The next broadcaster to confirm their participation in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest is MTVA! This, of course, means that Hungary is the next country who will be heading to Lisbon next May. Furthermore, it is confirmed that A Dal will be used for the seventh consecutive year.
Hungary at Eurovision
Hungary first attempted to enter Eurovision in 1993 but missed out after being required to take part in Kvalifikacija za Millstreet due to the influx of interested new countries. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia were the lucky qualifiers from that pre-Eurovision event. The country’s actual Eurovision debut took place in 1994. Friderika Bayer’s 4th place finish there remains Hungary’s best result at the contest.
Over the next decade and a half, Hungary’s Eurovision participation went through several ups and downs which included a six-contest absence at the turn of the millennium. In 2011, MTVA returned to Eurovision following their latest absence in Oslo the previous year. Kati Wolf qualified Hungary for their first Eurovision final since Magdi Rúzsa in 2007. Since 2012, MTVA has selected their entry through the popular national final A Dal, qualifying for the Eurovision final on every occasion.
Their impressive runs continues
This year, Joci Pápai won A Dal with Origo and represented Hungary in Kyiv. His 8th place finish was Hungary’s third best result ever. Only Friderika in 1994 and András Kallay-Saunders (5th in 2014) had finished higher! Hungary’s run of seven consecutive qualifications is now one of Eurovision’s most impressive statistics.
Are you glad that Hungary will be heading to Eurovision 2018? Furthermore, who would you like to represent the country in Lisbon? Let us know in the comments below and via our social media pages @ESCXTRA!
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