Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest, often just called Eurovision, is an international song competition held every year. It started in 1956 and is organized by the European Broadcasting Union. Countries that belong to this group send in one song each to perform live on television. Viewers and music experts from each country then vote for their favorite songs, and the one with the most points wins.

The contest was inspired by a music festival in Italy and has been going strong ever since, except for a break in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, more countries have joined in, including places like Israel, Morocco, and even Australia. Each song can be no longer than three minutes, and performers can be solo artists or groups of up to six people.

Eurovision is famous for its colorful performances and exciting voting. Famous singers like ABBA and Céline Dion have started their big careers by taking part. Winning the contest means the event will be held in that country the next year, which helps bring visitors and attention to that place. Even though some people criticize the contest, it has become a huge global event watched by hundreds of millions of people every year.

History

Further information: History of the Eurovision Song Contest

The European Broadcasting Union started in 1950, and the first Eurovision Song Contest took place in 1956. It was inspired by a music festival in Italy. Countries would each send a song to compete, and other countries would vote for their favorites.

Over the years, more countries joined, and new rules were added to manage the growing number of participants. The contest became very popular, with millions of people watching each year. In 2020, the contest was cancelled because of health concerns, but a special show was made to honor the artists who would have participated.

Format

Original songs from each country are performed in a live TV show. Each country is represented by its national public broadcasting organization, which is part of the European Broadcasting Union. The show is hosted in an auditorium in the host city.

Since 2008, the contest usually has three live shows over one week: two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and a final on Saturday. All countries compete in one of the two semi-finals, except the host country and the "Big" countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The top 10 from each semi-final join these countries in the final.

Each country's broadcaster chooses its song using methods like a public vote, a jury, or a mix of both. Sweden's Melodifestivalen is a popular way to pick songs.

Each show starts with special performances and has presenters who help guide the voting. Viewers vote by telephone, SMS, or the Eurovision app. The results come from both the public and juries from each country. An interval act happens during voting, often featuring famous performers. At the end, the results are announced, and the winner gets a trophy. The winner's country hosts the next year's contest.

Participation

Further information: List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest

Countries that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) can join the Eurovision Song Contest. These countries are usually in Europe, but some places outside of Europe can join too.

Countries need to follow the contest's rules and pay a fee to take part. Up to 44 countries can join each year. So far, fifty-two different countries have been in the contest at least once. Here is a list of those countries and the year they first joined:

Hosting

Further information: List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities

The country that wins the Eurovision Song Contest usually gets to host the next year's event. This is not always the case, though. Hosting the contest can help a country show itself to the world and bring visitors, which is good for the local economy. But some countries might not want to host because it can be expensive.

When a country wins, preparations for hosting start right away. The host city needs to have enough space for thousands of fans and journalists, along with hotels for everyone who comes. The venue can be anything from a small theater to a big stadium. The contest does not usually need new buildings — it uses places that already exist.

Eurovision logo and theme

2004–2014 logo

2015–2025 logo

2026– logo

"Chameleon Heart" logo

Before 2004, each contest had its own logo. Now, there is one main logo that stays the same, but each host country adds its own special design. There is also a special slogan for each contest, and starting in 2024, there is one permanent slogan: “United by Music.” From 2026, there will also be a symbol called the “Chameleon Heart” to represent the host country or the performers.

Preparations

About six weeks before the contest, the host venue gets ready. Each country's team arrives a few weeks before the show. They have practice sessions to make sure everything goes smoothly. There are also special events for fans and the press, and a big party the night before the show to make sure everyone is ready.

Rules

Further information: Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual event organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Each country that takes part sends a song to be performed live on television. A group of judges and viewers from each country vote for their favorite songs to decide the winner.

Song eligibility and languages

Further information: List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest

All songs must be three minutes or less and must include singing — just instruments alone are not allowed. Songs cannot have been released before the first day of September the year before the contest. Singers can perform in any language they choose.

Artist eligibility and performances

Performers must be at least 16 years old, though this will change to 18 in future years. There is no limit on how many times someone can compete, and winners are allowed to try again the next year. Up to six people can be on stage at once, and no animals are allowed. Songs must be sung live, though some backing vocals can be pre-recorded.

Running order

Since 2013, the order in which countries perform is decided by the contest’s producers to give viewers a better experience. Countries are placed into groups based on location and past voting patterns, and draws determine who goes first or second in each half of the semi-finals. The final running order is decided by the producers after the second semi-final.

Voting

Further information: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest

Each country gives points to their ten favorite songs, with the top song getting 12 points. Points come from both a jury of music experts and votes from viewers calling or using the Eurovision app. A special “Rest of the World” vote was added in 2023, letting people outside of Europe also vote.

Broadcasting

Broadcasters must show the contest live, including all songs and the voting. They can show short ads during breaks. The EBU keeps recordings of most contests, though full videos from 1956 and 1964 are missing.

Expansion of the contest

Further information: List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest

Changes in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s changed the Eurovision Song Contest. Yugoslavia stopped taking part, and new countries from Central and Eastern Europe began joining.

The contest started in 1956 with just seven countries. Over time, more and more countries joined. By 1965, 18 countries took part, and by 1990, that number grew to 22 each year.

Big changes happened in Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Yugoslavia broke up, and new countries formed. These new countries wanted to join Eurovision. Also, the rules changed so more countries could take part.

Pre-selections and relegation

In 1993, too many countries wanted to join — 29 of them! That was too many for one show. So, a new rule was made. Seven new countries from Central and Eastern Europe had to have a special contest called Kvalifikacija za Millstreet in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Only Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia got to join that year. Others had to wait.

For 1994, another rule was made. Countries that did badly the year before had to miss the next year. They were replaced by countries who hadn’t competed before.

The "Big" countries

In 1999, four countries — France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom — were allowed to always join without missing a year. They were called the “Big Four” because they helped pay for the contest. In 2011, Italy joined, making them the “Big Five”.

Introduction of semi-finals

In 2004, because even more countries wanted to join, Eurovision added a semi-final. Now the contest happened over two days. The top 10 countries from each year’s final would automatically join the next year’s final, along with the “Big Five”. Everyone else had to compete in the semi-final for 10 spots.

In 2007, with 42 countries, there were 28 in one semi-final trying for 10 spots. In 2008, a second semi-final was added. Now all countries, except the host and the “Big” countries, had to join one of the two semi-finals. Each semi-final had 10 spots available. Countries were split based on where they are located and how they voted before, to make things fairer.

Entries and participants

Further information: List of Eurovision Song Contest entries (1956–2003) and List of Eurovision Song Contest entries (2004–present)

The Eurovision Song Contest has helped many singers become famous around the world. Some very popular singers were once Eurovision winners or participants. For example, ABBA, who won for Sweden in 1974, sold millions of records after their win. Céline Dion also became a big star after winning for Switzerland in 1988. Other famous singers like Julio Iglesias and Olivia Newton-John took part in the contest before they became well-known.

Many successful singers have competed in Eurovision even after they were already famous. These include Lulu, Toto Cutugno, and Katrina and the Waves. The contest has also featured many talented songwriters and composers, such as Serge Gainsbourg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Some past participants have made important contributions in other areas besides music. For example, Annie M.G. Schmidt from the Netherlands, who wrote the first ever Eurovision song, became famous for her children's books. Other participants have worked in politics or helped others around the world.

Songs from the contest have sometimes become very popular. For example, "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man, which won for the United Kingdom in 1976, sold over six million copies. Another famous song, "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" or "Volare" by Domenico Modugno for Italy in 1958, won a Grammy Award and has been recorded by many artists.

In recent years, several Eurovision songs have become big hits. For example, "Euphoria" by Loreen for Sweden in 2012 was very popular across Europe. The song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence for the Netherlands in 2019 became a hit after many people shared it online.

73 songs from 28 countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest as of 2026. Ireland and Sweden have each won seven times, the most of any country. Some countries have waited a long time for their first win. For example, Greece won for the first time in 2005, 31 years after it first took part.

The United Kingdom has come in second place 16 times, the most of any country. Norway has finished last 12 times. Some countries have won twice in a row, like Spain and Ireland. The winner of the contest receives a special glass trophy that looks like a microphone.

Interval acts and guest appearances

Since the very first Eurovision Song Contest, special performances by artists who are not competing have been a big part of the show. These performances can include music, dance, art, and even circus acts. Often, the winner of the previous year's contest comes back to sing their winning song again.

The opening and the main break between the songs have become famous moments in the contest. These shows can highlight the culture and history of the host country. For example, in 2006 in Greece, there was a performance called "4,000 Years of Greek Song." Sometimes, the performances are funny and full of jokes, like "Love Love Peace Peace" in 2016, which made fun of Eurovision's history in a fun way.

One famous interval act was Riverdance, which started at the 1994 contest in Ireland. This mix of traditional Irish music and dance became very popular all over the world. Many well-known artists have performed at Eurovision, including Danish group Aqua, Finnish band Apocalyptica, and American stars Justin Timberlake and Madonna. There have also been guest appearances from actors, athletes, and even astronauts.

These special performances sometimes respond to big events happening in the world. For example, after the Kosovo War in 1999, all the competing singers performed a song called "Hallelujah". In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, songs about peace were performed to show support.

Criticism and controversy

Main article: Controversies of the Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest has faced many discussions and debates over the years. Some people have talked about the kinds of music that are chosen and how the contest is organized. In the past, some thought the music was too simple or followed the same patterns, making it seem boring or predictable.

Because each song represents a country, sometimes political feelings between countries show up in the contest. For example, when countries have disagreements, this can affect how they vote for each other’s songs. This has led to some tense moments and discussions among the participants.

The contest has also been a place where people of all backgrounds feel welcome. Over the years, many performers from different cultures and communities have taken part, and the contest has celebrated diversity. Some performers have shared personal stories that connect with many viewers, making the event special for fans around the world.

Cultural influence

The Eurovision Song Contest has become very popular around the world, with many people watching it every year. It is often seen as fun and silly, and has been made fun of in TV shows and performances. Some movies have even been made about it!

Eurovision has many fans online, with websites and groups dedicated to the contest. One big fan group started in Finland in 1984 and now has members all over the world. Before the main contest each year, there are smaller parties in different countries where the artists perform and meet fans. These parties have been held in places like Amsterdam, London, and Madrid. Since 2020, some of these events have also been held online.

Special events and related competitions

Several special events have been held to celebrate milestones in the Eurovision Song Contest's history. For example, Songs of Europe in 1981 featured performances by past winners, while Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 highlighted the most popular songs from the contest's first 50 years. In 2015, Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits celebrated the contest's 60th anniversary with past artists' performances.

The European Broadcasting Union also organizes other contests, such as Eurovision Young Musicians for young classical musicians, Eurovision Young Dancers for dance performers, and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for young singers aged 9 to 14. Similar music competitions exist outside the EBU, like the Sopot International Song Festival and the American Song Contest.