BNT have confirmed that Bulgaria will not be competing in Liverpool, next May, or likely any other Eurovision Song Contest in the future.
Following two withdrawals in the last 24 hours, another one has come with Bulgaria’s broadcaster, BNT, confirming that the nation will not be participating in Liverpool at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest. The total number of assumed competing countries now stands at 37, which is the same as 2014’s total.
Bulgaria will not be taking part at Eurovision 2023 and most probably in the future editions as well. After analysis it was decided that this program does not present an interest for the broadcaster any longer.
BNT
BNT claim that the reason for their withdrawal is due to the fact that Eurovision is no longer an “interest” for them. This could be due to a number of reasons, from the political ideas Eurovision promotes (as with Hungary’s withdrawal in 2019) to a financial incapability to fund participation.
It has been suggested that it could be because BNT may have been unable to find a sponsor for the contest, as each year the participation is usually supported by a benefactor. However, this theory doesn’t necessarily stand up when considering BNT are pretty much ruling out ever returning to the contest.
Like the other two withdrawals we’ve had, Bulgaria failed to qualify in Turin, reaching 38th place overall.
So far, 34 countries have confirmed their participation for Liverpool 2023. Three countries, which participated in Turin, are yet to state whether or not they will participate in Liverpool. They are Armenia, Czech Republic and Moldova. More news is expected in the coming days.
This one’s the most heartbreaking, because Bulgaria was doing so well in recent years, and we know that Poli Genova wanted to return to the contest.
Now one of the 2023 semis will see 2/3rds of its participants qualifying. Get ready for Eurovision Shrunken Contest, coming to Liverpool in 2023.