Cyprus is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The Cypriot national broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) internally selected the Cypriot entry for the contest. The selected entrant was Theo Evan.
| Eurovision Song Contest 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participating broadcaster | Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) | |||
| Country |  Cyprus | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Internal selection | |||
| Selection date(s) |
| |||
| Selected artist(s) | Theo Evan | |||
| Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Background
editPrior to the 2025 contest, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Cyprus forty times since its debut in the 1981 contest.[1] Its best placing was at the 2018 contest where Eleni Foureira placed second with "Fuego". Before that, its best result was fifth, achieved three times: in the 1982 competition with the song "Mono i agapi" performed by Anna Vissi, in the 1997 edition with "Mana mou" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and the 2004 contest with "Stronger Every Minute" performed by Lisa Andreas. Its least successful result was in the 1986 contest when it placed last with the song "Tora zo" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total. However, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in the 1999 contest with "Tha'ne erotas" by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points.[2] After returning to the contest in 2015 following its absence in the 2014 edition due to the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster's budget restrictions,[3] it has qualified for the final of all the contests except in 2022, when "Ela" performed by Andromache failed to advance from the semi-finals. In 2024, "Liar" performed by Silia Kapsis qualified for the final, where it ultimately placed 15th.[4]
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, CyBC organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. It had used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. Since 2016, the broadcaster had opted to select the entry internally without input from the public; in 2024, Fame Story, the Greek version of the talent show Star Academy, was initially announced as the Cypriot national final,[5] however, the plans were later abandoned due to a dispute with the Greek broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT).[6]
Before Eurovision
editInternal selection
editIn July 2024, it was reported that the search for the Cypriot representative for the 2025 contest was underway, and that CyBC intended to select an entrant who – unlike the country's representatives in 2023 (Andrew Lambrou) and 2024 (Silia Kapsis) – was based in Cyprus. The selection was to be carried out by a focus group composed of music professionals and Eurovision experts.[7][8] By late August 2024, the artist and song had reportedly been selected,[9] with the entrant, Theo Evan, announced on 2 September.[10]
References
edit- ^ Gallagher, Robyn (3 August 2017). "Cyprus: Broadcaster reportedly will internally select songwriter for 2018". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Cyprus Country Profile: Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ Psyllides, George (3 October 2013). "CyBC pulls out of 2014 Eurovision song contest". Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Cyprus". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (19 May 2023). "Cyprus: 2024 Eurovision National Selection Set to be Named 'Fame Story'". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (20 August 2023). "Cyprus: STAR Channel Confirms Fame Story Will Not Be The Eurovision 2024 Artist Selection Process". Eurovoix. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Kountoumadi, Eleni (10 July 2024). "Cyprus: Many potential representatives | RIK has started its search for Eurovision 2025!". EurovisionFun. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ Conte, Davide (10 July 2024). "🇨🇾 Cyprus: Search for Eurovision 2025 Entry Underway". Eurovoix. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ Charalambopoulos, Sotiris (20 August 2024). "Eurovision 2025: «Κλείδωσε» ο εκπρόσωπος της Κύπρου στον διαγωνισμό τραγουδιού" [Eurovision 2025: the representative of Cyprus in the song contest is "locked"]. iEidiseis. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Theo Evan will represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2025". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.