Bashkortostan made their debut in the Turkvision Song Contest 2013 festival, in Eskişehir, Turkey. The Bashkir broadcaster Kuray Television organised the entry selection, which took place on 16 November 2013. A total of 17 singers participated in the national selection. The national final was however disrupted due to a fire breaking out at the venue during the show, "The Lights of Ufa" with approximately 1,000 in attendance were evacuated to safety. As a result, the national final was rescheduled to a later date.