Is Slovakia Gearing Up for a Eurovision Comeback? A Glimmer of Hope from Bratislava

It’s been over a decade since Slovakia last graced the Eurovision stage – a period long enough for an entire generation to grow up without knowing what a Slovak 12-point moment feels like. But if you’re among the die-hard fans still lighting a candle for Bratislava’s return to the song contest, there’s finally a flicker of hope… albeit wrapped in cautious budgeting and bureaucratic restraint.

Twelve Years Later: Still No Douze Points

In a recent communication that had Eurovision blogs buzzing, Filip Púchovský – the spokesperson for the communication and marketing department of Slovak public broadcaster STVR – offered rare insight into the country’s prolonged absence from the contest. The reason? In a word: money. In several more: a lack of viable funding routes and historically little interest from the private sector to help foot the bill.

Apparently, while other small nations cleverly rope in sponsors, Slovakia has preferred to go it solo – which, in Eurovision terms, is a bit like entering a Formula 1 race on a tricycle.

A New Leadership, a New Outlook?

However, there’s fresh leadership at STVR, and with it, a revised willingness to reconsider the broadcaster’s international commitments – Eurovision included. Púchovský writes:

“With the arrival of newly appointed, properly selected STVR leadership, we plan to re-evaluate Slovakia’s participation in international projects, including the Eurovision Song Contest. Assuming favourable financial and artistic conditions, a return may be possible in the future.”

Translation: if someone’s willing to help pay for the glitter, we might just come back.

This marks a notable shift from past positions, which focused solely on high participation costs and low domestic returns. It seems the new management is at least open to entertaining the idea that Slovakia in Eurovision could once again be a thing – provided it doesn’t drain the public purse or require a miracle in logistics.

Eurovision Participation Funding: Private Sector, Take Note

What’s particularly striking is Púchovský’s pointed observation that Slovakia has never leveraged private sponsorship to support Eurovision participation, unlike several other comparable countries. This could imply a subtle call-to-action: if corporate Slovakia fancies seeing its brand under the glittering lights of the Eurovision stage, now’s the time to step forward.

Because let’s face it – national pride doesn’t pay for LED screens and pyro.

So, Is Slovakia Returning to Eurovision?

In short: not yet, but not never.

There’s no official plan for Slovakia’s Eurovision comeback in 2025 or beyond, but this is the clearest signal in years that the door is, at the very least, ajar. With the right sponsors, the right song, and perhaps a renewed appetite from the Slovak public, we might one day see the blue, white and red waving again in a Eurovision semi-final. Or, dare we dream, a final?

Until then, the wait continues. But this time, maybe with a little more optimism.

Source: escplot