Liet International (), formerly Liet-Lávlut, is an international music competition for songs in European minority and regional languages. The inaugural edition took place on 28 April 2002 as a spin-off of the West Frisian-language song contest (), held annually in Leeuwarden, Netherlands since 1991.
Since 2006, Liet International has been held in a different city each year. The 2006 and 2008 editions, held in the Swedish part of Sápmi, were titled Liet-Lávlut ( is Northern Sami for 'sing'). The contest was cancelled in 2007 and 2013 when the hosting organisations, in Narbonne and Corsica respectively, backed out at a late stage, and in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No Liet International was held in 2005, 2015, 2016, 2019 or 2021.
Due to its similarities to the Eurovision Song Contest, the competition has been dubbed the 'Eurovision of minority languages'. It has been organised under the auspices of the Council of Europe since 2008.
Overview YearDateHost cityJury award winnerRegionArtistSongLanguage200228 AprilLeeuwarden, Netherlands""Catalan200323 NovemberLeeuwarden, NetherlandsTransjoik"Mijjajaa"Southern Sámi200422 OctoberLeeuwarden, NetherlandsNiko Valkeapää"Rabas mielain"Northern Sámi200614 OctoberÖstersund, Sweden and Ellen Sara Bæhr"Luđiin muitalan"Northern Sámi2007N/ANarbonne, France200818 OctoberLuleå, SwedenJacques Culioli"Hosanna in excelsis"Corsican200931 OctoberLeeuwarden, NetherlandsSomBy"Ii iđit vel"Northern Sami201027 NovemberLorient, FranceOrka"Rúmdardrongurin"Faroese201119 NovemberUdine, Italy"Ien klap"West Frisian20121 DecemberGijón, Spain"Ar gouloù bev"Breton2013N/ACorsica, France201412 DecemberOldenburg, GermanyMartina Iori"Via con mia mùsega"Ladin201713 AprilKautokeino, NorwayElla Marie Hætta Isaksen"Luoddaearru"Northern Sami201823 MayLeeuwarden, NetherlandsThe Rowan Tree"Tresor"Cornish20203–4 AprilAabenraa, Denmark202213 MayTønder, DenmarkDoria"Roma"Corsican202422 November Bastia, France Sephardic Jews"Una segunda piel"Ladino
Past editions +Table keyJury award winnerPublic award (or musicians' award) winner
2002 The first Liet International song contest was held on 28 April 2002 at in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, one day after the song contest. Both the jury and public awards were won by the Catalan band with the song "".
Region Artist Song Language Place1 Stone Age "" Breton 22 Le Chéile Trio Irish 4–103 Angelit "" Northern Sámi 34 "" Kashubian 4–105 Mescladissa Occitan 4–106 Welsh 4–107 "" West Frisian 4–108 North Frisia North Frisian 4–109 Basque Country Bat Bitten Basque 4–10 10 "" Catalan 1
2003 The second Liet International contest was again held at De Harmonie in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, on 23 November 2003. Transjoik, a Sámi group from Norway, won the jury award with the song "Mijjajaa". The public award was won by Welsh-Cornish singer Gwenno Saunders with the song "Vodya".
Region Artist Song Language Points Place "Sensacions" Catalan 36 8 Gwenno "Vodya" Cornish 57 3 ◇ Bacon and Bones "It allerheechste guod" West Frisian 39 6 Prorastar "Michi" Friulian 22 10 "Nai" Galician 44 5 Briege Murphy "An Mhuir" Irish 39 6 "Barbet pantaï" Occitan 56 4 Transjoik "Mijjajaa" Southern Sámi 70 1 Awful Noise "Jarobinka" Sorbian 31 9 Epitaff "Yr ateb" Welsh 66 2
2004 The third edition of the contest was held on 22 October 2004. The venue was once again De Harmonie in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Sámi singer Niko Valkeapää won both the jury and the public award with the song "Rabas mielain". This was the second time in a row that the contest was won by the Sámi entry.
Region Artist Song Language Points Place Breton 52 5 Meindert Talma & the Negroes "Dûnsje wyldekat dûnsje" West Frisian 32 9 Kosovni Odpadki "Bye bye bombe" Friulian 49 6 Uxía "Cadeas" Galician 61 3 Ondiep Limburgish 25 10 Istvan Kobjela Sorbian 37 8 "Lo merle" Occitan 63 2 Niko Valkeapää "Rabas mielain" Northern Sámi 91 1 The Alyth McCormack Band "Dèan cadalan sàmhach" Scottish Gaelic 61 3 Elin Fflur Welsh 39 7
2006 Since Sápmi had won two out of the three competitions, the fourth edition was held in Östersund, Sweden. Sixty competitors, singing in twenty-five minority languages, took part in the preliminary elimination round. Eleven songs, representing eleven languages, were selected for the final competition.
Although the winner was selected by a jury, the audience could also vote for their favourite entry via text messages and online voting. The Sámi duo Johan Kitti and Ellen Sara Bæhr won the competition with "Luđiin muitalan", sung in Northern Sámi. The public award was won by Liza Pannetier with the Occitan song "Soleu Rouge".
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 "Oh moj sin" Friulian 55 72 Anna Murray and Iain Finlay Macleod "An-raoir bha mi coiseachd" Scottish Gaelic 46 83 Moot "Gyn Fockleyn" Manx 38 104 Raud-Ants "Kui miä kazvolin kanainõ" Votic 41 95 Basque Country "Hil ez denak" Basque 30 116 "Solèu roge" Occitan 69 4 ◇7 "Nim dyn tiid" West Frisian 58 68 "Oonhän meilä vielä kieli" Meänkieli 60 59 Narf "Santiago" Galician 78 210 and Ellen Sara Bæhr "Luđiin muitalan" Northern Sámi 86 111 "Shej baxtali" Romani 77 3
2008 Liet-Lávlut 2008, the fifth edition of the contest, took place on 18 October 2008 at Kulturens hus in Luleå, Sweden. Corsican singer Jacques Culioli won both the jury and public award with the song "Hosanna in excelsis".
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 Boy Elliott & the Plastic Bags "Planeta 19" Galician 46 102 Surunmaa "Tulethan takasi" Meänkieli 51 83 "Bugale Belfast" Breton 54 64 Jacques Culioli "Hosanna in excelsis" Corsican 80 1 5 "Botë e shurë" Arbëresh 51 86 "Áibbas jaska" Northern Sámi 73 27 Jelte Posthumus & Pilatus Pas "De wiete wyn hellet oan" West Frisian 54 68 "Oz dream" Friulian 56 49 Yr Annioddefol "Drysu" Welsh 44 1110 Dixebra "Indios" Asturian 73 211 Mordens "Good Will Blessing" Mordvinian 56 4
2009 In January 2009, the board of the Liet Foundation decided to continue under the name Liet International. The sixth edition of the contest was held on 31 October 2009, returning to the De Harmonie theatre in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. The Finnish Sámi rock band Somby won the competition with the song "Ii iđit vel", sung in Northern Sámi. The public award was won by Dr. Drer & CRC posse from Sardinia, with the song "Apu biu".
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 Alfredo González "La nada y tu" Asturian 40 92 Zine "Lo prince charmant" Occitan 31 103 "Apu biu" Sardinian 80 2 ◇4 SomBy "Ii iđit vel" Northern Sami 85 15 "Doman" Friulian 78 36 It Langstme & de Dea "Wikel" West Frisian 63 57 Fiach "Sea Táim" Irish 75 48 Low German speakers De fofftig Penns "Platt" Low German 48 89 "Lasair An t-Oidhche" Scottish Gaelic 52 710 "Marjaini-darjaini" Karelian 62 611 "Pats sevī dzeivs" Latgalian 24 11
2010 In 2010, Liet International was held in the Breton city of Lorient, France. The contest was won by the Faroese band Orka with the song "Rúmdardrongurin". The public award went to the Friulian band R.esistence in Dub with the song "Fieste".
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 Orka "Rúmdardrongurin" Faroese 88 12 "Billarda sempre" Galician 29 103 Stéphane Casalta "Albasgia" Corsican 59 74 Vepsians Jousnen Järved "Verrez tullei" Vepsian 45 85 Rachel Walker "Fada Bhuam" Scottish Gaelic 65 56 "Tierra" Asturian 78 27 Pia-Maria Holmgren "Geaidnu" Northern Sámi 44 98 "Do swalkest" West Frisian 75 39 Dom Duff "Kan an awen" Breton 23 1110 "Fieste" Friulian 70 4 ◇11 The Temporary "Cupan Toast" Irish 62 6
2011 The eighth Liet International was held on 19 November 2011 at the Teatro Giovanni da Udine in Udine, Italy, the historical capital of the region of Friuli. The West Frisian singer Janna Eijer won the jury award with the song "Ien klap", while the band Coffeeshock Company from Austria won the public vote with "Gusla mi se je znicila", sung in Burgenland Croatian.
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 Vepsians "Kättepajo" Vepsian 40 92 Romansh people Rezia Ladina "Id ès capità" Romansh 55 73 Burgenland Croats "Gusla mi se je znicila" Burgenland Croatian 80 3 ◇4 Priska "Hajra" Friulian 28 125 Macanta "Gaol" Scottish Gaelic 77 46 Rolffa "Gulatgo mu?" Northern Sámi 32 117 Basque Country "Hi, vascofona!" Basque 70 58 Cuntra Löm "La moncignosa" Ladin 35 109 "Condenau" Asturian 52 810 "Ien klap" West Frisian 83 111 "Kyrdźasa leźom ali" (Кырӟаса лэзём али) Udmurt 81 212 Aoife Scott "Donal Ná Fág" Irish 63 6
2012 The ninth edition of Liet International was held on 1 December 2012 at the Teatru de la Llaboral in Gijón, Asturias, Spain. Welsh-born Breton singer Lleuwen won the jury award with the song "Ar Gouloù Bev", while the public award went to Asturiana Mining Company with "Si nun conoces Vaḷḷouta".
Region Artist Song Language Points Place1 Dopu Cena "Trasmetta" Corsican 86 22 Basque Country "Muxurik muxu" Basque 41 83 Alghero Claudia Crabuzza and "Ara" Algherese Catalan 64 54 "Fathainn" Scottish Gaelic 64 55 Ivan Belosludtsev & 4 Cheber Pios "Tau tynyd" (Тау тыныд) Udmurt 35 96 "Si nun conoces Vaḷḷouta" Asturian 66 4 ◇7 "Fjoer" West Frisian 52 78 "Mai mai" Friulian 32 119 "Ar gouloù bev" Breton 87 110 "Oainnát go?" Northern Sámi 35 911 The Voodoolectric "Slickermuul" East Frisian Low Saxon 76 3
2014 The tenth Liet International song contest was held on 12 December 2014 in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Italian singer Martina Iori won the jury award with the song "Via con mia mùsega", sung in Ladin. In this year, the audience award was replaced by a musicians' award voted on by the contestants themselves. The musicians' award was won by Aila-duo from Finland with the song "Naharij kandâ", sung in Inari Sámi.
Region or group Artist Song Language Points Place1 "Volviche" Galician-Asturian 36 72 Willie Campbell "Fir-chlis" Scottish Gaelic 30 93 Minde Bandalheira "Baracho ancho pereira" Minderico 21 104 Adnoz "Un dra nevez" Breton 53 45 Forefingers Up! "Sa luxi 'e su soli" Sardinian, Italian 56 36 Bruno Rummler "Beppe" West Frisian 51 57 "Naharij kandâ" Inari Sámi 64 2 ◇8 Low German speakers The Paintbox "Söss söss söss / Dat Slecht" Low German 40 69 Martina Iori "Via con mia mùsega" Ladin 73 110 "Shochmo keche" (Шочмо кече) Mari 36 7
+ Detailed international jury votesSongTotal1 "Volviche" — 5 6 5 5 5 2 2 1 5 362 "Fir-chlis" 1 — 4 8 1 3 7 4 5 4 303 "Baracho ancho pereira" 2 3 — 4 6 1 1 1 2 1 214 "Un dra nevez" 6 10 3 — 7 4 3 6 8 6 535 "Sa luxi 'e su soli" 5 2 7 10 — 6 8 5 10 3 566 "Beppe" 7 4 5 7 3 — 5 8 4 8 517 "Naharij kandâ" 10 6 8 6 4 10 — 3 7 10 648 "Söss söss söss / Dat Slecht" 3 7 1 3 10 2 6 — 6 2 409 "Via con mia mùsega" 8 8 10 8 8 7 10 7 — 7 7310 "Shochmo keche" 4 1 2 2 2 8 4 10 3 — 36Jury members – José Manuel Tejedor Mier – Alex MacDonald – Tiago Mendes Rodrigues – Maodez Huran – Claudia Aru Carreras – Sjoerd Bootsma – Nils Johan Bars – Stefan Meyer – Marco Stolfo – Eric Yuzykayn
2017 The eleventh Liet International song contest was scheduled to be held in late 2016 in Kautokeino, Norway, the home of the Sámi Grand Prix. However, due to a lack of funds, the contest was postponed to 13 April 2017 and was held as part of the Sámi Easter Festival. For a second time in the history of the contest, a local singer, Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, won the contest with her song "Luoddaearru" (). She also won the musicians' award.
Region Artist Song Language Points Place1 Mary Ann Kennedy & Friends "Grioglachan" Scottish Gaelic 21 62 La Schlapp Sauvage "Blanne Käpitan" Luxembourgish 13 83 "Hïwïtma" (Һыуытма) Bashkir 31 44 Ruben Semmoh and Romeo Sumter "Saka na pin" Sranan Tongo 25 55 Ukan "Den ebet all" Breton 21 66 Pavel Aleksandrov and Dmitry Yakimov "Van'myz ortche" (Ваньмыз ортче) Udmurt 38 37 Aafke Zuidersma "Minsk fan wearde" West Frisian 39 28 Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen "Luoddaearru" Northern Sami 44 1
2018