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Montenegro’s national selection for Eurovision, Montesong 2025, will culminate in a televised final on 21 December, to be held in the studios of the country’s national public broadcaster RTCG. The broadcaster’s announcement comes as the application window for competing songs closes on 3 October.
Last year’s inaugural Montesong set a precedent. Its staging in a broadcast hall rather than a concert arena drew praise for its intimacy, technical polish and ability to spotlight emerging talent. Organisers are now opting to retain that format, citing the practical demands of staging in public venues, including increased costs for venue hire, accommodation, and logistics.
Vladana Vučinić, executive producer of the festival, acknowledged organizers’ aspirations to place parts of the event in Podgorica or other regional centres, as was discussed last year. But in her view, the production resources required would overburden the public broadcaster’s budget and staff capacity. She argued that the studio environment gives the technical crew more control, enabling a higher standard of broadcasting that does justice to both viewers and artists.
RTCG emphasises that Montesong is not merely a means to choose a Eurovision entry, but a ‘platform to nurture and amplify Montenegrin musical voices’. The broadcaster frames the festival as part of its cultural and infrastructural mission, investing in national artistic development beyond the contest itself.
The submission period has already produced notable volumes of interest. Organisers confirmed that entries have arrived from both within Montenegro and abroad, including from Scandinavian songwriters. However, the rules continue to stipulate that performers must be citizens of Montenegro, even if composers may come from outside.
As in previous years, entries will undergo multiple filtering steps: an initial check for compliance and eligibility, followed by assessments from a professional committee. That committee will evaluate songs on composition, lyrics, and production potential, before shortlisting artists for the televised stage.
One notable change revealed recently is in language rules. While earlier editions required at least 51 % of lyrics in Montenegrin, Montesong 2025 will have no language restriction — allowing artists the flexibility to perform in any language, an adjustment intended to boost creative breadth.
Montenegro approaches this edition after a difficult Eurovision return in 2025. Its entry, “Dobrodošli” performed by Nina Žižić, failed to qualify from the semi-final, placing last with only 12 points — all awarded via televote from Serbia.
