10 finalists and 5 wildcards in the running to represent Romania in Vienna

Broadcaster TVR has revealed the names of the acts that will compete to represent Romania on its return to the Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Between Monday 9 February and Wednesday 11 February, 68 artists performed their songs in front of a panel of jury members selected by TVR, in what was the semi-final stage of Romania's Selecția Națională 2026.

On Thursday 12 February, TVR announced the ten songs that had made it through to the Selecția Națională final:

Alejandro Zandes & Emil Rengle – Bailando Solo

Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me

Edward Maya x LavBbe x Costi – Everybody Needs Somebody

Emy Alupei – Till Born

HVNDS – Dor

Monica Odagiu – Fereastra Pentru Un Orb

Olivia Addams – Croco

Robert Lukian - Fire to the Lies

Vanu – Therapy Enemy

Yguana – Happy Birthday

There's still one more slot to fill in that Selecția Națională final, however!

TVR also revealed five 'wildcard' entries. From these five, the song which clocks up the most views on the Romanian broadcaster's YouTube channel will become the 11th finalist of Selecția Națională 2026.

The Selecția Națională final is happening on Wednesday 4 March. The winner will have the honour of representing Romania on its return to the Eurovision Song Contest after taking two years away from the competition.

Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest

Dublin 1994 saw a record-breaking seven broadcasters debut at the Eurovision Song Contest, including Romania's TVR. 

An initial 21st-place result with Dincolo De Nori by Dan Bittman has been improved upon many times in Romania’s 22 participations since. The country has landed in the Top 10 of the Grand Final six times, with their best result being a third-place finish in both 2005 and 2010, courtesy of Let Me Try by Luminița Anghel & Sistem and Playing With Fire by Paula Selling & Ovi respectively.

When it comes to Contest contributions over the years, Romania are just as well known for bringing the fun as they are for the finesse. Whether it's been a masterclass in showing us how Balkan Girls like to party (2009), demonstrating their skills in yodelling (2017) or leaning in to their popularity with tourists in Transylvania (2013), Romania's artists have given all of the Eurovision parties watching along at home something to remember. 

And few club nights worth their entrance fee would go the whole night without at least one crowd-pleasing spin of Tornero (2006), Zaleilah (2012) or Llámame (2022).