Tamara Živković wins MonteSong 25 in a low-key Montenegrin selection night
Montenegro has made its choice. MonteSong 25 took place this evening in the studios of RTCG in Podgorica, crowning Tamara Živković as the country’s representative for Eurovision 2026 with the song “Nova zora”.
Fifteen artists competed in a show that, despite its ambitions, struggled to disguise its limitations. With no audience in the studio, a very compact stage and AI-generated transitions that felt more like a beta test than a creative choice, MonteSong 25 came across as a rather modest affair. Functional, yes. Inspiring? That’s more debatable.
Familiar faces, restrained atmosphere
The broadcast was hosted by Dajana Golubović Pejović and Jelena Božović, with Andrea Šekularac reporting from the Green Room. While the production itself was restrained, the guest list added a touch of Eurovision credibility.
Among those in attendance were Montenegrin Eurovision alumni Nina Žižić and Knez, as well as Asja Džogović, who represented Montenegro at Junior Eurovision 2025. International guests also included German duo Abor & Tynna and Albanian act Shkodra Elektronike.
Voting system and final results
The outcome was decided through a mixed voting system:
50% professional jury, with the remaining 50% split equally between televoting and international online voting.
After all votes were counted, the final ranking looked like this:
- Tamara Živković – “Nova zora” (22)
- Lara Baltic – “Rhythm Boy” (18)
- Lana Vukčević & Đorđe Savković – “Temperatura” (13)
- Krstinja Manatović – “Oli oli” (12)
- Majda Božović – “Ipak smo ljudi” (10)
- Tina Džankić – “Shadows” (8)
- Luka Radović – “Pjevaj vilo” (8)
- Baryak – “Minerva” (8)
- Đurđa – “Dominos” (7)
- Neno Murić – “Ako čuješ glas” (4)
- Lana Lopičić – “Doline” (4)
- Dolce Hera – “Casanova 91” (1)
- Stefan Vukotić – “Nedekodirana”
- Mila Nikić – “Kao varnica”
- Andrea Demirović – “I Believe”
A new dawn… maybe?
With 22 points, Tamara Živković succeeds Nina Žižić, who failed to qualify Montenegro for the Eurovision final last year in Basel with “Dobrodošli”. The symbolism of “Nova zora” (“New Dawn”) is clear enough.
Whether this new dawn will finally see Montenegro return to the Eurovision final remains an open question. The song has its strengths, but so will the competition in Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
For now, Montenegro has a winner, a direction and plenty of work ahead.
The real test, as always, will come in May.
