Slovenia has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 30 times since its debut in , having hosted a qualification round () in Ljubljana for seven countries due to the influx of new nations wishing to join the contest. The Slovenian participating broadcaster in the contest is (RTVSLO).
Slovenia's best result is seventh position achieved on two occasions; in with "Prisluhni mi" performed by Darja Švajger and in with "Energy" by Nuša Derenda. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in , Slovenia has qualified for the final on eight occasions. As of , Slovenia has not made it to the top ten since their seventh place finish in 2001, only making it to the thirteenth position in and . Having only missed two contests from 1993 to 2025, RTVSLO opted not to participate in due to the inclusion of in the context of the Gaza war.
Participation
(RTVSLO) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1 January 1993, thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest since then. It has participated in the contest representing Slovenia since its that same year.
Before its independence in 1991, Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia. Six n entrants in the Eurovision Song Contest came from the former SR Slovenia (, , , , , and ). The contest was broadcast in the socialist republic by the Yugoslav Radio Television's (JRT) affiliate RTV Ljubljana.
History
thumb|[[Omar Naber (pictured) has represented Slovenia on two occasions, in both 2005 and 2017, failing to qualify both times with "Stop" and "On My Way".]]
Early participation
After the fall of Communism across Europe in the early 1990s and the Dissolution of Yugoslavia, newly independent Slovenia was one of seven countries that had emerged from the Eastern Bloc wishing to join the Eurovision Song Contest. Due to the influx of new countries wishing to participate, the EBU introduced a pre-qualifying round for countries that had either never participated in the contest at all, or in the case of former republics of Yugoslavia, had not previously competed as nations in their own right. This was, however, merely a 'sticking-plaster' measure that was plainly not a sustainable solution for future years, as it would not be seen as remotely equitable. But in the meantime, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Estonia, and Slovenia were left to battle it out in a qualification round. The EBU selected RTVSLO to host the event in Ljubljana. Held on 3 April 1993 at the RTVSLO studios, Slovenia was one of three countries to qualify, finishing in first place with "Tih deževen dan" performed by 1X Band. The band were previously selected to represent Slovenia through RTVSLO's national selection Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1993.
Slovenia's debut at Eurovision fared reasonably poorly finishing in a mere 22nd place with just 9 points. Due to the poor result, Slovenia was relegated from the 1994 contest and had to wait until 1995 to enter again. For their return in 1995, RTVSLO organised the same national selection process as 1993 to determine their entry. Slovenski izbor za Pesem Evrovizije 1995 resulted in the selection of Darja Švajger with "Prisluhni mi". Švajger achieved Slovenia's best result to date at the contest, reaching an impressive seventh place including ten points from Greece and the United Kingdom. In 1996, RTVSLO introduced its long-running national final (EMA). This selection process was used every year until the country was relegated for a second time in due to a poor average score. Slovenia returned in 2001, using the EMA format again. 2001 marked the second time Slovenia achieved seventh place with Nuša Derenda and "Energy". This remains the country's most recent top ten result to date.
2010s
thumb|[[zalagasper|Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl became the highest scoring Slovene entrants at the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, securing 105 points in the final.]]
2011 saw a change in Slovenia's luck at the Eurovision Song Contest, qualifying for the final for the first time since 2007. Following her victory at the Slovene national final EMA 2011, Maja Keuc represented the nation with "No One". Participating in the second semi-final, Maja fared extremely well, placing first with the juries with 146 points and seventh in the public televote with 68 points. This meant that Slovenia qualified to the final in an impressive third place. In the final, Maja achieved the country's best result since , placing thirteenth with 96 points. It was later revealed that the juries placed Slovenia in fourth place with 160 points, while the public placed the entry 22nd with 39 points. Maja's song remains a fan favourite today, with the Slovenian public voting it as the nation's best ever Eurovision entry in a 2020 poll.
Due to the success in 2011, RTVSLO introduced a large scale national final for the 2012 contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. was a five month long selection process that took place between August 2011 and January 2012, which resulted in the selection of two singers to advance to Misija EMA 2012 (phase two of the selection). Ultimately, Eva Boto was selected to represent the country with "Verjamem". Boto failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 17th place only ahead of Slovakia. RTVSLO confirmed Slovenia's participation in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest on 15 December 2012 after speculation that a withdrawal was being considered. The Slovenian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest has traditionally been selected through EMA, which has been produced with variable formats. For 2013, the broadcaster opted to forego the use of this national final in order to internally select the Slovenian entry due to time constraints and reduced funding. RTVSLO selected Slovene-American singer Hannah Mancini with "Straight into Love". The entry finished in last place in the first semi-final with just 8 points, marking the first time that Slovenia has finished in last place in a Eurovision event.
For 2014, RTVSLO confirmed that they would organise EMA 2014 after being the last country to confirm participation despite more speculations over a potential withdrawal. The winner of the eighteenth edition of EMA was Tinkara Kovač with "Round and Round". Kovač reached the final marking Slovenia's first final appearance since 2011. The country finished in 25th place with 9 points (8 from Montenegro and 1 from Macedonia). For the 2015 contest, Slovenia was represented by Maraaya with "Here for You". The duo qualified for the final in 5th place, including twelve points from Azerbaijan and Montenegro. In the final, Slovenia finished in 14th position with 39 points - the country's best result since 2011. Following the contest, "Here for You" went on to enter the 'Top 50 Charts' in Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, Finland and Belgium.
For the following two years, Slovenia was absent from the final with ManuElla and Omar Naber failing to qualify. However, in both 2018 and 2019 Slovenia qualified for the final twice in a row once again. Lea Sirk reached 22nd with "Hvala, ne!" and Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl achieved fifteenth place with 105 points - the most points ever scored by Slovenia in a Eurovision final.
2020s
thumb|[[Joker Out, one of the biggest bands in Slovenia, were only the third artists to be internally selected by RTVSLO to represent Slovenia in the 2023 contest in Liverpool.]]
thumb|[[Raiven, who represented Slovenia in 2024, is the most recent Slovene entrant to qualify for the final.]]
The successful result in 2019 provoked RTVSLO to expand their national final format. In 2020, EMA FREŠ was introduced as a pre-selection for the main EMA competition. The selection gives new and upcoming Slovenian artists a chance to promote themselves and fight for a place in EMA. Having won EMA 2020, Ana Soklič was due to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with "Voda". However, after the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, RTVSLO internally selected her to represent Slovenia in 2021 with "Amen". She failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 13th place with 44 points.
On 8 October 2021, RTVSLO confirmed that both EMA FREŠ and EMA would return for the Slovenian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, with a revamped format from the first edition. On 19 February 2022, after a three month long process, it was determined that LPS would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. At the contest, LPS finished last with 15 points and failed to qualify from the first semi-final, lengthening Slovenia's absence from the final. It was later revealed that the band finished last in their semi-final, marking Slovenia's worst result at the contest in ten years.
Following the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO considered withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023. However, after discussions with the Music Commission of the Programme Council, the broadcaster opted against a withdrawal, and confirmed its participation in the 2023 contest, held in Liverpool, on 15 September 2022. After the poor result in 2022, RTVSLO decided to change both the selection format for the Slovenian entry, deciding to internally choose their act for only the third time and introducing Maša Kljun as the country's new head of delegation. On 8 December 2022, RTVSLO revealed that they had selected Joker Out to represent Slovenia in Liverpool, with their song "" released on 4 February 2023, during a special presentation show 'Misija Liverpool' that celebrated 30 years of Slovenian participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. At the contest, Slovenia qualified for the final for the first time since 2019, finishing in fifth place in the second semi-final with 103 points. In the final, Slovenia placed 21st with 78 points, securing twelve points from both Serbia and Croatia in the jury vote and televote respectively.
Following the highest viewing figures for the contest recorded by RTVSLO since 2015, the broadcaster confirmed Slovenia's participation in the 2024 contest on 14 September 2023, later announcing that a brand new national final ("Mission Malmö") would be introduced as their selection method for the contest; however, the broadcaster ultimately cancelled the format, opting for an internal selection. Raiven was ultimately selected and represented Slovenia in 2024 with the song "Veronika". She qualified for the final, marking a second consecutive qualification for the country, ultimately placing twenty-third in the final, with twenty of her twenty-seven points all coming from Croatia. On 9 March 2024, , editor at RTVSLO, drafted a document envisaging a plan to return selecting the Slovene entries for the contest through the national final EMA from 2025 until 2028. EMA 2025 took place on 1 February 2025, with Klemen selected to represent Slovenia at the 2025 contest in Basel with the song "How Much Time Do We Have Left?", who ultimately failed to qualify at the 2025 contest in Basel with a thirteenth place finish in the first semi-final.
On 26 May 2025, RTVSLO stated that it would reconsider its participation in the contest if the EBU did not respond adequately to concerns surrounding the "transparency of the vote", referring to Israel's televote win in 2025. In early September 2025, .com reported that general director of RTV SLO Ksenija Horvat is not satisfied with the EBU's handling of the controversies surrounding the 2024 and 2025 contests. She stated that the broadcaster's questions were "more or less ignored" and added that "we clearly won't be going to the Eurovision Song Contest". The following day, RTVSLO stated that it would decide whether to participate the 2026 contest after the EBU makes a decision on Israel's future participation and address concerns surrounding the "transparency of the vote" in December, adding that it would not participate if Israel is allowed to compete. Following the 95th General Assembly of the EBU on 4 December 2025, RTVSLO confirmed that it would not participate in the 2026 contest in Vienna, adding that it would not broadcast any of the shows on its channels. This marked Slovenia's first absence since 2000 and the first time in Slovenia's history as an independent country without a live broadcast of the contest.
Participation overview
Prior to Yugoslavia's dissolution, artists from the Slovene federal unit represented in , , , , , and .
{| class="wikitable"
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| style="text-align:center; background-color:#FE8080;" | ◁
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| style="text-align:center; background-color:#A4EAA9;" | X
| Entry selected but did not compete
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| style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDF;" | †
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{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
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{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Head of delegation
!
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|Petar Radović
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!scope="row"|–
|Aleksander Radić
| align="center" |
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!scope="row"|–
|Maša Kljun
| align="center" |
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!scope="row"|
|Aleksander Radić
| align="center" |
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Costume designers
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
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!Year
!Costume designers
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|Jelena Proković
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!scope="row"|
|Anika Opara
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|Vesna Mirtelj
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|rowspan="8"|Radio Val 202
|rowspan="4"
|Miša Molk
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="2"|
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|-
!scope="row"|
|Miša Molk
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|-
!scope="row"|
|Miša Molk
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|-
!scope="row"|
| SLO 1 <small>(Slovene)</small>, <br /> TV Koper-Capodistria <small>(Italian)</small>
|rowspan="6"
|rowspan="3"|
|rowspan="2"|
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!scope="row"|
| rowspan="5"| SLO 1
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!scope="row"|
|Mira Berginc
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!scope="row"|
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|colspan="2" rowspan="3"
|Mojca Mavec
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!scope="row"|
|Nuša Derenda
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|-
!scope="row"|
|SLO 2
|rowspan="2"|Andrea F
|rowspan="2"|Peter Poles
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|-
!scope="row"|
|rowspan="19"|TV SLO 1 <small>(final)</small><br />TV SLO 2 <small>(semi-finals)</small>
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|rowspan="2"|Jernej Vene
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="3"| Mojca Mavec
|Radio Val 202
|Katarina Čas
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|-
!scope="row"|
|colspan="2"
|rowspan="4"| Peter Poles
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|-
!scope="row"|
|rowspan="3"| Radio Val 202
|Jernej Vene and Aida Kurtović
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="12"|Andrej Hofer
|rowspan="2"| Aida Kurtović
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!scope="row"|
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!scope="row"|
|colspan="2"
|Andrea F
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|rowspan="3"| Radio Val 202
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|Klemen Slakonja
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!scope="row"|
|Lorella Flego
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!scope="row"|
|Andrea F
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="9"|Radio Val 202<br />
|Ana Maria Mitic and Domen Savič
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!scope="row"|
|Anja Hlača Ferjančič and Maruša Kerec
|Tinkara Kovač
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!scope="row"|
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|Marjetka Vovk
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="2"| and Maruša Kerec
|Katarina Čas
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!scope="row"|
|Amaya
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!scope="row"|
|Andrej Karoli
|Lea Sirk
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|-
!scope="row"|
|Mojca Mavec
|Miha Šalehar, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj
|rowspan="2"|Lorella Flego
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!scope="row"|
|rowspan="2"|Andrej Hofer
|Maruša Kerec
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|-
!scope="row"|
|Maja Stepančič, Maruša Kerec, Neja Jerant and Uršula Zaletelj <small>(SF2)</small><br>Maja Stepančič, Miha Šalehar and Uršula Zaletelj <small>(final)</small>
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|
|-
!scope="row"|
|TV SLO 1 <small>(SF1, final)</small><br />TV SLO 2 <small>(SF2)</small>
|rowspan=2|Mojca Mavec
|rowspan=2|Radio Val 202
|Maj Valerij and Igor Bračič
|rowspan=2|Lorella Flego
|
|-
!scope="row"|
|TV SLO 1 <small>(final)</small><br />TV SLO 2 <small>(semi-finals)</small>
| Maj Valerij <small>(SF1, final)</small> and Igor Bračič <small>(final)</small>
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|-
!scope="row"|
|colspan="2"
|colspan="2"
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|
|}
Other shows
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
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!Show
!Commentators
!Channel
!
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!scope="row"|
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|rowspan="4"|TV SLO 1
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|-
!scope="row"|Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
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!scope="row"|Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits
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|
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!scope="row"|Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light
|Andrej Hofer
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|}
Photo gallery
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Alenka Gotar 2007 Eurovision.jpg|Alenka Gotar performing "Cvet z juga" in Helsinki (2007)
File:ESC 2008 - Slovenia - Rebeka Dremelj, 1st semifinal.jpg|Rebeka Dremelj performing "Vrag naj vzame" in Belgrade (2008)
File:Slovenia at Eurovision 2010.jpg|Ansambel Žlindra and Kalamari performing "Narodnozabavni rock" in Oslo (2010)
File:Эва Бото Баку.JPG|Eva Boto performing "Verjamem" in Baku (2012)
File:ESC2013 - Slovenia 14.jpg|Hannah Mancini performing "Straight Into Love" in Malmö (2013)
File:ESC2014 - Slovenia 03 (crop 1).jpg|Tinkara Kovač performing "Round and Round" in Copenhagen (2014)
File:20150516 ESC 2015 Maraaya 0427.jpg|Maraaya performing "Here for You" in Vienna (2015)
File:ESC2016 - Slovenia 27.jpg|ManuElla performing "Blue and Red" in Stockholm (2016)
File:Omar Naber First Semi-Final Dress Rehearsal 2017 (4).jpg|Omar Naber performing "On My Way" in Kyiv (2017)
File:ESC2018 - Slovenia 07.jpg|Lea Sirk performing "Hvala, ne!" in Lisbon (2018)
File:Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final Dress Rehearsal (01).jpg|Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl performing "Sebi" in Tel Aviv (2019)
File:ESC 2021 Rotterdam 1st Semi Jury Show Slovenia.jpg|Ana Soklič performing "Amen" in Rotterdam ()
File:Eurovision 2022 - Semi-final 1 - Slovenia - LPS.jpg|LPS performing "Disko" in Turin ()
File:Eurovision 2023 - Jury Semi-final 2 - Slovenia - Joker Out (01).jpg|Joker Out performing "Carpe Diem" in Liverpool ()
File:Raiven Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Final Malmö dress rehearsal semi 1 09.jpg|Raiven performing "Veronika" in Malmö ()
File:Klemen, Eurovision 2025 1st semi final live show 04.jpg|Klemen performing "How Much Time Do We Have Left" in Basel ()
</gallery>
See also
- Slovenia in the Eurovision Young Musicians
- Slovenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
- Slovenia in the Eurovision Young Dancers