Following The Roop’s triumphant run at the 2021 contest, Lithuania’s LRT confirmed their participation for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest back in June. Now, the broadcaster has opened submissions for Pabandom iš naujo, their national final.
Pabandom iš naujo will return as the Lithuanian selection process for the third consecutive year. Due to start in early January and consist of six shows, exact dates will be announced in the coming months. Up to 36 contestants are due to take part. The selection will not last longer than 6 shows (three selection shows, two semi-finals and a final). Depending on the number of participants selected, there may be fewer shows.
In addition, LRT has introduced a grant to increase the quality of the performances across the competition, regardless of the artists’ finances. Up to €54,000 will be distributed to participating acts to help finance production and staging.
Lithuania at Eurovision 2021
Vilnius’ The Roop won the ticket to represent Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with “On Fire”. The group came out on top in a very competitive 8-act final – winning both the jury and the televote by a considerable margin.
Although they were not automatically re-selected for 2021, they were granted an invitation to the final from the Lithuanian broadcaster. With “Discoteque”, they almost doubled their total votes from 2020 with a landslide 68,000 lead on second-place Gebrasy and received top scores from the whole jury.
They opened the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest by performing “Discoteque” first in semi-final one, the first Eurovision performance since Miki’s “La Venda”, which closed the 2019 Grand Final. They ultimately placed 8th with 220 points, Lithuania’s highest placing since 2006.
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