The announcement of a new Monégasque public broadcaster, TVMonaco, has raised hopes that the nation may return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024. Following the return of Luxembourg to the upcoming Eurovision in Malmö, many fans want to maintain the momentum for new countries returning to the contest.
TVMonaco launched on 1st September 2023, broadcasting live news and sporting events alongside recorded TV programmes, talk shows and documentaries. With the aim to recover Monaco’s international communications and to display Monégasque culture to the world, there has been increasing speculation that the microstate may return to the Eurovision family.
Is a Monégasque return possible?
It is too early to tell if Monaco will make a return to the contest. TVMonaco is a member of the broadcasting company that represents Monaco in the European Broadcasting Union, Monaco Media Diffusion. This means that TVMonaco is eligible to participate in the upcoming Eurovision like any other country in the EBU.
The deadline for Eurovision applications will close on 15th September and the deadline to withdraw their application without a financial penalty concludes on 11th October. Normally, the list of confirmed participating countries is released in late October so the Eurovision fan community will have to wait for (at least) another month before learning the outcome of Monaco’s possible return.
Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest
Monaco made their Eurovision debut in 1959, finishing in last place. They have won once, in 1971 with Séverine’s “Un banc, un arbre, une rue”. In addition, they achieved a number of second and third places before withdrawing after the 1979 contest. Monaco eventually returned in 2004 up until 2006. However, on all three occasions they failed to qualify to the final.
Their last participant to date was Séverine Ferrer with the song “La Coco-Dance”, which finished 21st in the semi finals. TMC later withdrew following the result saying that the voting patterns in the contest give Monaco “no chance” of qualifying to the final.
