The longest qualification streaks following Eurovision 2025

As we look to Austria in 2026, it's time to take a look at which countries hold the longest qualification streaks for qualifying through to the Grand Final from the semi-finals.

The semi-final format was introduced to the Contest in 2004 in order to accommodate the increasing number of countries who wished to participate. The new format allowed all countries to participate every year.

The countries who make up the 'Big Five' do not have to qualify through the semi-final system as their broadcasters make the biggest financial contribution to the organisation of the contest - these countries are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Also exempt from qualifying through the semi-finals is the host country (if they are not one of the 'Big Five'). As Switzerland won the competition in 2024, they were also automatically qualified through to this year's Grand Final as the host nation.

Let's take a look at which countries are getting it right and which are struggling -

1. Ukraine - 15 qualification streak (2004 to 2025)

Up until 2024, Ukraine was the only competing country who held a 100% qualification record. After last year's show they were joined by Luxembourg who re-entered the contest and qualified to the final in both 2024 and 2025.

Although Ukraine missed the Contest in 2015 and 2019, they have qualified through to the Grand Final in every year that they have had to compete in the semi-finals.

Since 2004, they did not have to qualify three times as they were the host country - 2005, 2017 and 2023. They were also exempt from qualifying in 2007 because they had finished in the Top 10 in 2006, however this rule was removed after the Contest that year.

Ziferblat continued their perfect qualification record when they finished 9th at this year's contest with Bird of Pray. Will Ukraine be able to keep up their perfect qualification record in 2026?

2. Sweden - 11 qualification streak (2011 to 2025)

After Sweden's Anna Bergendahl failed to qualify in 2010, Sweden has gone on to make the Grand Final on every occasion it has been required to qualify and has won the contest three times (2012, 2015 and 2023).

KAJ made it 11 qualifications in a row for Sweden this year with Bara bada bastu which went on to finish 4th. Will Sweden be able to make it 12 qualifications in a row next year?

3. Norway - 8 qualification streak (2017 to 2025)

Kyle Alessandro's qualification with Lighter this year means Norway is now in the middle of their longest qualification streak since the semi-final qualification system was introduced in 2004.

They have now made the final eight times in a row including four Top 10 finishes (2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023)!

In fact Norway has an enviable qualification record, only failing to make the Grand Final in 2007, 2011 and 2016. Their last non-qualifier was Agnete's Icebreaker which finished 13th in its semi-final in 2016.

=4. Switzerland - 5 qualification streak (2019 to 2025)

Switzerland was an automatic qualifer to this year's Grand Final after Nemo's win in 2024 with The Code. Before that, Switzerland had qualified five times in a row achieving a 3rd place in 2021 (Gjon's Tears) and  a 4th place in 2019 (Luca Hanni). Their last non-qualification was Zibbz with Stones in 2018.

=4. Finland - 5 qualification streak (2021 to 2025)

Erika Vikman's Ich komme qualification sees Finland make the Grand Final for the fifth year in a row. Their most successful result during this period was Käärijä's 2nd place in 2023 with Cha Cha Cha. Their last non-qualifier was Look Away by Darude featuring Sebastian Rejman in 2019.

=4. Lithuania - 5 qualification streak (2021 to 2025)

Lithuania is also now on a five year qualification streak thanks to Katarsis' Tavo akys. Jurij Veklenko was their last non-qualifer with Run With The Lions in 2019. Their best result in this streak is The Roop's Discoteque which finished 8th in 2021.

=4. Portugal - 5 qualification streak (2021 to 2025)

When Napa made this year's Grand Final with Deslocado, it saw Portugal qualify for the fifth year in a row. Portugal have had two Top 10 finishes during this streak - iolanda's Grito finished 10th in 2024 after Maro finished 9th in 2022 with saudade, saudade. Conan Osíris was Portugal's last non-qualifier in 2019.

=5. Armenia - 4 qualification streak (2022 to 2025)

Armenia made it four qualifications in a row with Parg's Survivor. Their highest result during this streak was 2024's Jako by Ladaniva which came 8th. However Rosa Linn's Snap from 2022 is the second highest streamed Eurovision song of all time on Spotify, thanks to the track going viral after the contest. The last entry not to qualify from Armenia was 2019's Walking Out by Srbuk.

=5. Estonia - 4 qualification streak (2022 to 2025)

Estonia is now in the middle of its longest qualification streak ever thanks to Tommy Cash's Espresso Macchiato which finished 3rd, the highest result of the streak and Estonia's best result since also finishing 3rd in 2002. Uku Suviste's The Lucky One was their last non-qualification in 2021.

Other countries continuing their qualification streak in 2025

Three qualifications in a row

• Austria

• Israel

Two qualifications in a row

• Greece

• Latvia

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

And the winning streak ends for...

Unfortunately Serbia, Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia all ended their winning streaks with their non-qualification this year.

The six year qualification streak for Serbia sadly came to an end with a 14th place in semi-final 2 for Princ's Mila. Their best result in this period was Konstrakta's 5th place finish in 2022 with In corpore sano. Their last previous non-qualification was in 2017 when Tijana Bogićević finished 11th in semi-final 2 with In Too Deep.

This year also marks the first year that Croatia, Cyprus and Slovenia have not qualified to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest since 2022.

On the other end of the scale these nations are struggling:

Azerbaijan - 3 non-qualifications (2023 to 2024)

Azerbaijan now has a three year non-qualification streak after Mamagama's Run With U finished last in semi-final 1. Their last qualifier was Nadir Rustamli's Fade to Black (2022) which finished 16th overall, just scraping in to the final after finishing 10th in semi-final 2.

Other countries continuing their non-qualification streak in 2025

Two non-qualifications in a row

• Australia

• Belgium

• Czechia
  

And the losing streak ends for...

Going in to the 2025 contest, Denmark held the longest non-qualification streak (4), but fortunes turned around this year for the Nordic nation when Sissal made the final with Hallucination. Prior to this year their last qualification was in 2019 with Leonora's Love Is Forever, although they did finish 11th in their semi-final in 2021 with Øve os på hinanden by Fyr og Flamme.

2025 was also the year for Malta and San Marino who both broke their three year non-qualification streaks. Serving finished 17th for Malta and San Marino's Tutta l'Italia finished 26th, just scraping in to the final after finishing tenth in semi-final 1.

Systur was the last act to qualify for Iceland in 2022 but Væb turned their fortunes around with Róa. They finished 6th in semi-final 1 but could only manage 25th place in the final.

They're back!

Shkodra Elektronike's qualification for Albania this year sees the beginning of another winning streak after Besa's Titan failed to qualify in 2024. Albania had qualified for three years in a row between 2018-2021 but that streak was broken with Ronela Hajati's non-qualification in 2022.

Poland also begin another winning streak with Justyna Steczkowska after Luna's non-qualification last year.

What about Georgia & Ireland?

Georgia and Ireland both ended their losing streaks in 2024 with Nutsa Buzaladze and Bambie Thug both making the Grand Final. Unfortunately neither country could keep the momentum going in 2025 with both countries failing to make it out of the second semi final. Ireland's EMMY finished in 13th place and Georgia's Mariam Shengelia was 15th.

Will some of these top nations drop out and can some of these struggling nations make it back to the Grand Final? All will be revealed in 2026!

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