North Macedonia officially returns to Eurovision for 2027

North Macedonia will officially return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, ending a four-Contest absence from the competition.

Welcome back, North Macedonia!

The European Broadcasting Union has confirmed the Balkan nation will be back on the Eurovision stage when the Contest heads to Burgas, Bulgaria, in May 2027.

In its announcement, Eurovision referenced two of the country's best-known recent entries, declaring that after four Contests away, the Proud nation Circles back to Eurovision.

The confirmation follows months of indications that North Macedonian broadcaster MRT was preparing to return.

In May, MRT Director General Zoran Ristoski said the broadcaster intended to participate in Eurovision 2027 following discussions with the EBU.

He said at the time he was confident North Macedonia would send a representative to neighbouring Bulgaria.

North Macedonia returns after four Contests away

North Macedonia last competed at Eurovision in Turin in 2022, when Andrea represented the country with Circles.

She finished 11th in her semi-final with 76 points, narrowly missing qualification for the Grand Final.

MRT subsequently withdrew from Eurovision amid financial pressures and rising participation costs, although the broadcaster remained involved in the Eurovision family through Junior Eurovision.

North Macedonia's best result came in 2019 when Tamara Todevska represented the country with Proud.

The song won the jury vote and eventually finished seventh overall, delivering North Macedonia its first and, so far, only Eurovision top 10.

The country first appeared at Eurovision in 1998.

Could an Australian represent North Macedonia?

There could also be an Australian connection to North Macedonia's Eurovision comeback.

Melbourne-born singer Bobi Andonov has previously held discussions with MRT about representing the country at Eurovision.

Bobi, whose parents are from the North Macedonian city of Strumica, represented the country at Junior Eurovision in 2008 before later appearing on Australia's Got Talent and developing an international career as a singer and songwriter.

Earlier this year, he said discussions with MRT appeared to be moving towards a possible Eurovision 2027 campaign.

MRT has not yet announced how it will select its artist or song for Burgas.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2027 will take place at Arena Burgas, with the semi-finals on May 11 and 13 and the Grand Final on May 15

After relocating to the United States in 2015, Andonov continued working as a singer, songwriter and producer while building an international audience.

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