Opportunity and competition: 36 artists at the Eurovision 2026 national preselection
A total of 36 artists submitted applications to represent the Republic of Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and participated in live auditions on Tuesday, a crucial stage of the national selection process. During the auditions, each contestant performed their songs live in front of a panel of producers. The producers analyzed each performance and will select artists to advance in the competition and compete in the final stage of the contest. For many participants, these live auditions were not just a competition but also an opportunity to establish themselves and gain recognition on the national stage.
Almost all applicants were accepted into the live auditions, giving each participant the opportunity to showcase their talent. Among them is Adelisha, who participated in the 2023 contest as a backing vocalist alongside Pasha Parfeni.
"The song is about a long-distance love that, despite obstacles and distance, remains strong. I tried to convey this message through the song," says Adelisha.
For Artiom Topal, participating in the Eurovision contest marks his first experience.
"The song is about money and life, touching on how we sometimes suffer because of money or, on the other hand, feel relieved when we don't have it," explains Artiom Topal.
The young rapper Vlad Sabajuc, known by his stage name Satoshi, also entered the contest. He performed the song “Viva, Moldova,” which he describes as a musical manifesto about the identity and place of the Republic of Moldova in Europe.
"The song has two main themes: one is that Moldova is part of European culture. We’ve been creating music, releasing albums, and this is a new opportunity to explore," says Satoshi.
Music producers believe that several strong voices have emerged in this year's contest and will likely progress to the final.
"We accepted almost 99 percent of those who auditioned because we value their efforts and believe everyone deserves a chance. This year, we aim for a final that mirrors the standard of quality and scale we are used to seeing in the show," says music producer Roman Burlaca.
"In my opinion, a few artists truly deserve to reach the final. Some had too much emotion, but that's part of it; you can never recreate a first impression," explains music producer Serghei Orlov.
The Republic of Moldova will return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, following a one-year break. The 70th edition of the contest will take place on May 16 in Vienna, Austria. Moldova has been participating in Eurovision since 2005. The best result so far was achieved by the band SunStroke Project, which placed third with the song "Hey Mamma."
