# Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Romania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 23 times since its debut in 1994, and has placed in the top ten six times. Its best results were achieved with "Let Me Try" by Luminița Anghel and Sistem in 2005, and "Playing with Fire" by Paula Seling and Ovi in 2010, who both finished in third place. The Romanian participant broadcaster in the contest is Televiziunea Română (TVR), which select its entrant with Selecția Națională, a song contest organised every year since 1993, except for 2021.
In 1993, the year before its first appearance, Romania attempted to debut in the contest, but came last in the qualifying round. After successfully joining the following year, poor placements followed until 2002, resulting in several relegations. This changed with the introduction of semi-finals to the contest in 2004, after which Romania reached the final 14 times, failing to qualify from the semi-finals in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023, the latter finishing with no points.

## Contest history

Televiziunea Română (TVR) 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 Romania since its 39th edition in 1994. Before becoming a member of the EBU, TVR had broadcast the contest several times during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.
TVR unsuccessfully attempted to debut in the 1993 contest, selecting "Nu pleca" by Dida Drăgan for the qualifying round Kvalifikacija za Millstreet (English: Preselection for Millstreet); Drăgan came in last place. A non-qualification was also achieved in 1996 when there was a qualifying round for all countries excluding hosts Norway. The Eurovision site does not count either year in Romania's list of appearances. The country's first official participation occurred in 1994 with "Dincolo de nori" by Dan Bittman placing 21st in the contest's final. The following years saw similar low placements and non-participations in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001.
Romania's first top ten result was achieved in 2002, when "Tell Me Why" by Monica Anghel and Marcel Pavel finished ninth. The country placed within the top 20 every year from 2004 to 2015, claiming third place in 2005 with "Let Me Try" by Luminița Anghel and Sistem. As of 2023, this remains Romania's best result in the contest, alongside "Playing with Fire" by Paula Seling and Ovi in 2010, which also finished third. Since 2010, the country's only other top ten placement was in 2017, when "Yodel It!" by Ilinca and Alex Florea reached seventh place. 2019 was TVR's first year to significantly invest in a performance; the costs for the use of graphics and special effects during the show for "On a Sunday" by Ester Peony amounted to 100,000 euros. Romania had previously introduced the first-ever use of overlays at Eurovision in 2014.
Romania has participated in the contest 23 times, having qualified for the final 14 times since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, failing to qualify in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. In 2016, the EBU suspended TVR from all its member services due to the repeated non-payment of debts and the threat of insolvency. This in turn disqualified their 2016 entry, "Moment of Silence" by Ovidiu Anton, from participating in the contest. Although TVR had selected "Alcohol You" by Roxen to be performed in 2020, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roxen was internally selected for 2021 nonetheless, performing "Amnesia". After failing to qualify for the final in four out of its latest five participations, Romania opted not to take part in the 2024 contest. The country did not return to the 2025 contest either.

## Selection process and accolades

Since 1993, TVR organises Selecția Națională, a song contest which has been taking place every year except for 2021, to select its entry for Eurovision. The winner of the first edition was chosen by 1100 households in the country. Since then, several voting procedures have been used, often combining televoting with the votes of a jury panel. The selection of the winner either occurred during one show, or through a varying amount of semi-finals. For the first time, a part of Romania's entry was determined internally in 2020. Roxen was selected by TVR out of exclusive partner Global Records's roster, and was appointed five songs for a jury and the public to choose from. The broadcaster and the label also collaborated the following year for the internal selection of Roxen and her entry.
In 2008, "Pe-o margine de lume" by Nico and Vlad won Romania's first and only Marcel Bezençon Award, in the Composer Award category, and Sanda received the infamous Barbara Dex Award in 2004. A number of Romania's Eurovision entries have experienced commercial success over the years. While "Let Me Try" reached number nine on the Romanian Top 100, 2006's "Tornerò" by Mihai Trăistariu peaked within the top ten in Finland and Greece. "The Balkan Girls" by Elena topped the Romanian chart in 2009, and similar success was attained by "Zaleilah" by Mandinga in 2012, obtaining number two in the country's Airplay 100 ranking and a Gold certification for digital downloads exceeding 10,000 copies in Romania. "Llámame" by Wrs also peaked atop the charts in Romania in 2022.

## Related involvement
### Heads of delegation

Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the performers, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others.
| Year | Head of delegation |
| 2000 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2002 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2003 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2004 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2005 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2006 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2007 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2008 | Ioan Duma |
| 2009 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2010 | Marina Almăşan |
| 2011 | Marina Almăşan |
| 2012 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2013 | Dan Manoliu |
| 2014 | Liana Stanciu |
| 2015 | Liana Stanciu |
| 2016 | Iuliana Marciuc |
| 2017 | Iuliana Marciuc |
| 2018 | Iuliana Marciuc |
| 2019 | Smaranda Vornicu-Shalit |
| 2020 | Liana Stanciu |
| 2021 | Liana Stanciu |
| 2022 | Iuliana Marciuc |
| 2023 | Mihai Predescu |

### Stage directors

The participating broadcaster usually appoints a stage director responsible for directing the live performance of the song at the contest, its camerawork for the television broadcast, and the visuals and props used on stage.
| Year | Stage director |
| 2009 | Bobo Bărbulescu |
| 2015 | Daniel Klinger |
| 2018 | Petre Năstase |
| 2019 | Petre Năstase |
| 2021 | Bogdan Păun and Dan Manoliu |
| 2022 | Aurel Badea |

### Jury members

Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals for the semi-finals and final of the Eurovision Song Contest, ranking all entries except their own. The juries' votes constitute 50% of the overall result alongside televoting.
| Year | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member | 5th member |
| 2014 | Mădălin Voicu | Mirela Fugaru | Mihai Stoica | Alexandru Călin Geambasu | Nico |
| 2015 | Viorel Gavrilă | Mihai Pocorschi | Ovi | Anca Lupeș | Alexandra Cepraga |
| 2017 | Luminița Anghel | Mihai Trăistariu | Tavi Colen | Paula Seling | Cezar |
| 2018 | Nicu Patoi | Anca Lupeș | Sanda Cepraga | Gabriel Cotabiță | Mihai Alexandru |
| 2019 | Ozana Barabancea | Liana Stanciu | Monica Anghel | Andrei Kerestely | Bogdan Pavlică |
| 2021 | DJ Andy | Ilinca | Liviu Teodorescu | Luminița Anghel | Răzvan Popescu |
| 2022 | Sanda Ladoși | Luminiţa Anghel | Ovi | Liviu Elekeş | Mihai Pocorschi |
| 2023 | Bogdan Strătulă | Răzvan Petre | Alexandra Cepraga | Christina Săvulescu | Monica Anghel |

### Commentators and spokespersons

For the show's broadcast on TVR, various commentators and dual commentators have been hired throughout the years, with Leonard Miron notably having done the job on seven occasions. At the contest, after all points are calculated, the presenters of the show call upon each voting broadcaster to invite their respective spokesperson to announce the results of their vote.
| Year | Commentator(s) | Spokesperson |
| 1991 | Unknown | Did not participate |
| 1992 | Unknown | Did not participate |
| 1994 | Gabriela Cristea | Cristina Țopescu |
| 1995 | Unknown | Did not participate |
| 1996 | Doina Caramzulescu and Costin Grigore | Did not participate |
| 1997 | Doina Caramzulescu and Costin Grigore | Did not participate |
| 1998 | Leonard Miron | Anca Țurcașiu |
| 1999 | Doina Caramzulescu and Costin Grigore | Did not participate |
| 2000 | Leonard Miron | Andreea Marin |
| 2001 | Leonard Miron | Did not participate |
| 2002 | Unknown | Leonard Miron |
| 2003 | Unknown | Leonard Miron |
| 2004 | Unknown | Andreea Marin |
| 2005 | Unknown | Berti Barbera |
| 2006 | Unknown | Andreea Marin Bănică |
| 2007 | Unknown | Andreea Marin Bănică |
| 2008 | Leonard Miron | Alina Sorescu |
| 2009 | Unknown | Alina Sorescu |
| 2010 | Leonard Miron and Gianina Corondan | Malvina Cservenschi |
| 2011 | Liana Stanciu and Bogdan Pavlică | Malvina Cservenschi |
| 2012 | Leonard Miron and Gianina Corondan | Paula Seling |
| 2013 | Liana Stanciu | Sonia Argint-Ionescu |
| 2014 | Bogdan Stănescu | Sonia Argint-Ionescu |
| 2015 | Bogdan Stănescu | Sonia Argint-Ionescu |
| 2017 | Liana Stanciu and Radu Andrei Tudor | Sonia Argint-Ionescu |
| 2018 | Liliana Ștefan and Radu Andrei Tudor | Sonia Argint-Ionescu |
| 2019 | Liana Stanciu and Bogdan Stănescu | Ilinca |
| 2021 | Bogdan Stănescu | Cătălina Ponor |
| 2022 | Bogdan Stănescu and Kyrie Mendél | None |
| 2023 | Bogdan Stănescu and Kyrie Mendél | Eda Marcus |

### Conductors

In contests where an orchestra was provided, a conductor was required to lead the musicians during each country's performance. Broadcasters were able to provide their own conductors, or could call upon the services of the conductor appointed by the host broadcaster. For 1993's Kvalifikacija za Millstreet pre-selection round, George Natsis conducted the Romanian entry. In 1994 and 1998, Irish host conductor Noel Kelehan and Romanian conductor Adrian Romcescu – also the composer of "Eu cred" – were hired, respectively.

## Photo gallery

* Todomondo in Helsinki (2007)
* Nico and Vlad in Belgrade (2008)
* Elena in Moscow (2009)
* Paula Seling and Ovi in Oslo (2010)
* Mandinga in Baku (2012)
* Cezar in Malmö (2013)
* Paula Seling and Ovi in Copenhagen (2014)
* Voltaj in Vienna (2015)
* Ilinca and Alex Florea in Kyiv (2017)
* The Humans in Lisbon (2018)
* Roxen in Rotterdam (2021)
* WRS in Turin (2022)
* Theodor Andrei in Liverpool (2023)