposition coalition in the Turkish general election on this sunday is to bring back the Eurovision joy and fun to Turkey. The ruling authoritarian and conservative party that stopped Turkey’s participitation in ESC hates all kinds of diversity and is known for its anti-LGBT rhetoric.
Rooting for Turkey! <3
I became an All-year-rounder fan in 2004, long after Luxembourg last participated, so I don’t have a vivid memory of them. But France Gall’s song is one of the Goldie Oldies in my Eurovision Favourites Playlist and I’m kinda excited to see what they’re bringing in the 21st century. And kinda wanting to add Luxembourguish (spelling?) to the list of languages on that playlist. So, also this means that, if Australia’s entry gets extended and no one takes a break, we’ll have at least 38 songs next year. (Still hoping Montenegro and N. Macedonia come back too to complete the… Read more »
I think North Macedonia is likely to return next year. They broadcasted both semifinals and grand final and I think they telegraphed that they’re just taking a year off break.
Not my intrusive thoughts taking over and being like: Benelux bloc voting can finally be a thing, thank the lord, we clearly need the points lol.
That’s what I commented somewhere else. Put these three on the same semi and you know where 70 points are going to be kept.
Idk Belgian televote is somewhat trustworthy for giving NL some points, but the juries give it 0 very often lol
I don’t think we dutch people feel any sort of connection with Luxembourg
Great news just when many people had given up hope,great to see Luxembuorg returning and hard to beleive its 30 years. Hope other things return next year,as in some shift away from what seems to be the hijacking of the contest for politics,not helped by the BBC this year. I wonder where the condemnation of other invaders all these years has been,Turkey and The UK itself could appear on that list immediately. Russia is to be condemmed but one day and its coming sooner than we think,we will be begging to go back to the days when Russia wanted to… Read more »
troll
If not wanting war or people dying needlessly makes me a troll I wonder what description could be applied to the likes of you??
There’s no coming back for the rxssian question, rxssia will end up dismembered lol
Now we just need a confirmation of Monaco’s return and it’ll be perfect.
About that: https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2023/04/monaco-tvmonaco-starts-operations-in-september-2023s/
More chances for Ronela to come back next years.
God forbid! She had her chance already
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, loves the contest. He was in Torino last year for the final, so this is what I was hoping would happen! Very good news.
A shame it’s not this year, then Anne Marie David could have given out the Luxembourgish points on the 50th anniversary of her win.
Well, next year actually marks the 40th anniversary of the last contest they hosted, Luxembourg City 1984, one that Treni di Tozeur should have absolutely won as we all realize by now…
Désirée Nosbusch as spokesperson!
The Italian and Portuguese entries are the only 2 songs I liked from 84 : think it’s one of the weakest years in ESC history. Must say I’d probably go for Portugal over Italy but o love them both x
Me too but I also adore Turkey, Denmark and Ireland. 🙂 Host entrant was terribly out of tune, worse than Blanka in NF.
Yesss, great news!
Also good to see the Benelux being complete!
Best news this week.
Best news of the year !!!!
Deluxe news today
I admit, I am genuinely shocked. I never thought I’d see the day that Luxembourg would return to Eurovision in my lifetime. Good for them. See you next year.
Vicky was originally Greek
Ooo, how exciting! Welcome back, Luxembourg!
I see EBU is desperate to find additional participants since more and more countries withdraw out of the blue.
Of course Luxembourg is more than welcome!! Now let’s bring back my precious Andorra. <3
The thought did cross my mind.
They need much more viewers as Russia and Turkey aren’t participating and broadcasting the show
OMG no way!! 😀 I’m SO Happy! Welcome back Luxembourg, you were greatly missed! I wonder though what made them change their mind on the competition. Still how amazing is this, I have awaited for this since I started watching Eurovision properly in 2011.
I assume that, as in any organization, Luxembourg TV also makes decisions by 2-3 people. People change and decisions change. I don’t think there is a new agenda right now.
Good news! After many dark thought of which country we’ll loose next, instead there is +1 But seriously – I hope all countries that are competing this year will return for the next and that this return will inspire at least one other country to return as well. Slovakia, perhaps (if Czech Republic will do well enough)?
To see Slovakia back would be refreshing!
I think Monaco will probably soon return
It’s Czechia, please stop this “Republic” nonsense.
It’s not a nonsense – it’s the official name of the country. That short version is how it should be officially shortened (since “Czech” is already name of the language and a citizen of the country as well as adjective for anything relating to the country – it was be a mess to shorten it to that). I prefer the name Czech Republic, but that’s my choice.
Yes, it’s a big nonsense unless you call ALL other countries by their political names (French Republic, Swiss Confederation, Hellenic Republic, Portuguese Republic, Italian Republic, Kingdom of Spain, etc.). Since you don’t, then it’s just silly insisting on this long political name rather than use the normal geographic name of Czechia.
Hopefully others start to come back too. I’d like Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Montenegro.
i can see North Macedonia being back too next year, we will already see them this year in JESC anyway and they have been broadcasting the shows this year too
Montenegro maybe too, not sure depends on if they have enough budget again to remain competitive (but now making a better choice than in 2022 for Vladana)
Turkiye depends on this years presidential elections if Erdogan loses (seems more likely than other years apparently)
What a fantastic surprise!!! Welcome again to the Eurovision family, Luxembourg. Greetings from Spain.
Yes! Excellent news! So happy to read that! Welcome back 🙂
Welcome back it was about time! I’m already wondering what their first entry will be like. I mean it’s been 30 years!
I wonder did the UK stepping into host play a part in their decision to return because I remember them fearing the costs of they should ever win ?
Does anyone else think it will prompt other small countries like Monaco and Andorra to return?
12 points to Portugal ?
100% sure…1/3 of Luxembourg’s population are Portuguese plus some from Cape Verde and Brazil.
What do you think Luxembourg’s Voting history will be? It is next to Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, but its diasporas are more like Switzerland’s in that Portuguese and Ex-Yugoslavs are more predominant groups.
I read the other day that Portuguese people make up half of Luxembourg’s population, it blew my mind
Good news for us(Portugal)!
Could Morocco and Monoaco potentially return at some point too and either Kazakhstan or Liechtenstein debut
I heard Monaco is getting a new broadcaster later this year, so maybe, just maybe, they might come back in 2024.
Liechtenstein debut is just a wild dream. Chances of Morocco returning are the same as chances of Belarus and Bosnia returning.
The only possible return is from Monaco, and it’s actually a high chance that they will return. After that, we can expect Andorra to return
It is highly unlikely for Morocco to participate again in Eurovision. Being primarily a Muslim and conservative society will not broadcast a contest promoting equality. Don’t forget being gay in Morocco is punished by imprisonment with hard labour. Could you imagine broadcasting Eurovision with Conchita winning the competition?
Even in Europe, Moroccans tend to be pretty religious, which isn’t a good thing if we consider that Islam isn’t compatible with European values
Monaco is already working on it, as far as I know.
Forget Kazakhstan, the audiences are extremely low (as it starts super late there) and they are very linked to Russia.
This is amazing! I was obsessed with Luxembourg as a child eurovision fan.
Brilliant news! Welcome back.
Though I think we will be losing some countries after this year…
Hope Luxembourg come back strong as an NQ might have them leave again in 2025
it will be their semi finals debut though
I know but I remember the head of their broadcaster saying in current Eurovision, Luxembourg would probably not qualify and they where using it as an excuse for not taking part for the past few years.
That’s all I’m saying. I hope they have a successful return so that the broadcaster doesn’t use it as an excuse to withdraw then again.
And I’m downvoted why exactly?? Lol