Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Austria without San Marino?

"We are still considering how to proceed. A possible withdrawal is not ruled out given the behavior that the EBU - the organizer of the competition - has shown towards small states in recent years," said San Marino's Secretary of State for Tourism regarding participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

Criticism of the Voting Procedure at the Eurovision Song Contest

"The current rules massively disadvantage small states. We have our dignity, which we want to defend," explained Pedini Amati to the Italian daily newspaper "Corriere Romagna". This particularly refers to the voting procedure: countries with few inhabitants have fewer viewer votes and could therefore hardly score in the televoting, even if the entry is of good quality. In the last edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 17 in Basel, Gabry Ponte, who represented San Marino, ended up in the lower ranks of the leaderboard - which caused frustration in the small state on Mount Titan. The EBU (European Broadcasting Union), which organizes the ESC, is accused of giving small countries too little attention and not granting them enough say. San Marino is therefore openly considering a withdrawal from the ESC 2026, which will take place in Austria. The decision is still pending - they want to consult internally and continue to observe the situation.

(APA/Red)

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