Will Turkey and TRT come back to Eurovision in 2016? That is the BIG QUESTION!

Turkey, one of the most successful countries in the competition in the last decade withdrew from the contest in 2013 and has not returned since. If the country were to return to the contest, it would be one of the most anticipated and awaited Eurovision returns after Italy.

Eurovision fans would be delighted if Turkey were to come return to the competition next year in Sweden. The country has enjoyed much success  in the competition since its victory back in 2003 with Sertab Erener‘s Every way that I can. Hereafter Turkey has had lucky streak and has placed 6 times in the Top 10; 2nd in 2010 with Manga, 4th (in 2004 with Athena, in 2007 with Kenan Dogulu and in 2009 with Hadise), 7th (in 2008 with Mor Ve Otesi and in 2012 with Can Bonomo).

Hadise– Dum tek tek

Last February the Turkish media reported on the alleged return of TRT and Turkey to the competition in 2016. The news was reported both in local and international media, whilst social media platforms went viral with the news. Hurriyet, Daily Sabah, France 24, Haberler, Today’s Zaman, Daily Hurriyet were among the many news portals which reported the news.

Hereafter ESCToday decided to contact the Turkish broadcaster in order to shed more light to the matter.

TRT, the Turkish national broadcaster told ESCToday that Turkey plans to return to Eurovision next year.

It is still early days to talk about the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest as we have just closed the door behind on the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. News and confirmations from countries wishing to compete at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest have already started to come in and will continue way into autumn.

Turkey has been absent from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The country had initially announced it would not compete at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna .Last  September the former general director of  TRT  Mr. Ibrahim Sahin announced  that TRT and Turkey will not participate at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna.

Turkey decided to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013. TRT, the national Turkish broadcaster, announced in a communique on their official website on the 14th of December 2012  that Turkey would  not compete at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden . The broadcaster’s reasons for withdrawing from the event in 2013 event were that the changes in the voting system of the contest: introduction of 50/50 jury and televoting deliberation, and the Big 5 rule, enabling  Spain, Italy, UK, France and Germany to automatically qualify every year for the final. The broadcaster expressed its discontent regarding these rules and felt they were not fair.

Turkey debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975 with Semiha Yanki’s Seninle bir dakika.Turkey won the contest in 2003 with Sertab Erener’s Every way that I can and successfully hosted the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest on home soil in Istanbul.

Kenan Dogulu–Shake it up şekerim

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest’s preliminary dates have been set on 10, 12 , 14 May and are subject to change by the host broadcaster SVT if it chooses to do so.

Would you like to see Turkey return to the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest?

Stay tuned to esctoday.com for the latest news on Turkey and the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest!