Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Armenia is set to be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with the song "Paloma rumba", written by David Tserunyan, Eva Voskanyan, Lilit Navasardyan and Roza Kostandyan, and performed by Simón. The Armenian participating broadcaster, Public Television of Armenia (AMPTV), internally selected its entry for the contest.

Prior to the 2026 contest, Public Television of Armenia (AMPTV) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Armenia seventeen times since its first entry in 2006.^[1] Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been fourth place, achieved on two occasions: in 2008 with the song "Qélé, Qélé" performed by Sirusho and in 2014 with the song "Not Alone" performed by Aram Mp3. It has also failed to qualify to the final on three occasions, namely in 2011, 2018, and 2019. AMPTV briefly withdrew from the contest on two occasions: in 2012 due to long-standing tensions with then-host country Azerbaijan, and in 2021 due to social and political crises in the aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.^[2][3] In 2025, "Survivor" performed by Parg placed 20th in the final.^[1]

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, AMPTV 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 a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. In 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2025, the national final Depi Evratesil was organised.^[4][5] AMPTV confirmed its intention to participate in the 2026 contest on 15 December 2025.^[6]

On 9 March 2026, Armenian media outlet Hraparak reported that Simon Hovhannisyan had been internally selected to represent the country in the 2026 contest; he had finished runner-up in the 2025 edition of Depi Evratesil with the song "Ay paparey bye".^[7] This was confirmed by AMPTV two days later alongside the release of his competing entry, "Paloma rumba", which was co-written by Rosa Linn, who represented Armenia in 2022.^[8][9]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May 2026. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final will progress to the final. On 12 January 2026, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country will perform in; the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.^[10] Armenia was scheduled for the first half of the second semi-final.^[11]