BTRC, the Belarusian national broadcaster has opened as of today the submission period for artists to submit their respective entries in order to compete at the forthcoming 2016 Belarusian Eurovision national final.

Belarus has once again opted to select its Eurovision entry and representative via a national selection, thus introducing a major change in the national final. The jury has been eradicated and the responsibility of choosing the Belarusian song and singer for Stockholm will lie entirely in the hands of the Belarusian public.

The 2016 Belarusian national selection will consist of 2 stages; an audition and a televised national final. The auditions will be broadcast live on BTRC’s official website.

Artists and singers wishing to take part in the 2016 Belarusian national selection can apply until 21 November. Hereater the candidates will be called to audition in front of a professional jury. A total of 15 acts will be selected and will be announced by 2 December. The 2016 Belarusian Eurovision entry and act will be selected via a 100% public (televoting/SMS) deliberation. The national final is scheduled to be held in Minsk no later than 25 January. The confirmed date  for the national final will be announced in due course.

BTRC has published the rules and regulations for the 2016 Belarusian national selection on its official website.

The citizens of the Republic of Belarus, as well as foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, who have reached the age of 16 on the date of filing the application, are allowed to participate in the selection as performers.

Songs (music and/or lyrics) that have not been sold/distributed via the Internet, forwarded to radio and television via any media (audio cassettes, CDs, mini-discs etc.) or performed publicly until 1 September, 2015 have the right to take part in the project. The maximum duration of a song is three minutes.

Applications, marked Eurovision 2016 national selection round, should be sent as a valuable parcel to the following address: 220807, Minsk, ul. Makayonka, 9, Belteleradiocompany. The deadline is 21 November, 2015.

In 2015 Uzari and Maimuna represented Belarus at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with their entry Time. Despite an energetic performance the country failed to qualify to the grand final.

Belarus debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 and is yet to win the event. The country’s best result in the contest was in 2007 with Koldun‘s Work your magic, when Belarus placed 6th.

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.

Stay tuned to ESCToday for the latest news on Belarus and the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.