As we start to see national broadcasters confirming their participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, there is still one glaring absence: the mighty Principality of Monaco. Since the return of Luxembourg in 2024, we have been holding out hope that Monaco could make their return to the contest, ending an absence streak which has deprived us since 2006.
Monaco’s Eurovision History
Monaco debuted in 1959, boasting an impressive 24 entries – and one notable win in 1971, with Un banc, un arbre, une rue, performed by Parisian singer Séverine. Other notable entrants include François Deguelt, Françoise Hardy, Romuald Figuier and Michèle Torr. The microstate would go on to achieve a consistently high performance rate, with an impressive number of top five finishes.
A sixteenth-place finish from Laurent Vaguener in 1979 led to Monaco’s withdrawal from the Song Contest in 1980 and subsequent absence until 2003. Upon its return, a higher level of entries meant that Monaco now faced semi-finals, and unfortunately the state’s entries Maryon (2004), Lise Darly (2005), and Séverine Ferrer (2006) all fell at this hurdle, failing to qualify for the main event. Former heads of the Monégasque delegation cited block voting as a reason for not continuing in the contest, despite the EBU’s desire to keep Monaco involved. Eurovision is hard for a microstate – just ask San Marino!
TVMonaco: New State Broadcaster
Original broadcaster Télé Monte-Carlo declined to return for the contest, yet since Monaco’s last participation, new state broadcaster TVMonaco has been formed. The network has expressed a clear interest in returning to the world of Eurovision since launching on 1st September 2023 and gaining EBU membership – meaning it is eligible to participate. Despite declining to participate in the 2024 contest due to the tight deadline and concentrating on the channel launch, 2025 thankfully did see a return to Eurovision prominence, with the country’s new public broadcaster, TVMonaco, broadcasting all three shows: the two semi-finals and the Grand Final.
Why Monaco Needs to Return
Microstates bring a distinct flavour to the contest, showcasing ingenuity and diversity. Just look at San Marino’s participation and national final Una Voce Per San Marino, which provides some of the Eurovision season’s most exciting moments. Although it is a challenge to make it to the Grand Final for a smaller nation, the Republic of San Marino has shown that qualification is possible with a good song – see Gabry Ponte, Serhat, Senhit, and Valentina Monetta. Concerns over block voting and neighbourly voting, whilst still an issue, have largely been squashed by the introduction of jury and public vote combinations, meaning that a microstate with a good song could still have a strong impact in the contest.
The growing scale of Eurovision also provides a boost to the cultural capital of a country. An increase in the fandom, huge fan media outlets, pre-parties, semi-finals, and renewed global interest in the contest provides a massive amount of exposure, regardless of qualification or not. 166 million grand final viewers can’t be a bad thing for a country’s image.
A return to Eurovision would undoubtedly showcase the cultural and musical scene of Monaco. It also allows the opportunity to introduce a potential national final, supporting the enrichment and showcasing of musical talent in the region – just look at Luxembourg’s Song Contest, which has been a must-watch national final and platform the also-small nation’s homegrown talent.
Like San Marino, allowing the entry of international acts in a national final could solve the problems of a smaller population – with Monaco only slightly more densely populated than San Marino. The internal selection of a rising talent or an existing artist also allows for Eurovision to be managed on a smaller national budget.
Potential Entrants
A number of talents have already playfully thrown their hat in the ring for Monaco, with Monégasque racing driver Charles Leclerc jokingly suggesting he represent his home country. Whilst an unlikely reality, Charles suggesting this is a great way to put Monaco and its participation back into the public Eurovision consciousness. We’ve also seen that his brother, Arthur Leclerc, is impressive on the ivories.
Prince Albert II’s daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, has been building a successful musical career – and let’s not forget Princess Stéphanie of Monaco’s legendary pop career, which was met with global chart success. We also need to remember that Melodifestivalen 2025 star Victoria Silvstedt is based on Monaco, with the star showcasing her pop credentials on bangers such as Love It and Hello Hey.
However playful these suggestions are, Monaco invests a lot of money in the arts, and there are undoubtedly a host of rising talents that would delight at the prospect of representing Monaco in its Eurovision return – whether those be Monégasque nationals or European or international stars with a connection to the nation.
2026 and Beyond
It seems a real no-brainer that the return of Monaco would be a valuable experience for Monégasque artists, whilst showcasing existing talent or leading to further development of the principality’s music scene. Whilst we are hopeful of Monaco’s return to the contest, the EBU need to be prepared for the withdrawal of other nations. Given the removal of Russia and the uncertain future of Israel’s participation in the Contest, the EBU should be seeking to expand with as many additional participating countries as possible.
The EBU should be supporting the debut of countries such as Liechtenstein or welcoming the return of nations including Monaco, Turkey, Morocco, Slovakia, Hungary, Andorra and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Do you want to see Monaco return to Eurovision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on X, Blue Sky, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify and Threads.
Related posts:
Shawn Mendes Readies New Album ‘Shawn’ With Two New Songs ‘Why Why Why’ and ‘Isn’t That Enough’ 
Ukrainian Music Talents The Hardkiss Return With Powerful New Single ‘Crush’, Tease Album for 2026 
Who are the British Acts That Should Represent the UK at Eurovision 2026? 
Corbyn Besson Collaborates with K-Pop Star Tzuyu on High Energy Pop Cut ‘BLINK’, Prepares EP for 2026 
Austria’s JJ Defies Musical Convention on ‘Wasted Love’ His Commanding Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Entry