Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest | |
---|---|
Participating broadcaster | Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) |
Participation summary | |
Appearances | 29 (17 finals) |
First appearance | 1993 |
Highest placement | 7th: 1995, 2001 |
External links | |
Slovenia's page at Eurovision.tv | |
For the most recent participation see Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 |
Slovenia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 29 times since its debut in 1993, having hosted a qualification round (Kvalifikacija za Millstreet) in Ljubljana for seven countries due to the influx of new nations wishing to join the contest. [1] The Slovenian participant broadcaster in the contest is Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO).
Having only missed the event twice in 1994 and 2000 due to the relegation rule after a poor average score in the 1990s, Slovenia's best result is seventh position achieved on two occasions; in 1995 with "Prisluhni mi" performed by Darja Švajger and in 2001 with "Energy" by Nuša Derenda. [2] Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Slovenia has qualified for the final on eight occasions. As of 2024, Slovenia has not made it to the top ten since their seventh place finish in 2001, only making it to the thirteenth position in 2002 and 2011.
Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1 January 1993, thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since then. It has participated in the contest representing Slovenia since its 38th edition that same year.
Before its independence in 1991, Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia. Six Yugoslavian entrants in the Eurovision Song Contest came from the former SR Slovenia (1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, and 1975). The contest was broadcast in the socialist republic by the Yugoslav Radio Television's (JRT) affiliate RTV Ljubljana.
After the fall of Communism across Europe in the early 1990s and the Dissolution of Yugoslavia, newly independent Slovenia was one of seven countries that had emerged from the Eastern Bloc wishing to join the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the influx of new countries wishing to participate, the EBU introduced a pre-qualifying round for countries that had either never participated in the contest at all, or in the case of former republics of Yugoslavia, had not previously competed as nations in their own right. This was, however, merely a 'sticking-plaster' measure that was plainly not a sustainable solution for future years, as it would not be seen as remotely equitable. But in the meantime, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Estonia, and Slovenia were left to battle it out in a qualification round. The EBU selected RTVSLO to host the event in Ljubljana. [3] Held on 3 April 1993 at the RTVSLO studios, Slovenia was one of three countries to qualify, finishing in first place with "Tih deževen dan" performed by 1X Band. The band were previously selected to represent Slovenia through RTVSLO's national selection Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1993.
Slovenia's debut at Eurovision fared reasonably poorly finishing in a mere 22nd place with just 9 points. Due to the poor result, Slovenia was relegated from the 1994 contest and had to wait until 1995 to enter again. For their return in 1995, RTVSLO organised the same national selection process as 1993 to determine their entry. Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1995 resulted in the selection of Darja Švajger with "Prisluhni mi". Švajger achieved Slovenia's best result to date at the contest, reaching an impressive seventh place including ten points from Greece and the United Kingdom. [4] In 1996, RTVSLO introduced its long-running national final Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA). This selection process was used every year until the country was relegated for a second time in 2000 due to a poor average score. Slovenia returned in 2001, using the EMA format again. 2001 marked the second time Slovenia achieved seventh place with Nuša Derenda and "Energy". This remains the country's most recent top ten result to date. [2]
In 2004, the EBU introduced a semi-final round in order to control the number of countries entering the contest every year. Due to not placing in the top ten the previous year, Slovenia was forced to compete in the semi-final round for the 2004 contest. After winning the national final EMA 2004, the country was represented by the duo Platin with the song "Stay Forever". The performance proved to be disastrous with Slovenia only receiving five points placing 21st out of 22, hence failing to qualify for the final. The following two years also saw Slovenia absent from the Eurovision final, with Omar Naber and Anžej Dežan both failing to qualify for the final. By 2007, Slovenia was one of only five countries that had not made an appearance in the final since 2003. EMA 2007 resulted in the victory of Alenka Gotar with her operatic pop song "Cvet z juga". This became the first ever Slovene entry to qualify for the Eurovision final, placing seventh in the semi-final with 140 points. In Slovenia's first Eurovision final appearance since 2003, Alenka Gotar reached a respectable fifteenth place with 66 points. In the three following years, Rebeka Dremelj, Quartissimo feat. Martina Majerle and Ansambel Žlindra and Kalamari all failed to qualify for the final, with the latter only receiving six points in the 2010 semi-final. [5]
2011 saw a change in Slovenia's luck at the Eurovision Song Contest, qualifying for the final for the first time since 2007. Following her victory at the Slovene national final EMA 2011, Maja Keuc represented the nation with "No One". Participating in the second semi-final, Maja fared extremely well, placing first with the juries with 146 points and seventh in the public televote with 68 points. [6] This meant that Slovenia qualified to the final in an impressive third place. In the final, Maja achieved the country's best result since 2002, placing thirteenth with 96 points. [6] [7] It was later revealed that the juries placed Slovenia in fourth place with 160 points, while the public placed the entry 22nd with 39 points. Maja's song remains a fan favourite today, with the Slovenian public voting it as the nation's best ever Eurovision entry in a 2020 poll. [8]
Due to the success in 2011, RTVSLO introduced a large scale national final for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Misija Evrovizija was a five month long selection process that took place between August 2011 and January 2012, which resulted in the selection of two singers to advance to Misija EMA 2012 (phase two of the selection). Ultimately, Eva Boto was selected to represent the country with "Verjamem". Boto failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 17th place only ahead of Slovakia. RTVSLO confirmed Slovenia's participation in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on 15 December 2012 after speculation that a withdrawal was being considered. [9] The Slovenian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest has traditionally been selected through EMA, which has been produced with variable formats. For 2013, the broadcaster opted to forego the use of this national final in order to internally select the Slovenian entry due to time constraints and reduced funding. [10] RTVSLO selected Slovene-American singer Hannah Mancini with "Straight into Love". The entry finished in last place in the first semi-final with just 8 points, marking the first time that Slovenia has finished in last place in a Eurovision event.
For 2014, RTVSLO confirmed that they would organise EMA 2014 after being the last country to confirm participation despite more speculations over a potential withdrawal. [11] The winner of the eighteenth edition of EMA was Tinkara Kovač with "Round and Round". Kovač reached the final marking Slovenia's first final appearance since 2011. The country finished in 25th place with 9 points (8 from Montenegro and 1 from Macedonia). For the 2015 contest, Slovenia was represented by Maraaya with "Here for You". The duo qualified for the final in 5th place, including twelve points from Azerbaijan and Montenegro. In the final, Slovenia finished in 14th position with 39 points - the country's best result since 2011. Following the contest, "Here for You" went on to enter the 'Top 50 Charts' in Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Finland and Belgium. [12]
For the following two years, Slovenia was absent from the final with ManuElla and Omar Naber failing to qualify. However, in both 2018 and 2019 Slovenia qualified for the final twice in a row once again. Lea Sirk reached 22nd with "Hvala, ne!" and Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl achieved fifteenth place with 105 points - the most points ever scored by Slovenia in a Eurovision final. The successful result in 2019 provoked RTVSLO to expand their national final format. In 2020, EMA FREŠ was introduced as a pre-selection for the main EMA competition. The selection gives new and upcoming Slovenian artists a chance to promote themselves and fight for a place in EMA. [13] Having won EMA 2020, Ana Soklič was due to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with "Voda". However, after the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RTVSLO internally selected her to represent Slovenia in 2021 with "Amen". She failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 13th place with 44 points.
On 8 October 2021, RTVSLO confirmed that both EMA FREŠ and EMA would return for the Slovenian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, with a revamped format from the first edition. [14] On 19 February 2022, after a three month long process, it was determined that LPS would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. At the contest, LPS finished last with 15 points and failed to qualify from the first semi-final, lengthening Slovenia's absence from the final. It was later revealed that the band finished last in their semi-final, marking Slovenia's worst result at the contest in ten years.
Following the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO considered withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. [15] However, after discussions with the Music Commission of the Programme Council, the broadcaster opted against a withdrawal, and confirmed its participation in the 2023 contest, to be held in Liverpool, on 15 September 2022. [16] After the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO decided to change both the selection format for the Slovenian entry, deciding to internally choose their act for only the third time and introducing Maša Kljun as the country's new head of delegation. On 8 December 2022, RTVSLO revealed that they had selected Joker Out to represent Slovenia in Liverpool, with their song " Carpe Diem " released on 4 February 2023, during a special presentation show 'Misija Liverpool' that celebrated 30 years of Slovenian participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. [17] [18] [19] [20] At the contest, Slovenia qualified for the final for the first time since 2019, finishing in fifth place in the second semi-final. In the final, Slovenia placed 21st with 78 points.
Following the highest viewing figures for the contest recorded by RTVSLO since 2015, the broadcaster confirmed Slovenia's participation in the upcoming 2024 contest on 14 September 2023, [21] [22] later announcing that a brand new national final Misija Malmö ("Mission Malmö") would be introduced as their selection method for the contest; [23] [24] however, the broadcaster ultimately cancelled the format, opting for an internal selection. [25] Raiven was ultimately selected and represented Slovenia in 2024 with the song "Veronika". She qualified for the final, marking a second consecutive qualification for the country, ultimately placing twenty-third in the final. On 9 March 2024, Mario Galunič , editor at RTVSLO, drafted a document envisaging a plan to return selecting the Slovene entries for the contest through the national final EMA from 2025 until 2028. [26] [27]
Prior to Yugoslavia's dissolution, artists from the Slovene federal unit represented Yugoslavia in 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, and 1975.
1 | First place |
3 | Third place |
◁ | Last place |
X | Entry selected but did not compete |
† | Upcoming event |
Year | Artist | Song | Language | Final | Points | Semi | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | 1X Band | " Tih deževen dan " | Slovene | 22 | 9 | 1 [a] | 54 [a] |
1995 | Darja Švajger | " Prisluhni mi " | Slovene | 7 | 84 | No semi-finals | |
1996 | Regina | " Dan najlepših sanj " | Slovene | 21 | 16 | 19 | 30 |
1997 | Tanja Ribič | " Zbudi se " | Slovene | 10 | 60 | No semi-finals | |
1998 | Vili Resnik | " Naj bogovi slišijo " | Slovene | 18 | 17 | ||
1999 | Darja Švajger | "For a Thousand Years" | English | 11 | 50 | ||
2001 | Nuša Derenda | "Energy" | English | 7 | 70 | ||
2002 | Sestre | " Samo ljubezen " | Slovene | 13 | 33 | ||
2003 | Karmen Stavec | "Nanana" | English | 23 | 7 | ||
2004 | Platin | "Stay Forever" | English | Failed to qualify | 21 | 5 | |
2005 | Omar Naber | "Stop" | Slovene | 12 | 69 | ||
2006 | Anžej Dežan | "Mr Nobody" | English | 16 | 49 | ||
2007 | Alenka Gotar | " Cvet z juga " | Slovene | 15 | 66 | 7 | 140 |
2008 | Rebeka Dremelj | " Vrag naj vzame " | Slovene | Failed to qualify | 11 | 36 | |
2009 | Quartissimo feat. Martina | "Love Symphony" | English, Slovene | 16 | 14 | ||
2010 | Ansambel Žlindra and Kalamari | " Narodnozabavni rock " | Slovene | 16 | 6 | ||
2011 | Maja Keuc | "No One" | English | 13 | 96 | 3 | 112 |
2012 | Eva Boto | " Verjamem " | Slovene | Failed to qualify | 17 | 31 | |
2013 | Hannah | "Straight into Love" | English | 16 ◁ | 8 | ||
2014 | Tinkara Kovač | "Round and Round" | English, Slovene | 25 | 9 | 10 | 52 |
2015 | Maraaya | "Here for You" | English | 14 | 39 | 5 | 92 |
2016 | ManuElla | "Blue and Red" | English | Failed to qualify | 14 | 57 | |
2017 | Omar Naber | "On My Way" | English | 17 | 36 | ||
2018 | Lea Sirk | " Hvala, ne! " | Slovene | 22 | 64 | 8 | 132 |
2019 | Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl | " Sebi " | Slovene | 15 | 105 | 6 | 167 |
2020 | Ana Soklič | " Voda " | Slovene | Contest cancelled [b] X | |||
2021 | Ana Soklič | "Amen" | English | Failed to qualify | 13 | 44 | |
2022 | LPS | " Disko " | Slovene | 17 ◁ | 15 | ||
2023 | Joker Out | " Carpe Diem " | Slovene | 21 | 78 | 5 | 103 |
2024 | Raiven | "Veronika" | Slovene | 23 | 27 | 9 | 51 |
2025 | TBD 1 February 2025 [28] | Upcoming † |
Songs | Language | Years |
---|---|---|
19 | Slovene | 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, |
13 | English | 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 |
|
|
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Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the performers, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others. [29]
Year | Head of delegation | Ref. |
---|---|---|
2009 | Petar Radović | [30] |
2010–2022 | Aleksander Radić | [31] |
2023–2024 | Maša Kljun | [32] [33] [34] |
Year | Costume designers | Ref. |
---|---|---|
2005 | Jelena Proković | |
2023 | Damir Raković | |
2024 | Anika Opara |
Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals for the semi-finals and final of the Eurovision Song Contest, ranking all entries except for their own. The juries' votes constitute 50% of the overall result in the Eurovision grand final alongside televoting. This was previously the case in the semi-finals as well until the 2023 contest, when the juries were dropped in favour of 100% public voting. The jury panel does still judge semi-final performances in the case of any issues with public televoting. [40] The modern incarnation of jury voting was introduced beginning with the 2009 contest. [41]
Year | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member | 5th member | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Anžej Dežan | Nuša Derenda | Matjaž Vlašič | Aida Kurtovič | Dušan Hren | |
2010 | Urša Vlašič | Miroslav Akrapovič | Sandra Feketija | Matjaž Bogataj | Dušan Hren | |
2011 | Mojca Menart | Lovro Ravbar | Nuša Derenda | Eva Černe | Miha Vardjan | |
2012 | Slavko Ivančič | Omar Naber | Raay | Lea Sirk | Urša Vlašič | |
2013 | Dušan Hren | Urša Vlašič | Darja Švajger | Raay | Katja Koren | |
2014 | Helena Blagne | Anže Langus Petrovič | Robert Pikl | Izak Košir | Alya | [42] |
2015 | Tinkara Kovač | Andrej Šifrer | Sandra Feketija | Miha Gorše | Alex Volasko | [43] |
2016 | Marjetka Vovk | Tadej Košir | Klemen Mramor | Urša Vlašič | Eva Hren | [44] |
2017 | Darja Švajger | Nika Zorjan | Aleksander Lavrini | Gaber Radojevič | Jernej Dirnbek | [45] |
2018 | Raiven | Mistermash | Nikola Sekulovič | Mitja Bobič | Alenka Godec | [46] |
2019 | Žiga Klančar | Urša Mihevc | Ula Ložar | Mate Bro | Urša Vlašič | [47] |
2021 | Bojan Cvjetićanin | Nuša Derenda | Boštjan Grabnar | Amaya | Raay | [48] [49] |
2022 | Alenka Godec | Arne Međedović | Gaber Radojevič | Lucija Harum | Tilen Artač | [50] [51] |
2023 | Ditka | Lara Baruca | Matjaž Vlašič | Hugo Smeh | Jernej Sobočan | [52] [53] |
2024 | Filip Vidušin | Martin Štibernik | Matevž Česen | Lea Sirk | Maja Keuc | [54] [55] |
Slovenia has never hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, while the European Broadcasting Union did select RTVSLO to host the qualification round for the 1993 contest in Ljubljana. [3]
Year | Location | Venue | Presenters |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Ljubljana | RTV SLO Studio 1 | Tajda Lekše |
Between 1993 and 1998, Slovenia sent a native conductor to the contest every year the country took part until the orchestra was dropped by the EBU in 1999. [56]
Year | Conductor [c] | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1993 ( KzM ) | Petar Ugrin | [d] | |
1993 | Jože Privšek | [56] | |
1995 | [56] | ||
1996 | [56] | ||
1997 | Mojmir Sepe | [56] | |
1998 | [e] | [56] |
For the show's broadcast on RTVSLO, various commentators have provided commentary on the contest in the Slovene language. At the Eurovision Song Contest after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting country to invite each respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote on-screen. [57] RTVSLO has also arranged radio broadcasts of the contest, featuring the respective semi-final that Slovenia is competing in and the grand final. [58] RTVSLO has also organised a live broadcast of the final on its 4D platform with simultaneous television commentary. For the 2023 contest, Žana E. Čeh provided online commentary. [59]
From 1961 until 1991, SR Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia and JRT's affiliate RTV Ljubljana broadcast the contest with Slovenian commentary.
Year | Television | Radio | Spokesperson | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Channel | Commentator(s) | Channel | Commentator(s) | |||
1992 | SLO 1 | Miša Molk | No broadcast | Did not participate | ||
1993 | Tajda Lekše | Radio Val 202 | Unknown | Miša Molk [f] | ||
1994 | Damjana Golavšek | Did not participate | ||||
1995 | Miša Molk | |||||
1996 | Miša Molk | Mario Galunič | ||||
1997 | SLO 1 (Slovene), TV Koper-Capodistria (Italian) | Unknown | Andrej Karoli | Mojca Mavec | ||
1998 | SLO 1 | |||||
1999 | Mira Berginc | |||||
2000 | Andrej Hofer | Did not participate | ||||
2001 | No broadcast | Mojca Mavec | ||||
2002 | Nuša Derenda | |||||
2003 | SLO 2 | Andrea F | Peter Poles | |||
2004 | TV SLO 1 (final) TV SLO 2 (semi-finals) | Unknown | Jernej Vene | |||
2005 | Mojca Mavec | Radio Val 202 | Katarina Čas | |||
2006 | No broadcast | Peter Poles | ||||
2007 | Radio Val 202 | Jernej Vene and Aida Kurtović | ||||
2008 | Andrej Hofer | Aida Kurtović | ||||
2009 | ||||||
2010 | No broadcast | Andrea F | ||||
2011 | Radio Val 202 | Maruša Kerec | Klemen Slakonja | |||
2012 | Lorella Flego | |||||
2013 | Andrea F | |||||
2014 | Radio Val 202 Radio Maribor | Ana Maria Mitic and Domen Savič | Ula Furlan | |||
2015 | Anja Hlača Ferjančič and Maruša Kerec | Tinkara Kovač | ||||
2016 | Andrej Karoli | Marjetka Vovk | ||||
2017 | Miha Šalehar and Maruša Kerec | Katarina Čas | ||||
2018 | Amaya | |||||
2019 | Andrej Karoli | Lea Sirk | ||||
2021 | Mojca Mavec | Miha Šalehar, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj | Lorella Flego | |||
2022 | Andrej Hofer | Maruša Kerec | ||||
2023 | Maja Stepančič, Maruša Kerec, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj (SF2) Maja Stepančič, Miha Šalehar and Uršula Zaletelj (final) | Melani Mekicar | ||||
2024 | TV SLO 1 (semi-final 1, final) TV SLO 2 (semi-final 2) | Mojca Mavec | Radio Val 202 | Maj Valerij and Igor Bračič | Lorella Flego |
Show | Commentators | Channel | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Kvalifikacija za Millstreet | Gregor Krajc | TV SLO 1 | |
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest | Andrej Hofer | ||
Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits | No commentary | ||
Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light | Andrej Hofer |
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with the song "For a Thousand Years", written by Sašo Fajon and Primož Peterca, and performed by Darja Švajger. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 1999 in order to select its entry for the contest. Švajger had previously represented Slovenia in 1995.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with the song "Tih deževen dan", composed by Cole Moretti, with lyrics by Tomaž Kosec, and performed by 1X Band. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held a national final in order to select its entry for the contest. This was the first-ever entry from independent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with the song "Nanana", composed by Martin Štibernik, with lyrics by Karmen Stavec, and performed by Karmen herself. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 2003 in order to select its entry for the contest. Sixteen entries competed in the national final where the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top three entries were selected following the combination of votes from a five-member jury panel and a public televote. In the second round, "Lep poletni dan" performed by Karmen Stavec was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote. The song was later translated from Slovene to English for Eurovision and was titled "Nanana".
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song "Zbudi se", composed by Saša Lošić, with lyrics by Zoran Predin, and performed by Tanja Ribič. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 1997 in order to select its entry for the contest. 13 entries competed in the national final where "Zbudi se" performed by Tanja Ribič was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with the song "Naj bogovi slišijo" composed by Matjaž Vlašič, with lyrics by Urša Vlašič, and performed by Vili Resnik. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 1998 in order to select its entry for the contest. 14 entries competed in the national final where "Naj bogovi slišijo" performed by Vili Resnik was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 with the song "Energy", composed by Matjaž Vlašič, with lyrics by Lucienne Lončina, and performed by Nuša Derenda. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 2001 in order to select its entry for the contest. The broadcaster returned to the contest after a one-year absence following its relegation in 2000 as one of the six entrants with the lowest average scores over the previous five contests.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Samo ljubezen", composed by Robert Pešut, with lyrics by Barbara Pešut, and performed by the drag act Sestre. The Slovene participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), held the national final Evrovizijska Melodija 2002 in order to select its entry for the contest. 18 entries competed in the national final which consisted of two shows: a semi-final and a final. Entries were selected to advance from the semi-final based on a public televote and a jury panel. Ten entries qualified to compete in the final where "Samo ljubezen" performed by Sestre was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from two thematical juries.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song "Verjamem" written by Vladimir Graić, Hari Mata Hari and Igor Pirkovič. The song was performed by Eva Boto. Songwriter Hari Mata Hari represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Lejla" where he placed third in the grand final of the competition. Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national final Misija EMA 2012 in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. 32 performers competed in the first stage of the national final, Misija Evrovizija, from which two artists qualified to compete in Misija EMA 2012 following a five-month-long competition. In Misija EMA 2012, the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, each artist performed three songs and one song were selected for each performer following the combination of votes from a four-member jury panel and a public televote. In the second round, "Verjamem" performed by Eva Boto was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote.
The participation of Slovenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest first began at the twelfth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 which took place in Marsa, Malta. Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), a member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), were responsible for the selection process of their participation. Slovenia originally used an internal selection format for their participation at the 2014 contest. The first representative to participate for the nation at the 2014 contest was Ula Ložar with the song "Nisi sam ", which finished in twelfth place out of sixteen participating entries, achieving a score of twenty-nine points. Slovenia participated for a second time at the 2015 contest in Sofia, Bulgaria. This time, RTVSLO organised a children's spin-off of their Eurovision national final EMA to select their entry. Lina Kuduzović represented the nation with the song "Prva ljubezen". She finished in third place overall, achieving Slovenia's highest placing in both the adult and junior Eurovision Song Contest. Slovenia withdrew from the contest in 2016, citing that the decision was made based on changes to the contest rules by the EBU, although not specifying which rule changes influenced their decision to withdraw from the competition. Despite originally expressing an interest to return to the 2022 contest in Yerevan, Armenia, the plans did not flourish and Slovenia is yet to return to the event.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Here for You" written by Raay, Marjetka Vovk and Charlie Mason. The song was performed by the duo Maraaya, which consists of Raay and Marjetka Vovk. Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national final EMA 2015 in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2015 contest in Vienna, Austria. Eight entries competed in the national final where the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top two entries were selected by a three-member jury panel. In the second round, "Here for You" performed by Maraaya was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "On My Way" written and performed by Omar Naber, who had previously represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 where he failed to qualify to the final with the song "Stop". Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national selection EMA 2017 in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. 16 entries competed in the national final which consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. Entries were selected to advance from each semi-final based on a public televote and a jury panel. Eight entries qualified to compete in the final where "On My Way" performed by Omar Naber was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from six regional juries and a public televote.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Hvala, ne!" written by Lea Sirk and Tomy DeClerque. The song was performed by Lea Sirk. Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national selection EMA 2018 in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal. 16 entries competed in the national final which consisted of two shows: a semi-final and a final. Entries were selected to advance from the semi-final based on a public televote and a jury panel. Eight entries qualified to compete in the final where "Hvala, ne!" performed by Lea Sirk was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from six thematical juries and a public televote.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Sebi" written and performed by Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl. Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national final EMA 2019 in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. Ten entries competed in the national final where the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top two entries were selected by a three-member jury panel. In the second round, "Sebi" performed by Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl was selected as the winner entirely by a public televote.
Slovenia originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Voda" written by Ana Soklič and Bojan Simončič. The song was performed by Ana Soklič. Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija organised the national final EMA in order to select the Slovenian entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. 18 entries competed in the first stage of the national final, EMA FREŠ 2020, from which two entries qualified to compete in EMA 2020 following a two-month-long competition. Twelve entries competed in EMA 2020 where the winner was selected over two rounds of voting. In the first round, the top two entries were selected by a three-member jury panel. In the second round, "Voda" performed by Ana Soklič was selected as the winner entirely by a public vote.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Amen" written by Ana Soklič, Bojan Simončič, Žiga Pirnat and Charlie Mason. The song was performed by Ana Soklič, who was internally selected by Slovenian broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija to represent Slovenia at the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after she was due to compete in the 2020 contest with "Voda" before the 2020 event's cancellation. Ana Soklič was announced at the Slovenian representative on 16 May 2020, while the song, "Amen", was presented to the public on 27 February 2021 during the special show EMA 2021.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy, with the song "Disko", written and performed by group LPS. The Slovenian entry for the 2022 contest was selected via a two-stage national final organised by the Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO). The first stage EMA Freš began on 29 November 2021 with the purpose of selecting four newcomer artists to advance to the second stage EMA 2022. The national final featured twenty entries competing across two semi-finals on 5 and 12 February 2022, and the final on 19 February 2022, where a combination of jury and public voting decided the Slovenian representative in Turin among twelve entries.
Slovenia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, having internally selected Joker Out to represent the country with the song "Carpe Diem", written by band members Bojan Cvjetićanin, Jan Peteh, Jure Maček, Kris Guštin and Nace Jordan, alongside Žarko Pak. Joker Out were announced as the Slovenian entrants to the contest on 8 December 2022, whilst their song was presented to the public in a televised presentation show, Misija Liverpool, on 4 February 2023.
Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Veronika", written by Bojan Cvjetićanin, Danilo Kapel, Klavdija Kopina, Martin Bezjak, Peter Khoo, and Sara Briški Cirman, and performed by Cirman herself under her stage name Raiven. The Slovenian participating broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) initially planned to organise a national final in order to select its entry for the contest, but ultimately opted for an internal selection.
"Veronika" is a song by Slovenian singer-songwriter Raiven. Inspired by the story of Veronika of Desenice, it was composed by Raiven along with five others, with lyrics also coming from Raiven. The song was self-released on 20 January 2024 through Virgin Music Group, and represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, where it placed 23rd with 27 points.
Slovenia will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland. The Slovenian participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), will organise the national final EMA 2025 in order to select its entry for the contest.
Mr Hoffer has been the Slovenian commentator at the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008...