Latvia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since making its debut at the contest in 2000 , where the song "My Star " performed by the group Brainstorm finished third. Latvia won the contest in 2002 , with the song "I Wanna " by Marie N , defeating Malta by 12 points. Latvia is the second former Soviet country to win the contest. The 2003 contest was held in the Latvian capital Riga . The country achieved its third top 10 result in 2005 , when "The War Is Not Over " by Walters and Kazha finished fifth. The Latvian participant broadcaster in the contest is Latvijas Televīzija (LTV), which select its entrant since 2015 with the national selection Supernova .
Latvia did not participate in the final from 2009 to 2014, when they failed to qualify from the semi-finals for six consecutive years, including finishing last on three occasions, in 2009, 2010, and 2013.[ 1] [ 2] Latvia qualified for the final for the first time since 2008 at the 2015 contest with the song "Love Injected " by Aminata . Its sixth place in the final is Latvia's fourth top 10 finish and best result in the contest since 2005. Latvia made its 10th appearance in the final in 2016 . After failing to qualify for the final from 2017 to 2023 , it finally managed to qualify to the final in the 2024 contest with "Hollow " by Dons .
Latvia has the distinction of having finished last in the Eurovision semi-finals more than any other country. Since its introduction in 2004, Latvia has finished last in five semi-finals, with "Probka " by Intars Busulis (2009 ), "What For? " by Aisha (2010 ), "Here We Go " by PeR (2013 ), "Line " by Triana Park (2017 ), and "The Moon Is Rising " by Samanta Tīna (2021 ).
Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) 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 Latvia since its 45th edition in 2000.
LTV has chosen all its entrants in the contest through a national final, with the exception of "The Moon Is Rising " performed by Samanta Tīna in 2021.[ a] Since 2015, the Latvian national selection is Supernova . Previously, the national selections were Eirodziesma (2000–2012) and Dziesma (2013–2014).
Participation overview [ edit ]
All of Latvia's entries have been performed in English, except for three entries. In 2004, "Dziesma par laimi " performed by Fomins and Kleins in Latvian, in 2007, "Questa notte " performed by Bonaparti.lv in Italian, and in 2009, Intars Busulis , having won the national selection Eirodziesma with "Sastrēgums " in Latvian, performed the song in Eurovision in Russian as "Probka ".[ 3]
Table key
1
First place
2
Second place
3
Third place
◁
Last place
X
Entry selected but did not compete
†
Upcoming event
Heads of delegation [ edit ]
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 contestants, songwriters, composers, and backing vocalists, among others.[ 6]
^ Tīna won Supernova in 2020 , but that year's Eurovision was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic , and she was later internally selected to represent her country in the following year instead.
^ According to the then-Eurovision rules , the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to next year's grand final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Semi-Final (2)" . Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 22 May 2014 .
^ "Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final 2013 (2)" . Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 22 May 2014 .
^ Floras, Stella (2009-03-01). "Latvia: Sastregums to be performed in Russian" . ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-03-01 .
^ "Izvēlēti LTV dziesmu konkursa «Supernova» 20 pusfinālisti" [The 20 semi-finalists of the LTV Song Contest "Supernova" have been selected] (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia . 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-11-21 .
^ "Latvia 2025: 'Supernova' lineup announced" . Eurovision.tv . 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2024-11-21 .
^ "Heads of Delegation" . European Broadcasting Union . Retrieved 27 May 2019 .
^ "THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE 2ND SEASON OF DEPI EVRATESIL" . eurovision.am . 26 February 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2019 .
^ "🇱🇻 Latvia: Delegation Reflect on Rehearsals So Far & Lost Luggage Update" . Eurovoix . 30 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023 .
^ "Diva.lv - Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase" . www.diva.lv . Retrieved 26 May 2020 .
^ "Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase" (in Latvian). Digitalizētie Video un Audio (DIVA). Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2022 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē "Eirovīzijā" " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ a b "Latvia – Stockholm 2000" . European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2022 .
^ "Eirovīzijas Dziesmu konkursa Nacionālā atlase" (in Latvian). Digitalizētie Video un Audio (DIVA). Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2022 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē "Eirovīzijā" " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Latvia – Copenhagen 2001" . European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2022 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Latvia – Tallinn 2002" . European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2022 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ Bakker, Sietse (22 May 2003). "Girts Licis: press conferences and Latvian votes" . ESCToday . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Latvia – Riga 2003" . European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2022 .
^ Šaitere, Tekla (22 May 2003). "www.eurovision.tv" . Diena (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022 .
^ Bakker, Sietse (14 May 2004). "And here are the votes from... the spokespersons" . ESCToday . Archived from the original on 29 January 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2023 .
^ Philips, Roel (17 May 2005). "The 39 spokespersons!" . ESCToday . Archived from the original on 19 December 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2006 .
^ " 'Walters & Kazha' iekļūst Eirovīzijas finālā" (in Latvian). Delfi . 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023 .
^ Bakker, Sietse (20 May 2006). "Meet the spokespersons for tonight's voting!" . ESCToday . Archived from the original on 3 June 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Eirovīzijas pusfināls noskaidro vēl desmit finālistus!" (in Latvian). LTV . 19 May 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2023 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Jau rīt – Eirovīzijas pusfināls: Latvija, turam īkšķus!" (in Latvian). LTV . 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2023 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Eirovīzijā triumfē Dima Bilans no Krievijas, Pirāti – vienpadsmitie / divpadsmitie" . eirovizija.lv . Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "LTV preses konference: "Pirates of the Sea" dodas uz Belgradu un laiž klajā singlu!" (in Latvian). LTV . 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2023 .
^ Griškeviča, Una (22 May 2008). "Pirāti šovakar cīnīsies par iekļūšanu finālā" . Diena . Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023 .
^ "Streips kā dalībnieks debitē 'Eirovīzijā' " (in Latvian). Delfi . 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022 .
^ "Eirovīziju vairs nekomentēs Streips; Latvijas balsojumu paziņos Aisha" [Streip will no longer commentate on Eurovision; Latvia's vote will be announced by Aisha]. nra.lv (in Latvian). 29 April 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Anmary šovakar aizstāvēs Latvijas godu Eirovīzijā" [Anmary will defend Latvia's honor at Eurovision tonight]. tvnet.lv (in Latvian). 22 May 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Noskaties, kādas dziesmas piedalīsies Eirovīzijas finālā" [See which songs will take part in the Eurovision final]. jauns.lv (in Latvian). 26 May 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "LTV atklāj, kas komentēs 'Eirovīzijas' tiešraides" [LTV reveals who will commentate on the 'Eurovision' live broadcast]. Delfi (in Latvian). 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ Granger, Anthony (9 May 2013). "Latvia: Anmary Will Announce The Votes" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ " 'Eirovīziju' atkal komentēs Valters un Kaža" ['Eurovision' will again be commented on by Valters and Kaža]. Delfi (in Latvian). 4 May 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ Granger, Anthony (10 May 2014). "ESC'14: Voting Order Announced" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Eirovīziju komentēs Grēviņš un Frīdenbergs" [Grevins and Friedenberg will commentate on Eurovision]. skaties.lv (in Latvian). 7 May 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ Granger, Anthony (23 May 2015). "Latvia: Markus Riva Is This Years Spokesperson" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Zināmi pirmie desmit 'Eirovīzijas' finālisti; Igaunija no cīņas izstājas" [First ten 'Eurovision' finalists are known; Estonia leaves the battle]. Delfi (in Latvian). 10 May 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ a b Granger, Anthony (21 April 2018). "Latvia: Toms Grēviņš Takes Over As Lead Commentator" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Zināms, kas komentēs 'Eirovīzijas' tiešraides" [It is known who will commentate on 'Eurovision' live]. Delfi (in Latvian). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ Granger, Anthony (28 April 2017). "Latvia: Aminata Announced as Spokesperson" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ " "May we have your votes please?" " . eurovision.tv . EBU . 11 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2020 .
^ "Rit Eirovīzijas dziesmu konkursa fināls; notiek punktu sadalīšana" . theworldnews.net (in Latvian). 18 May 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "Eurovision 2019 Spokespersons – Who will announce the points?" . eurovisionworld.com . 18 May 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019 .
^ "Programma / LTV.LV (18.05.2021)" . ltv.lsm.lv . Retrieved 13 May 2021 .
^ "Programma / LTV.LV (20.05.2021)" . ltv.lsm.lv . Retrieved 13 May 2021 .
^ "Programma / LTV.LV (22.05.2021)" . ltv.lsm.lv . Retrieved 13 May 2021 .
^ Granger, Anthony (15 May 2021). "🇱🇻 Latvia: Aminata Savadogo Revealed as Eurovision 2021 Spokesperson" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 5 March 2023 .
^ "Eirovīzijas nedēļā LTV – raidījumi ar "Citiem zēniem", diskusijas un konkursa tiešraides" . LSM (in Latvian). 5 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022 .
^ Grace, Emily (8 May 2022). "Latvia: Toms Grēviņš And Lauris Reiniks To Commentate On Eurovision 2022" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ Granger, Anthony (2023-05-12). "Latvia: Jānis Pētersons from Citi Zēni Announcing the Latvian Points" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 2023-05-12 .
^ "Eirovīzijas nedēļā Latvijas Televīzijā – "V.I.P." ar "Sudden Lights", diskusijas un krāšņas konkursa tiešraides no Liverpūles" . ltv.lsm.lv (in Latvian). 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-04 .
^ "Eirovīzija tuvojas! LTV gaidāmas īpašas «V.I.P.» un «Gudrs, vēl gudrāks» spēles, izzinoša diskusija un tiešraides no Zviedrijas" [Eurovision is coming! LTV is expecting special "V.I.P." and "Gudrs, vēl gudrāks" games, informative discussion and live broadcasts from Sweden]. lsm.lv (in Latvian). 30 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024 .
^ Grace, Emily (3 May 2024). "Latvia: Toms Grēviņš And Lauris Reiniks To Commentate On Eurovision 2024" . Eurovoix . Retrieved 3 May 2024 .
Participation Artists Songs Note: Entries scored out signify where Latvia did not compete
Contests Countries
Active Inactive Ineligible Former Debut attempts Relations
National selections
Other awards Special shows