The longest qualification streaks following Eurovision 2026

Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming/EBU

As we look to Bulgaria in 2027, 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 Four' 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 and the United Kingdom.

Also exempt from qualifying through the semi-finals is the host country (if they are not one of the 'Big Four'). As Austria won the competition in 2025, 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 - 16 qualification streak (2004 to 2026)

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.

LELÉKA continued their perfect qualification record when she finished 9th at this year's contest with Ridnym. Will Ukraine be able to keep up their perfect qualification record in 2027?

2. Sweden - 12 qualification streak (2011 to 2026)

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).

Felicia made it 12 qualifications in a row for Sweden this year with My System which went on to finish 20th. However the streak was almost broken this year. In semi-final 1 the Swedish entry scored just 17 points from the televote. Without the intervention of the professional juries—who placed the entry 7th with 79 points to pull Sweden up to 9th place overall—they would have missed out on advancing. Will Sweden be able to make it 13 qualifications in a row next year?

3. Norway - 9 qualification streak (2017 to 2026)

Jonas Lovv's qualification with Ya Ya Ya 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 nine 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. Finland - 6 qualification streak (2021 to 2026)

Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen's Liekinheitin qualification sees Finland make the Grand Final for the sixth 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 - 6 qualification streak (2021 to 2026)

Lithuania is also now on a six year qualification streak thanks to Lion Ceccah's Sólo quiero más. 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.

5. Israel - 4 qualification streak (2023 to 2026)

Israel made it four qualifications in a row with Noam Bettan's Michelle finishing in 2nd place. All four of these entries have finished in the Top 5, with their last non-qualifier being Michael Ben David's I.M in 2022.

Other countries continuing their qualification streak in 2026

Three qualifications in a row

• Austria (as the host country they did not have to qualify in 2026)

• Greece

Two qualifications in a row

• Albania

• Denmark

• Malta

• Poland

And the winning streak ends for...

Unfortunately Switzerland, Portugal, Armenia and Estonia all ended their winning streaks with their non-qualification this year.

The five year qualification streak for Switzerland sadly came to an end with an 11th place in semi-final 2 for Veronica Fusaro's Alice. Their best result in this period was Nemo's win in 2024 with The Code. Their last non-qualification was Zibbz with Stones in 2018.

Portugal's Bandidos do Cante also ended their five year qualification streak with a 12th place finish in semi-final 1 for Rosa. Their best result during this streak was Maro's Saudade Saudade which finished 9th in 2022.

This year also marks the first year that Armenia and Estonia have not qualified to the Grand Final since 2022.

Since returning to the competition in 2024 for the first time since 1993, Luxembourg had qualified in both 2024 and 2025. Sadly it was not to be for Eva Marija's Mother Nature which finished 12th in semi-final 2.

Latvia who broke a six year non-qualification streak in 2024, failed to qualify this year after making the final in 2025.

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

Azerbaijan - 4 non-qualifications (2023 to 2026)

Azerbaijan is the country now struggling the most with a four year non-qualification streak after JIVA's Just Go finished last in semi-final 2. 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 2026

Two non-qualifications in a row

• Georgia

• Montenegro
  

And the losing streak ends for...

Australia, Belgium and Czechia are back on a winning streak after all three countries failed to qualify for the final in both 2024 and 2025.

2025 non-qualifiers Croatia, Cyprus and Serbia also all made it through to this year's Grand Final. Before their non-qualification in 2025, Serbia had been on a six year qualification streak from 2018-2024.

They're back!

Returning countries Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania all made it through to the Grand Final with Bulgaria winning and Romania and Moldova also finishing in the Top 10. Prior to their exits their longest qualification streaks were Romania (2004-2017), Moldova (2009-2013) and Bulgaria (2016-2018).

What about San Marino?

San Marino ended their three year losing streak in 2025 with Gabry Ponte's Tutta l'Italia making the Grand Final. Unfortunately they couldn't keep the momentum going in 2026 with Senhit's Superstar finishing 14th in semi-final 1.

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 2027!

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