Slovenia will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which will be held in Basel, Switzerland. The Slovenian participating broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO), will organise the national final EMA 2025 in order to select its entry for the contest.
Prior to the 2025 contest, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Slovenia twenty-nine times since its first entry in 1993. Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been seventh place, achieved on two occasions: in 1995 with the song "Prisluhni mi" performed by Darja Švajger and in 2001 with the song "Energy" performed by Nuša Derenda. Its only other top ten result was achieved in 1997 when Tanja Ribič performing "Zbudi se" placed tenth. Since the introduction of semi-finals to the format of the contest in 2004, Slovenia has thus far managed to qualify to the final on eight occasions, the latest being in 2024, when "Veronika" performed by Raiven ultimately placed 23rd in the final.[1]
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RTVSLO organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster had usually selected its entry through a national final entitled Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA), which has been produced with variable formats, with the exceptions of 2013, 2021, 2023, and 2024, when the entries were internally selected. On 16 September 2024, RTVSLO confirmed its intention to participate in the 2025 contest;[2] plans regarding the selection were announced on 28 October 2024, with EMA returning as the national final format.[3]
Before Eurovision
EMA 2025
EMA 2025 is set to be the twenty-fifth edition of EMA, the format used by RTVSLO to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The competition will consist of a final on 1 February 2025.[3]
Competing entries
A submission period for interested artists and composers was open between 29 October and 25 November 2024. In order to qualify to compete, the main performer of an entry was required to hold temporary or permanent residence in Slovenia. RTVSLO also directly invited artists and composers from the national music scene.[3][4] At the closing of the window, 114 entries had been submitted.[5] An expert committee consisting of 2018 and 2022 Slovenian representatives Lea Sirk and Filip Vidušin (the latter as part of the group LPS), as well as singer Alenka Godec, Radio Val 202 editor Neja Jerant and composer Martin Bezjak selected twelve contestants, which were announced on 13 December 2024.[6]
The final will take place on 1 February 2025. The winner will be determined over two rounds of voting. In the first round, five thematic jury panels, each composed of five members, will each distribute their points following the same pattern used in the Eurovision Song Contest, i.e. 1–8, 10 and 12 points and select two entries to proceed to the second round; these panels will consist of music performers, songwriters and producers, radio and television personalities, members of OGAE Slovenia, and international Eurovision influencers and journalists.[3][6] In the superfinal, televoting exclusively will determine the winner.[3]
