View source for History of the Eurovision Song Contest

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
[[File:Marcel Bezençon (1980).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Marcel Bezençon]] (1907–1981) was one of the key figures involved in creating the Eurovision Song Contest.]]
The [[Eurovision Song Contest]] ({{Langx|fr|Concours Eurovision de la chanson}}) was first held in 1956. Following a series of exchange broadcasts in 1954 through its [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision transmission network]], the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) commissioned an international song competition, from an idea developed by [[Sergio Pugliese]] and [[Marcel Bezençon]] and originally based on the Italian [[Sanremo Music Festival]].

A total of 69 contests have been held since its first edition, and [[List of Eurovision Song Contest entries (disambiguation)|1,754 songs]] representing [[List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest|52 countries]] have been performed on the Eurovision stage {{as of|2025|lc=y|post=.}} The contest has seen numerous changes since its inauguration, such as the introduction of [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] in the 1990s, and subsequently semi-finals in the 2000s, as a response to growing numbers of interested participants. The [[Rules of the Eurovision Song Contest|rules of the contest]] have also seen multiple changes over the years, with the [[Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest|voting system]] and [[List of languages in the Eurovision Song Contest|language criteria]] being modified on several occasions.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been identified as the longest-running annual international televised music competition in the world, as determined by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'', and around 40 countries now regularly take part each year. Several other competitions have been inspired by Eurovision in the years since its formation, and the EBU has also created a number of complimentary contests which focus on other aspects of music and culture. The {{Escyr|2020||2020 edition}} of the contest was the first to be cancelled, as no competitive event was able to take place due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

== Competition overview ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Edition
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Year
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Date of final
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Host broadcaster(s)
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Venue
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Host city
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Countries
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Winning country
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref|References}}
|-
! scope="col" | Total
! scope="col" | In final
|-
! scope="row" | 1st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1956}}
| {{dts|24 May}}
| [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]]/[[Radiotelevisione svizzera|RSI]]
| [[Casinò Lugano|Teatro Kursaal]]
| {{flagdeco|SUI}} [[Lugano]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 7{{efn|Each country in the first contest was represented by two songs.}}
| {{Esc|Switzerland}}
| <ref name="Lugano 56" />
|-
! scope="row" | 2nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1957}}
| {{dts|3 March}}
| [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]/[[Hessischer Rundfunk|HR]]
| [[Großer Sendesaal des hessischen Rundfunks]]
| {{flagdeco|FRG}} [[Frankfurt]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 10
| {{Esc|Netherlands}}
| <ref name="Frankfurt 57" />
|-
! scope="row" | 3rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1958}}
| {{dts|12 March}}
| [[Nederlandse Televisie Stichting|NTS]]
| [[AVRO Studios]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[Hilversum]]
| {{Esc|France|1830}}
| <ref name="Hilversum 58" />
|-
! scope="row" | 4th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1959}}
| {{dts|11 March}}
| [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|RTF]]
| [[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès|Palais des Festivals]]
| {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Cannes]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 11
| {{Esc|Netherlands}}
| <ref name="Cannes 59" />
|-
! scope="row" | 5th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1960}}
| {{dts|29 March}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Royal Festival Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[London]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 13
| {{Esc|France}}
| <ref name="London 60" />
|-
! scope="row" | 6th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1961}}
| {{dts|18 March}}
| [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|RTF]]
| [[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès|Palais des Festivals]]
| {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Cannes]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=4| 16
| {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| <ref name="Cannes 61" />
|-
! scope="row" | 7th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1962}}
| {{dts|18 March}}
| [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]]
| [[Villa Louvigny]]
| {{flagdeco|LUX}} [[Luxembourg City]]
| {{Esc|France}}
| <ref name="Luxembourg 62" />
|-
! scope="row" | 8th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1963}}
| {{dts|23 March}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Television Centre, London|BBC Television Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[London]]
| {{Esc|Denmark}}
| <ref name="London 63" />
|-
! scope="row" | 9th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1964}}
| {{dts|21 March}}
| [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
| [[Tivoli Concert Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|DEN}} [[Copenhagen]]
| {{Esc|Italy}}
| <ref name="Copenhagen 64" />
|-
! scope="row" | 10th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1965}}
| {{dts|20 March}}
| [[RAI]]
| [[RAI Production Center, Naples|Sala di Concerto della RAI]]
| {{flagdeco|ITA}} [[Naples]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 18
| {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| <ref name="Naples 65" />
|-
! scope="row" | 11th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1966}}
| {{dts|5 March}}
| [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]]
| [[Villa Louvigny]]
| {{flagdeco|LUX}} [[Luxembourg City]]
| {{Esc|Austria}}
| <ref name="Luxembourg 66" />
|-
! scope="row" | 12th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1967}}
| {{dts|8 April}}
| [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
| [[Hofburg#Festival Hall Wing|Großer Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg]]
| {{flagdeco|AUT}} [[Vienna]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 17
| {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| <ref name="Vienna 67" />
|-
! scope="row" | 13th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1968}}
| {{dts|6 April}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Royal Albert Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[London]]
| {{Esc|Spain|1945}}
| <ref name="London 68" />
|-
! scope="row" | 14th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1969}}
| {{dts|29 March}}
| [[Televisión Española|TVE]]
| [[Teatro Real]]
| {{flagdeco|ESP|1945}} [[Madrid]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 16
| {{ubl|{{Esc|France}}|{{Esc|Netherlands}}|{{Esc|Spain|1945}}|{{Esc|United Kingdom}}}}
| <ref name="Madrid 69" />
|-
! scope="row" | 15th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1970}}
| {{dts|21 March}}
| [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]
| [[RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre|RAI Congrescentrum]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[Amsterdam]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 12
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Amsterdam 70" />
|-
! scope="row" | 16th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1971}}
| {{dts|3 April}}
| [[RTÉ]]
| [[Gaiety Theatre, Dublin|Gaiety Theatre]]
| {{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 18
| {{Esc|Monaco}}
| <ref name="Dublin 71" />
|-
! scope="row" | 17th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1972}}
| {{dts|25 March}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Usher Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[Edinburgh]]
| {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| <ref name="Edinburgh 72" />
|-
! scope="row" | 18th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1973}}
| {{dts|7 April}}
| [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]]
| [[Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg|Nouveau Théâtre]]
| {{flagdeco|LUX}} [[Luxembourg City]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 17
| {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| <ref name="Luxembourg 73" />
|-
! scope="row" | 19th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1974}}
| {{dts|6 April}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Brighton Dome]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[Brighton]]
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Brighton 74" />
|-
! scope="row" | 20th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1975}}
| {{dts|22 March}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SR]]
| [[Stockholm International Fairs|Stockholmsmässan]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Stockholm]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 19
| {{Esc|Netherlands}}
| <ref name="Stockholm 75" />
|-
! scope="row" | 21st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1976}}
| {{dts|3 April}}
| [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]
| [[World Forum (The Hague)|Nederlands Congresgebouw]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[The Hague]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 18
| {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| <ref name="The Hague 76" />
|-
! scope="row" | 22nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1977}}
| {{dts|7 May}}{{efn|The 1977 contest was originally scheduled for 2 April, but a strike by BBC camera operators and technicians resulted in a postponement until 7 May.}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Wembley Conference Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[London]]
| {{Esc|France}}
| <ref name="London 77" />
|-
! scope="row" | 23rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1978}}
| {{dts|22 April}}
| [[TF1]]
| [[Palais des congrès de Paris|Palais des Congrès]]
| {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Paris]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 20
| {{Esc|Israel}}
| <ref name="Paris 78" />
|-
! scope="row" | 24th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1979}}
| {{dts|31 March}}
| [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]]
| [[International Convention Center (Jerusalem)|International Convention Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|ISR}} [[Jerusalem]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 19
| {{Esc|Israel}}
| <ref name="Jerusalem 79" />
|-
! scope="row" | 25th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1980}}
| {{dts|19 April}}
| [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]
| [[World Forum (The Hague)|Nederlands Congresgebouw]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[The Hague]]
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="The Hague 80" />
|-
! scope="row" | 26th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1981}}
| {{dts|4 April}}
| [[RTÉ]]
| [[Royal Dublin Society#RDS Simmonscourt|RDS Simmonscourt]]
| {{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 20
| {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| <ref name="Dublin 81" />
|-
! scope="row" | 27th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1982}}
| {{dts|24 April}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Harrogate Convention Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[Harrogate]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 18
| {{Esc|Germany}}
| <ref name="Harrogate 82" />
|-
! scope="row" | 28th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1983}}
| {{dts|23 April}}
| [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]/[[Bayerischer Rundfunk|BR]]
| [[Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle]]
| {{flagdeco|FRG}} [[Munich]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 20
| {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| <ref name="Munich 83" />
|-
! scope="row" | 29th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1984}}
| {{dts|5 May}}
| [[RTL Group|RTL]]
| [[Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg|Théâtre Municipal]]
| {{flagdeco|LUX}} [[Luxembourg City]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 19
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Luxembourg 84" />
|-
! scope="row" | 30th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1985}}
| {{dts|4 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Scandinavium]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]]
| {{Esc|Norway}}
| <ref name="Gothenburg 85" />
|-
! scope="row" | 31st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1986}}
| {{dts|3 May}}
| [[NRK]]
| [[Grieg Hall|Grieghallen]]
| {{flagdeco|NOR}} [[Bergen]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 20
| {{Esc|Belgium}}
| <ref name="Bergen 86" />
|-
! scope="row" | 32nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1987}}
| {{dts|9 May}}
| [[RTBF]]
| [[Brussels Expo|Palais de Centenaire]]
| {{flagdeco|BEL}} [[Brussels]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 22
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Brussels 87" />
|-
! scope="row" | 33rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1988}}
| {{dts|30 April}}
| [[RTÉ]]
| [[Royal Dublin Society#RDS Simmonscourt|RDS Simmonscourt]]
| {{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 21
| {{Esc|Switzerland}}
| <ref name="Dublin 88" />
|-
! scope="row" | 34th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1989}}
| {{dts|6 May}}
| [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]]/[[Télévision Suisse Romande|TSR]]
| [[Palais de Beaulieu]]
| {{flagdeco|SUI}} [[Lausanne]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=3| 22
| {{Esc|Yugoslavia}}
| <ref name="Lausanne 89" />
|-
! scope="row" | 35th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1990}}
| {{dts|5 May}}
| [[Yugoslav Radio Television|JRT]]/[[Croatian Radiotelevision|RTZ]]
| [[Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|Yugoslavia}} [[Zagreb]]
| {{Esc|Italy}}
| <ref name="Zagreb 90" />
|-
! scope="row" | 36th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1991}}
| {{dts|4 May}}
| [[RAI]]
| [[Cinecittà|Studio 15 di Cinecittà]]
| {{flagdeco|ITA}} [[Rome]]
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Rome 91" />
|-
! scope="row" | 37th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1992}}
| {{dts|9 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Malmö Isstadion]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Malmö]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 23
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Malmö 92" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2021 |title=Watch Now #EurovisionAgain: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain1992 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821224015/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain1992 |archive-date=21 August 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 38th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1993}}
| {{dts|15 May}}
| rowspan="3"|[[RTÉ]]
| [[Green Glens Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Millstreet]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 25
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Millstreet 93" />
|-
! scope="row" | 39th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1994}}
| {{dts|30 April}}
| rowspan="2"|[[Point Theatre]]
| rowspan="2"|{{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Dublin 94" />
|-
! scope="row" | 40th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1995}}
| {{dts|13 May}}
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 23
| {{Esc|Norway}}
| <ref name="Dublin 95" />
|-
! scope="row" | 41st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1996}}
| {{dts|18 May}}
| [[NRK]]
| [[Oslo Spektrum]]
| {{flagdeco|NOR}} [[Oslo]]
| {{Esc|Ireland}}
| <ref name="Oslo 96" />
|-
! scope="row" | 42nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1997}}
| {{dts|3 May}}
| [[RTÉ]]
| [[Point Theatre]]
| {{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]]
| align="center" colspan=2 rowspan=2| 25
| {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| <ref name="Dublin 97" />
|-
! scope="row" | 43rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1998}}
| {{dts|9 May}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Utilita Arena Birmingham|National Indoor Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[Birmingham]]
| {{Esc|Israel}}
| <ref name="Birmingham 98" />
|-
! scope="row" | 44th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|1999}}
| {{dts|29 May}}
| [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]]
| [[International Convention Center (Jerusalem)|International Convention Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|ISR}} [[Jerusalem]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 23
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Jerusalem 99" />
|-
! scope="row" | 45th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2000}}
| {{dts|13 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Ericsson Globe|Globe Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Stockholm]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 24
| {{Esc|Denmark}}
| <ref name="Stockholm 00" />
|-
! scope="row" | 46th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2001}}
| {{dts|12 May}}
| [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
| [[Parken Stadium]]
| {{flagdeco|DEN}} [[Copenhagen]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 23
| {{Esc|Estonia}}
| <ref name="Copenhagen 01" />
|-
! scope="row" | 47th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2002}}
| {{dts|25 May}}
| [[Eesti Televisioon|ETV]]
| [[Saku Suurhall]]
| {{flagdeco|EST}} [[Tallinn]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 24
| {{Esc|Latvia}}
| <ref name="Tallinn 02" />
|-
! scope="row" | 48th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2003}}
| {{dts|24 May}}
| [[Latvijas Televīzija|LTV]]
| [[Skonto Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|LVA}} [[Riga]]
| align="center" colspan=2 | 26
| {{Esc|Turkey}}
| <ref name="Riga 03" />
|-
! scope="row" | 49th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2004}}
| {{dts|15 May}}
| [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation|TRT]]
| [[Abdi İpekçi Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|TUR}} [[Istanbul]]
| align="center" | 36
| align="center" rowspan=4| 24
| {{Esc|Ukraine}}
| <ref name="Istanbul 04" />
|-
! scope="row" | 50th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2005}}
| {{dts|21 May}}
| [[National Television Company of Ukraine|NTU]]
| [[Palace of Sports, Kyiv|Palace of Sports]]
| {{flagdeco|UKR}} [[Kyiv]]
| align="center" | 39
| {{Esc|Greece}}
| <ref name="Kyiv 05" />
|-
! scope="row" | 51st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2006}}
| {{dts|20 May}}
| [[Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation|ERT]]
| [[O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall|Olympic Indoor Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|GRE}} [[Athens]]
| align="center" | 37
| {{Esc|Finland}}
| <ref name="Athens 06" />
|-
! scope="row" | 52nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2007}}
| {{dts|12 May}}
| [[Yle|YLE]]
| [[Hartwall Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|FIN}} [[Helsinki]]
| align="center" | 42
| {{Esc|Serbia|2004}}
| <ref name="Helsinki 07" />
|-
! scope="row" | 53rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2008}}
| {{dts|24 May}}
| [[Radio Television of Serbia|RTS]]
| [[Štark Arena|Belgrade Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|SRB|2004}} [[Belgrade]]
| align="center" | 43
| align="center" rowspan=4| 25
| {{Esc|Russia}}
| <ref name="Belgrade 08" />
|-
! scope="row" | 54th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2009}}
| {{dts|16 May}}
| [[Channel One Russia|C1R]]
| [[Olympic Stadium (Moscow)|Olimpiyskiy Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|RUS}} [[Moscow]]
| align="center" | 42
| {{Esc|Norway}}
| <ref name="Moscow 09" />
|-
! scope="row" | 55th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2010}}
| {{dts|29 May}}
| [[NRK]]
| [[Telenor Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|NOR}} [[Oslo]]
| align="center" | 39
| {{Esc|Germany}}
| <ref name="Oslo 10" />
|-
! scope="row" | 56th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2011}}
| {{dts|14 May}}
| [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]/[[Norddeutscher Rundfunk|NDR]]
| [[Merkur Spiel-Arena|Düsseldorf Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|GER}} [[Düsseldorf]]
| align="center" | 43
| {{Esc|Azerbaijan}}
| <ref name="Düsseldorf 11" />
|-
! scope="row" | 57th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2012}}
| {{dts|26 May}}
| [[İctimai Television|İTV]]
| [[Baku Crystal Hall]]
| {{flagdeco|AZE}} [[Baku]]
| align="center" | 42
| align="center" rowspan=3| 26
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Baku 12" />
|-
! scope="row" | 58th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2013}}
| {{dts|18 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Malmö Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Malmö]]
| align="center" | 39
| {{Esc|Denmark}}
| <ref name="Malmö 13" />
|-
! scope="row" | 59th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2014}}
| {{dts|10 May}}
| [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
| [[B&W Hallerne]]
| {{flagdeco|DEN}} [[Copenhagen]]
| align="center" | 37
| {{Esc|Austria}}
| <ref name="Copenhagen 14" />
|-
! scope="row" | 60th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2015}}
| {{dts|23 May}}
| [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
| [[Wiener Stadthalle]]
| {{flagdeco|AUT}} [[Vienna]]
| align="center" | 40
| align="center" | 27
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Vienna 15" />
|-
! scope="row" | 61st
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2016}}
| {{dts|14 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Ericsson Globe|Globe Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Stockholm]]
| align="center" rowspan=2| 42
| align="center" rowspan=4| 26
| {{Esc|Ukraine}}
| <ref name="Stockholm 16" />
|-
! scope="row" | 62nd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2017}}
| {{dts|13 May}}
| [[Suspilne|UA:PBC]]
| [[International Exhibition Centre]]
| {{flagdeco|UKR}} [[Kyiv]]
| {{Esc|Portugal}}
| <ref name="Kyiv 17" />
|-
! scope="row" | 63rd
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2018}}
| {{dts|12 May}}
| [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]
| [[Altice Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|POR}} [[Lisbon]]
| align="center" | 43
| {{Esc|Israel}}
| <ref name="Lisbon 18" />
|-
! scope="row" | 64th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2019}}
| {{dts|18 May}}
| [[Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation|IPBC]]
| [[Expo Tel Aviv]]
| {{flagdeco|ISR}} [[Tel Aviv]]
| align="center" | 41
| {{Esc|Netherlands}}
| <ref name="Tel Aviv 19" />
|- style="background:#FCC; text-decoration:line-through;"
! scope="row" style="background:#FCC;" | Cancelled
! scope="row" style="background:#FCC;" | {{Escyr|2020}}
| {{dts|16 May}}
| [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]]/[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]/[[AVROTROS]]
| [[Rotterdam Ahoy]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[Rotterdam]]
| align="center" | 41
| align="center" | 26
| style="background: ##FCC; color: #2C2C2C;" class="table-na" | No winner
| <ref name="Rotterdam 20" />
|-
! scope="row" | 65th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2021}}
| {{dts|22 May}}
| [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]]/[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]/[[AVROTROS]]
| [[Rotterdam Ahoy]]
| {{flagdeco|NED}} [[Rotterdam]]
| align="center" | 39
| align="center" | 26
| {{Esc|Italy}}
| <ref name="Rotterdam 21" />
|-
! scope="row" | 66th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2022}}
| {{dts|14 May}}
| [[RAI]]
| [[Pala Alpitour|PalaOlimpico]]
| {{flagdeco|ITA}} [[Turin]]
| align="center" | 40
| align="center" | 25
| {{Esc|Ukraine}}
| <ref name="Turin 22">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Turin 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/turin-2022 |access-date=2021-10-08 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en-gb}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 67th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2023}}
| {{dts|13 May}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Liverpool Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|GBR}} [[Liverpool]]
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 37
| align="center" | 26
| {{Esc|Sweden}}
| <ref name="Liverpool 23">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Liverpool 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/liverpool-2023 |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 68th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2024}}
| {{dts|11 May}}
| [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
| [[Malmö Arena]]
| {{flagdeco|SWE}} [[Malmö]]
| align="center" | 25{{efn|26 countries were set to perform, but the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} was disqualified from the contest between the second semi-final and the final.}}
| {{Esc|Switzerland}}
| <ref name="Malmö 24">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 2024 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2024 |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 69th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2025}}
| {{dts|17 May}}
| [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]]
| [[St. Jakobshalle]]
| {{flagdeco|SUI}} [[Basel]]
| align="center" | 26
| {{Esc|Austria}}
| <ref name="Basel 25">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Basel 2025 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/basel-2025 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 70th
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2026}}
| {{TBA}}
| [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
| {{TBA}}
| {{flagdeco|AUT}} Host city TBA
| colspan="2" {{TBA}}
| {{TBA}}
|<ref name=":pressconference">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2025 |title=Eurovision 2025 winner's press conference with JJ |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-winners-press-conference-jj |access-date=18 May 2025 |work=Eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref>
|}

{{gallery
|File:Royal Albert Hall, London.jpg|'''London''': Royal Albert Hall, venue of the 1968 contest.
|File:Gaiety Theatre, Dublin.JPG|'''Dublin''': Gaiety Theatre, venue of the 1971 contest.
|File:Binyanei-HaUmah.JPG|'''Jerusalem''': International Convention Centre, venue of the 1979 and 1999 contests.
|File:Oslo Spektrum.jpg|'''Oslo''': Oslo Spektrum, venue of the 1996 contest.
|File:Globen Stockholm February 2007.jpg|'''Stockholm''': Globe Arena, venue of the 2000 and 2016 contests.
|File:Belgrade Arena north.jpg|'''Belgrade''': Belgrade Arena, venue of the 2008 contest.
|File:Malmö Arena ESC2013 01.jpg|'''Malmö''': Malmö Arena, venue of the 2013 and 2024 contests.
|File:View of MEO Arena 2014 from North.jpg|'''Lisbon''': Altice Arena, venue of the 2018 contest.
}}

=== Contest themes and slogans ===
An individual slogan has been associated with each edition of the contest since 2002, with the exception of 2009.<ref name="Logos & Artwork">{{Cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Logos and Artwork |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/logos-and-artwork |access-date=17 March 2021 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref>{{sfn|West|2020|pp=217–220}} This slogan is decided by the host broadcaster and is then used to develop the contest's visual identity and design.<ref name="Brand">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brand |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201075740/https://eurovision.tv/about/brand |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=3 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleave |first=Amy |date=2023-05-02 |title=Eurovision branding over the years |url=https://www.dawncreative.co.uk/insight/eurovision-branding/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=Dawn Creative |language=en}}</ref> This slogan is typically used by the producers in planning and formulating the show's visual identity, and is channelled into the contest's stage design, the opening and interval acts, and the "postcards": short videos interspersed between the entries which usually highlight the host country, and in many cases introduce the competing acts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groot |first=Evert |date=28 October 2018 |title=Tel Aviv 2019: Dare to Dream |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/slogan-tel-aviv-2019-dare-to-dream |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LaFleur |first=Louise |date=25 October 2019 |title=The making of 'Open Up' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-making-of-open-up |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2019 |title=2020 postcard concept revealed as Dutch people can join in on the fun |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-postcards-concept-revealed |access-date=7 July 2020 |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> The slogan of the 2023 contest, "United by Music", was announced on 14 November 2023 to be retained for future editions of the event.<ref name="Slogan">{{Cite web |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/united-by-music-permanent-slogan |title='United By Music' chosen as permanent Eurovision slogan |work=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |date=2023-11-14 |access-date=2023-11-14 |lang=en-gb}}</ref> For the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland, the host broadcaster SRG SSR introduced a motto for that year's event, "Welcome Home", which was included in addition to the "United by Music" slogan within the visual identity and design.<ref name="Basel 25" /><ref>{{cite web |title=The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 has arrived in Basel: The latest news on the show week |url=https://www.srgssr.ch/en/news-media/news/the-eurovision-song-contest-2025-has-arrived-in-basel-the-latest-news-on-the-show-week |publisher=[[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation]] (SRG SSR) |access-date=10 June 2025 |language=en |date=14 April 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
|+ Individual contest slogans (2002–2023)
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Host city
! scope="col"| Slogan
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2002}}
| {{flagdeco|Estonia}} [[Tallinn]]
| ''A Modern Fairytale''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2003}}
| {{flagdeco|Latvia}} [[Riga]]
| ''A Magical Rendez-vous''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2004}}
| {{flagdeco|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]]
| ''Under the Same Sky''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2005}}
| {{flagdeco|Ukraine}} [[Kyiv]]
| ''Awakening''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2006}}
| {{flagdeco|Greece}} [[Athens]]
| ''Feel the Rhythm''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2007}}
| {{flagdeco|Finland}} [[Helsinki]]
| ''True Fantasy''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2008}}
| {{flagdeco|Serbia|2004}} [[Belgrade]]
| ''Confluence of Sound''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2010}}
| {{flagdeco|Norway}} [[Oslo]]
| ''Share the Moment''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2011}}
| {{flagdeco|Germany}} [[Düsseldorf]]
| ''Feel Your Heart Beat!''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2012}}
| {{flagdeco|Azerbaijan}} [[Baku]]
| ''Light Your Fire!''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2013}}
| {{flagdeco|Sweden}} [[Malmö]]
| ''We Are One''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2014}}
| {{flagdeco|Denmark}} [[Copenhagen]]
| ''#JoinUs''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2015}}
| {{flagdeco|Austria}} [[Vienna]]
| ''Building Bridges''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2016}}
| {{flagdeco|Sweden}} [[Stockholm]]
| ''Come Together''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2017}}
| {{flagdeco|Ukraine}} [[Kyiv]]
| ''Celebrate Diversity''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2018}}
| {{flagdeco|Portugal}} [[Lisbon]]
| ''All Aboard!''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2019}}
| {{flagdeco|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]]
| ''Dare to Dream''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2021}}
| {{flagdeco|Netherlands}} [[Rotterdam]]
| ''Open Up''{{efn|Originally to have been used for the cancelled {{Escyr|2020||2020 contest}}.}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2022}}
| {{flagdeco|Italy}} [[Turin]]
| ''The Sound of Beauty''
|-
! scope="row" | {{Escyr|2023}}
| {{ubl|{{flagdeco|United Kingdom}} [[Liverpool]]
| ''United by Music''{{efn|Later chosen as the permanent slogan for {{Escyr|2024}} and all future editions of the contest<ref name="Slogan" />}}
|}

== Origins ==
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was formed in 1950, when the [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]] (BBC) hosted a conference with 23 organisations at the Imperial Hotel in [[Torquay]], England, with the aim of establishing cooperation on creative endeavours and setting a foundation for the exchange of television programmes across borders.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="bristol">{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=17 May 2005 |title=Singing out loud and proud |work=[[Bristol Evening Post]] |publisher=[[Daily Mail and General Trust]] |quote=In the mid-1950s, the members of the European Broadcasting Union set up an ad hoc committee to investigate ways of rallying the countries of Europe round a light entertainment programme. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was formed on 12 February 1950 by 23 broadcasting organisations from Europe and the Mediterranean at a conference in Devon, United Kingdom. It was on 6 June 1954, that Montreux became the venue for the first transmission by the EBU's Eurovision Network of the Narcissus Festival and its flower-bedecked procession floats. At Monaco, in late January 1955, this committee, chaired by Marcel Bezençon, director general of Swiss Television, came up with the idea of creating a song contest, inspired by the very popular San Remo Festival. The idea was approved by the EBU General Assembly in Rome on 19 October 1955, and it was decided that the first "Eurovision Grand Prix" – so baptised, incidentally, by a British journalist – would take place in spring 1956 at Lugano, Switzerland.}}</ref> "Eurovision" as a term in telecommunications was first used by British journalist George Campey in the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' in 1951, when he referred to a BBC programme being relayed by Dutch television;{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee">{{Cite web |last=Jaquin |first=Patrick |date=1 December 2004 |title=Eurovision's Golden Jubilee |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040811033906/http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/diffusion_on_line/television/tcm_6-8971.php |archive-date=11 August 2004 |access-date=18 July 2009 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> the EBU's [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision transmission network]] was subsequently founded in 1954, at the time formed of a series of [[microwave transmission|microwave links]] across Europe.<ref name="Eurovision network">{{Cite web |last=Waters |first=George T. |date=Winter 1994 |title=Eurovision: 40 years of network development, four decades of service to broadcasters |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_262-editorial.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627213443/http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_262-editorial.html |archive-date=27 June 2006 |access-date=27 June 2020 |website=ebu.ch |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref>

In the years following the formation of the EBU a number of big events were transmitted via their infrastructure, including the [[coronation of Elizabeth II]], which was broadcast in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, in addition to the United Kingdom.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref name="Eurovision network about">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision: About us – who we are |url=https://www.eurovision.net/about/whoweare |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=eurovision.net |publisher=[[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]]}}</ref> In September 1953, an EBU meeting in London resulted in a series of international exchange programmes organised the following year, entitled the "European Television Season", and relayed live across Europe through the Eurovision network.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="Eurovision network" /> The first of these programmes was shown on 6 June 1954, showing coverage of the Narcissus Festival held in [[Montreux]], Switzerland, followed by a tour of [[Vatican City]]. Further events were broadcast over the following days, including the [[Palio di Siena]], an [[Track and field|athletics]] meet in [[Glasgow]], a parade by the [[Royal Navy]] passing Queen [[Elizabeth II]], and live transmission of football matches from the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]] in [[Switzerland]], the first time the [[FIFA World Cup]] was accompanied by live television coverage.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref name="Eurovision network about" />

Following this summer season of programmes, the EBU formed a "Programme Committee" to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters each year, with [[Marcel Bezençon]], Director-General of the [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation]] (SRG SSR), serving as the committee's first President, and Rene McCall, deputy director of the BBC, and Jean d'Arcy, Director of the French broadcaster {{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=no}} (RTF), serving as Vice Presidents. This committee met in [[Monte Carlo]] in January 1955, and approved two new projects for further study: a European song competition, initially proposed by [[Sergio Pugliese]] from the Italian broadcaster {{lang|it|[[RAI|Radiotelevisione italiana]]|i=no}} (RAI), and a contest of amateur entertainers; the latter idea was eventually discarded.<ref name="GoldenJubilee" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe |date=18 May 2019 |title=Eurovision 2019: What exactly is the point of the annual song contest and how did it begin? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/eurovision-2019-song-contest-what-is-the-point-purpose-pop-history-a8916801.html |access-date=27 June 2020 |website=independent.co.uk |publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> On 19 October 1955, at the annual General Assembly of the EBU, held in the [[Palazzo Corsini, Rome|Palazzo Corsini]] in [[Rome]] under the Presidency of the [[Director-General of the BBC]] Sir [[Ian Jacob]], the EBU agreed to the organising of the song contest, under the initial title of the ''European Grand Prix'', and accepted a proposal by the Swiss delegation to host the event in [[Lugano]] in the spring of 1956.<ref name="GoldenJubilee" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |date=19 October 2015 |title=A diamond day for the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/a-diamond-day-for-the-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=24 February 2021 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> A planning sub-group was formed to establish the rules of the competition, headed by Eduard Hass of SRG SSR, which used the Italian [[Sanremo Music Festival]] as a basis for their work, with several amendments and additions made to better reflect this new international version.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}

== 1950s ==
[[File:Gustav Winckler & Birthe Wilke.jpg|thumb|[[Gustav Winckler]] and [[Birthe Wilke]], representing Denmark at the {{Escyr|1957||1957 contest}} in [[Frankfurt]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1956]]''' was the first edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|it|[[Radiotelevisione svizzera|Radio svizzera italiana]]|i=unset}} (RSI) on behalf of the [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation]] (SRG SSR) and held on 24 May 1956 at the [[Casinò Lugano|Teatro Kursaal]] in [[Lugano]], Switzerland.<ref name="Lugano 56">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} The regulations for this first contest allowed one participating broadcast organisation from each country to submit two songs of between 3 and 3½ minutes in length, the only edition to permit more than one song per country.<ref name="Lugano 56" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reglement du Grand Prix Européenne 1956 de la Chanson Éuropeenne |trans-title=Rules of the 1956 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix |url=https://eurovision.tv/upload/history/1956/56_rules.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104171321/https://eurovision.tv/upload/history/1956/56_rules.pdf |archive-date=4 January 2012 |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |language=fr}}</ref> Each country was strongly encouraged to hold a national contest to select their competing entries.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=93–96}} Seven countries entered the inaugural contest, with entries received from {{Esccnty|Belgium}}, {{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Germany|t=West Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Italy}}, {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}}, the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} and {{Esccnty|Switzerland}}.<ref name="Lugano 56" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=8–9}} Voting in this first contest was held behind closed doors: two jury members from each country situated at the venue ranked the competing songs, including those of their own country.<ref name="Lugano 56" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=96–101}} Switzerland's [[Lys Assia]] was crowned the contest's first winner, with the song "[[Refrain (Lys Assia song)|Refrain]]".<ref name="Winners">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Winners |url=https://eurovision.tv/winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512231240/https://eurovision.tv/winners |archive-date=12 May 2018 |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Only the overall winner of the contest was announced at its conclusion, and the full results have never been made public.<ref name="Lugano 56" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=96–101}} No known video footage of the event is known to survive beyond newsreel of the winning reprise; audio of most of the contest however does exist.<ref name="Lugano 56" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=96–101}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1957]]''' was the second edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|de|[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=unset}} (HR) on behalf of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and held on 3 March 1957 at the [[Großer Sendesaal des hessischen Rundfunks]] in [[Frankfurt]], [[West Germany]].<ref name="Frankfurt 57">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=10–11}} Early rules established that a different broadcaster would take on the task of organising the contest each year, and Germany was selected to host the 1957 event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2014 |title=Looking back to just like it was in 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/looking-back-to-just-like-it-was-in-1957 |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Ten countries entered this second contest, with the seven original broadcasters joined by {{Esccnty|Austria}}, {{Esccnty|Denmark}} and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}}, with each country submitting one song for consideration.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /> Taking inspiration from the ''[[UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest|Festival of British Popular Songs]]'', organised by the BBC in August 1956 which included a scoreboard and voting by regional juries, the contest organisers decided to incorporate these ideas into the pan-European contest, allowing viewers at home to follow the voting procedure.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=10–11}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=152–159}} A new voting system was introduced in tandem, with a jury of ten members in each country casting a single vote for their favourite song; jury members from one country could not vote for the song of their own country, a rule which still applies to the present day.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=10–11}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=152–159}} The Netherlands was voted the winner, represented by [[Corry Brokken]] with the song "[[Net als toen]]".<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Domenico Modugno (1958), Bestanddeelnr 909-4001.jpg|thumb|upright|Italy's [[Domenico Modugno]] performing in a rehearsal ahead of the {{Escyr|1958||1958 contest}} in [[Hilversum]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1958]]''' was the third edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|nl|[[Nederlandse Televisie Stichting]]|i=unset}} (NTS) and held on 12 March 1958 at the [[AVRO Studios]] in [[Hilversum]], Netherlands.<ref name="Hilversum 58">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Hilversum 1958 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/hilversum-1958 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}} This marked the first time that the winning country of the previous edition was given the honour of hosting, setting a precedent that continues to be observed.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=160–165}} The United Kingdom decided not to compete in this edition, however {{Esccnty|Sweden}} made its debut, keeping the total number of competing countries at ten.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=160–165}} A new rule limiting the duration of each competing entry to 3 minutes was introduced, prompted by the previous year's contest when the Italian entry lasted for over 5 minutes.<ref name="Frankfurt 57" /> France gained its first win in the contest, represented by [[André Claveau]] and "[[Dors, mon amour]]".<ref name="Winners" /> Despite only placing third, Italy's "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]", popularly known as "Volare" and performed by [[Domenico Modugno]], would go on to greater commercial success than the winning song, hitting number one on the US ''[[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and being recorded by various artists over the years, with combined sales of over 22&nbsp;million copies worldwide.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pierluigi |first=Panza |date=17 February 1996 |title=Piramidi rotanti luci da record e 007 in azione |url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802023205/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/febbraio/17/Piramidi_rotanti_luci_record_007_co_0_9602175076.shtml |archive-date=2 August 2012 |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=[[Corriere della Sera]] |quote=Il brano presentato a Sanremo che ha venduto di piu' e' "Nel blu dipinto di blu" di Domenico Modugno (22 milioni di dischi).}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1959]]''' was the fourth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=unset}} (RTF) and held on 11 March 1959 at the [[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès|Palais des Festivals]] in [[Cannes]], France.<ref name="Cannes 59">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Cannes 1959 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=14–15}} 11 countries competed in this edition, which saw the United Kingdom returning to the contest along with new entrants {{Esccnty|Monaco}}, while Luxembourg decided to withdraw.<ref name="Cannes 59" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–192}} The Netherlands's [[Teddy Scholten]] was crowned the winner with the song "[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]", becoming the first country to win the contest twice.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="Cannes 59" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=14–15}} This contest also marked the only time that the top three entries were given a reprise performance, with the United Kingdom's [[Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson]] and France's [[Jean Philippe]] also performing for a second time at the broadcast's conclusion.<ref name="Cannes 59" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–192}}

== 1960s ==
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1960]]''' was the fifth edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]] (BBC) and held on 29 March 1960 at the [[Royal Festival Hall]] in [[London]], United Kingdom.<ref name="London 60">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1960 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1960 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=16–17}} Dutch broadcaster NTS declined the opportunity to stage the event for the second time in three years, leading the EBU to approach the BBC to host the event as the previous year's runner-up.<ref name="London 60" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=213–224}} The number of competing countries grew to 13, as Luxembourg returned and {{Esccnty|Norway}} sent its first entry.<ref name="London 60" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=213–224}} France recorded their second contest win, with [[Jacqueline Boyer]] taking the title with "[[Tom Pillibi]]".<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Eurovisie Songfestival 1962 te Luxemburg, voor Frankrijk Isabella Aubret, Bestanddeelnr 913-6612.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Isabelle Aubret]] gave France its third win in five years, when she won the {{Escyr|1962||1962 contest}} in [[Luxembourg City]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1961]]''' was the sixth edition of the contest, organised by [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|RTF]] and held on 18 March 1961 at the [[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès|Palais des Festivals]] in [[Cannes]], France.<ref name="Cannes 61">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Cannes 1961 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1961 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=18–19}} France became the first country to host two contests, with the Palais des Festivals having also hosted the 1959 event. This was also the first contest to be held on a Saturday night, which has now become the standard time-slot for the contest's final.<ref name="Cannes 61" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=18–19}} A record 16 countries competed in this year's event, with debut entries from {{Esccnty|Finland}}, {{Esccnty|Spain}} and {{Esccnty|Yugoslavia}}.<ref name="Cannes 61" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=254–264}} Luxembourg became the fourth country to win the Eurovision title, with French singer [[Jean-Claude Pascal]] giving the Grand Duchy their first win with "[[Nous les amoureux]]".<ref name="Cannes 61" /><ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1962]]''' was the seventh edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|fr|[[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion]]|i=unset}} (CLT) and held on 18 March 1962 at the Grand Auditorium de RTL, [[Villa Louvigny]] in [[Luxembourg City]], [[Luxembourg]].<ref name="Luxembourg 62">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1962 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1962 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=20–21}} For the first time there was no change in the countries competing, with the same line-up seen as in 1961. A new voting system was implemented at this contest, with each country now giving 3, 2 and 1 points to the top three songs as determined by the combined votes of the assembled jury.<ref name="Luxembourg 62" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=291–299}} France's [[Isabelle Aubret]] was crowned the winner with "[[Un premier amour]]", giving France its third victory in five years.<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1963]]''' was the eighth edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 23 March 1963 at the [[Television Centre, London|BBC Television Centre]] in [[London]], United Kingdom.<ref name="London 63">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1963 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1963 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=22–23}} France's RTF had declined the offer to stage the contest once again, and the BBC stepped in to host the contest for the second time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=22–23}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=318–333}} A modification of the voting system used in 1962 was adopted, with countries now giving 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points for their favourite songs.<ref name="London 63" /><ref name="1963 anniv">{{Cite web |date=23 March 2013 |title=Recalling the 50th anniversary of the 1963 contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-1963-contest |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> In a close fought contest for first place between Denmark and Switzerland, [[Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann]] emerged victorious with "[[Dansevise]]" for Denmark, giving the Scandinavian country their first victory on the final vote.<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1964]]''' was the ninth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|da|[[DR (broadcaster)|Danmarks Radio]]|i=unset}} (DR) and held on 21 March 1964 at the [[Tivoli Concert Hall]] in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark.<ref name="Copenhagen 64">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 1964 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-1964 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}} Sweden were forced to withdraw due to [[industrial action]] by the [[Swedish Musicians' Union]], however as {{Esccnty|Portugal}} made its debut appearance the total number of competing countries remained at 16.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}} Another modification of the voting system now saw each country giving 5, 3 and 1 points to the top 3 songs based on the total of all votes cast by jury members, with each jury member having three votes to distribute among the songs; if all members voted for only two songs, these would get 6 and 3 points, and if all members voted for the same song it would get 9 points.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}} This event marked the first time that the contest was interrupted by a [[protest]]er, when a man demonstrating against the right-wing dictatorships of [[Francoist Spain|Spain]] and [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]] and the inclusion of these countries in the contest entered the stage holding a banner stating "Boycott [[Francisco Franco|Franco]] and [[António de Oliveira Salazar|Salazar]]", before being quickly removed as cameras cut to a shot of the scoreboard.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=24–25}}<ref name="1964 anniv">{{Cite web |date=21 March 2014 |title=Recalling the Copenhagen contest of 50 years ago |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-the-copenhagen-contest-of-50-years-ago |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> No footage of this protest remains however as, like the 1956 contest, no video footage of the contest is known to exist, but footage of the opening sequence and the winning reprise, as well as audio recordings are known to survive.<ref name="Copenhagen 64" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=348–358}} Italy's [[Gigliola Cinquetti]] scored a landslide victory with the song "[[Non ho l'età]]", gaining almost three times as many points as the United Kingdom in second place and giving Italy its first Eurovision win.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="1964 anniv" />

[[File:Eurovisie Songfestival 1966 te Luxemburg. De winnaar Udo Jürgens met de winnares, Bestanddeelnr 918-9214.jpg|thumb|[[France Gall]] and [[Udo Jürgens]] at the {{Escyr|1966||1966 contest}} in [[Luxembourg City]], as Jürgens celebrates his win for Austria.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1965]]''' was the tenth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|it|[[RAI|Radiotelevisione italiana]]|i=unset}} (RAI) and held on 20 March 1965 at the [[Sala di Concerto della RAI]] in [[Naples]], Italy.<ref name="Naples 65">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Naples 1965 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/naples-1965 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=26–27}} A record 18 countries competed in this anniversary event, with Sweden making its return and {{Esccnty|Ireland}} making its debut.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=369–381}} With the contest being picked up by the Eastern Europe [[International Radio and Television Organisation|Intervision network]] and broadcast in countries such as the [[Soviet Union]], [[Czechoslovakia]], [[Poland]], [[Hungary]] and [[East Germany]] for the first time, the 1965 contest was the biggest yet with an estimated global audience of 150&nbsp;million viewers.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=26–27}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=369–381}} Sweden's entry caused some controversy when their entry was performed in English, rather than in their national language Swedish; as there was no rule in place to dictate in what language a country could perform this was allowed despite protest from other competing countries.<ref name="Naples 65" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} Luxembourg won for the second time, with French chanteuse [[France Gall]] performing "[[Poupée de cire, poupée de son]]".<ref name="Winners" /> It was the first time that a [[Pop music|pop song]] had won the contest, which would become an international hit for Gall, and would have an influence on the type of songs entered into the contest in years to come.<ref name="Naples 65" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 August 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1965 – Eurovision Goes Pop! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1965-eurovision-goes-pop |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

Ahead of the 1966 contest, the EBU invited broadcasters to submit proposals on ideas they believed should be introduced in future editions. This was prompted by concerns from CLT on their ability to stage the next event.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} Some ideas in common among several broadcasters included: the introduction of semi-finals to reduce the number of competing acts, with some also suggesting that competing countries should be split on a geographic or linguistic basis; music experts having a 50% stake in the result to enable more of an emphasis being placed on musical quality; and a tightening of the rules on language and submission cut-off, with the creation of an executive supervisor role in order to oversee the contest and raise production standards. Further proposals on changes to the contest included holding the event over multiple locations, with performances and hosting duties split across two or three different competing countries; this proposal was rejected following concerns raised that musical quality and consistency would suffer in a contest held across multiple locations and with multiple orchestras, and that the risk of technical failure would also increase by using multiple venues.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}} The EBU went on to adopt a number of the suggestions raised, with the following contest featuring music experts in the national juries, and the implementation of a language rule stipulating that songs must be performed in one of the national languages of the participating country.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" /> Other changes, such as semi-finals and splitting countries by set criteria, would subsequently be revisited in decades to come.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=387–396}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1966]]''' was the eleventh edition of the contest, organised by [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]] and held on 5 March 1966 at the Grand Auditorium de RTL, [[Villa Louvigny]] in [[Luxembourg City]], [[Luxembourg]].<ref name="Luxembourg 66">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1966 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1966 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=28–29}} This marked Luxembourg's second contest as host broadcaster, using the same venue as that in 1962. This contest saw the first performance by a [[Black people|black]] artist at Eurovision, when [[Milly Scott]] represented the Netherlands.<ref name="Luxembourg 66" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=407–417}} [[Udo Jürgens]] secured Austria's first win with "[[Merci, Chérie]]"; this was Jürgens' third attempt at victory, having previously finished 6th in 1964 and 4th in 1965.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2012 |title=1966: Austria's finest hour |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/1966-austria-s-finest-hour |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1967]]''' was the twelfth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|de|[[ORF (broadcaster)|Österreichischer Rundfunk]]|i=unset}} (ORF) and held on 8 April 1967 at the [[Hofburg#Festival Hall Wing|Großer Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg]] in [[Vienna]], Austria.<ref name="Vienna 67">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Vienna 1967 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/vienna-1967 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=30–31}} Denmark withdraw from this contest, reducing the number of competing countries to 17. The scoring system last used in 1961, with ten members casting a single vote for their favourite, was reintroduced, with at least half of the jury members in each country required to be less than 30 years old.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=433–443}}<ref name="1967 throwback">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=24 August 2017 |title=Throwback Thursday: Eurovision 1967 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/throwback-thursday-1967 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> A number of other innovations introduced for the first time at this contest, such as shots of the [[green room]] during the voting process and each country's broadcaster appointing an official representative, have since become integral parts of the present-day contest.<ref name="1967 throwback" /> The United Kingdom's [[Sandie Shaw]] won the contest with "[[Puppet on a String (Sandie Shaw song)|Puppet on a String]]" in a landslide victory, with the UK gaining more than twice as many votes as the runner-up Ireland to gain its first Eurovision title.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="Vienna 67" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1968]]''' was the thirteenth edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 6 April 1968 at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in [[London]], United Kingdom.<ref name="London 68">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1968 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1968 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=32–35}} This was the first edition of the contest to be produced in [[Color television|colour]].<ref name="London 68" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=454–470}} A tight voting sequence saw Spain and the United Kingdom vie for first place by the end, with the votes of the final juries being decisive in favour of Spain's [[Massiel]] by just one vote.<ref name="Winners" /> Spanish broadcaster TVE had originally selected [[Joan Manuel Serrat]] as its representative, but when he demanded to sing "[[La La La (Massiel song)|La La La]]" in [[Catalan language|Catalan]] in the contest, TVE replaced him with Massiel who sang the song in Spanish and ultimately won the contest.<ref name="London 68" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=454–470}}

[[File:Nationale finale van het Eurovisie Songfestival in Scheveningen, Lenny Kuhr zong, Bestanddeelnr 922-1416.jpg|thumb|upright|The Netherlands' [[Lenny Kuhr]] was one of four winners at the {{Escyr|1969||1969 contest}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1969]]''' was the fourteenth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|es|[[Televisión Española]]|i=unset}} (TVE) and held on 29 March 1969 at the [[Teatro Real]] in [[Madrid]], Spain.<ref name="Madrid 69">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Madrid 1969 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/madrid-1969 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=36–39}} 16 countries entered this year's contest, with Austria refusing to take part due to the Spanish dictatorship.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=36–39}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=482–493}} A tight voting sequence saw France, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in contention for first place, when with the votes of the final jury, all four countries finished on an equal number of points. With no rules in place to break a tie for first place all four countries were declared victors, the only time that more than one country has won in a single year.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=36–39}}<ref name="Four winners">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=29 March 2019 |title=50 years ago today: Four winners at Eurovision 1969 in Madrid |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/fifty-years-since-four-way-tie-at-eurovision-1969 |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> As four medals had fortunately been struck for the prize-giving, Spain's [[Salomé (singer)|Salomé]], the UK's [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]], the Netherlands' [[Lenny Kuhr]] and France's [[Frida Boccara]] were all able to receive their prize ahead of a reprise of all four winning songs: "[[Vivo cantando]]", "[[Boom Bang-a-Bang]]", "[[De troubadour]]", and "[[Un jour, un enfant]]" respectively.<ref name="Madrid 69" /><ref name="Four winners" /> The result meant that France gained a new record fourth win in the contest, with the Netherlands recording its third win, and both Spain and the United Kingdom earning their second wins; Spain also became the first country to achieve two wins in a row.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=482–493}}

== 1970s ==
[[File:Dana (Ierland), Bestanddeelnr 923-3694.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] became the first of seven Irish winners at the {{Escyr|1970||1970 contest}} in [[Amsterdam]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1970]]''' was the fifteenth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|nl|[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting]]|i=unset}} (NOS) and held on 21 March 1970 at the [[RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre|RAI Congrescentrum]] in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands.<ref name="Amsterdam 70">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Amsterdam 1970 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/amsterdam-1970 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}} A draw was held to determine the host country of this contest following the four-way tie for first place in 1969, which chose the Netherlands as hosts over France, as Spain and the United Kingdom declined to take part in the draw due to having hosted recent contests.<ref name="70 anniv">{{Cite web |date=29 April 2020 |title=Happy 50th Anniversary, Eurovision 1970! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/happy-50th-anniversary-1970-eurovision |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=25–37}} Widespread dissatisfaction with the result of the 1969 contest led to the withdrawals of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Portugal, with Austria and Denmark also declining to participate in response, leaving only 12 countries to compete in Amsterdam, the lowest number of participants since 1959.<ref name="Amsterdam 70" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=25–37}} A tie-break rule was introduced for the first time to ensure there would be no further joint winners: in the result of a tie for first place the artists of the countries involved would perform again, and the juries in all other remaining countries would determine the winner by a show of hands; if that too resulted in a tie then the countries would share the title.<ref name="Amsterdam 70" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=25–37}} A number of innovations which have since become regular features of the contest were first implemented in this year, originally as a way to extend the broadcast due to the low number of participating entries. These include an extended opening film sequence highlighting the host country, and short film clip "postcards" highlighting the participants or host country which were placed between the competing songs.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=25–37}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=40–43}}<ref name="70 anniv" /> Ireland, which would go on to win more times than any other country, recorded its first win here, with [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]] taking the contest with "[[All Kinds of Everything]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="70 anniv" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1971]]''' was the sixteenth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|ga|[[RTÉ|Radio Telefís Éireann]]|i=unset}} (RTÉ) and held on 3 April 1971 at the [[Gaiety Theatre, Dublin|Gaiety Theatre]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 71">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1971 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=44–47}} A number of changes to the contest saw groups allowed for the first time, with a maximum of six performers on stage; previously only one or two principal vocalists had been permitted with support from a maximum of three supporting artists.<ref name="Dublin 71" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=51–64}}<ref name="71 anniv">{{Cite web |date=3 April 2011 |title=40 years ago today – Séverine brings Monaco their sole victory |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/40-years-ago-today-severine-brings-monaco-their-sole-victory |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> A new voting system was also introduced for this contest, implemented to ensure that there would be a clear-cut winner and to avoid countries receiving ''[[nul points]]'': two jurors from each country, one below the age of 25 and the other above, ranked all songs except that of their own country on a scale of one to five.<ref name="Dublin 71" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=51–64}} All countries were now obligated to provide a [[music video]] of their entry and to broadcast all entries ahead of the contest via a [[Eurovision Song Contest Previews|preview show]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=44–47}} With these changes, the countries which had sat out in 1970 felt able to return, and 18 participants in total were present, the biggest contest since 1966, with Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria and Portugal returning and {{Esccnty|Malta}} making its debut.<ref name="Dublin 71" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=51–64}} Monaco recorded their first and only win, with French singer [[Séverine (singer)|Séverine]] victorious for the principality with "[[Un banc, un arbre, une rue]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="71 anniv" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1972]]''' was the seventeenth edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 25 March 1972 at the [[Usher Hall]] in [[Edinburgh]], United Kingdom.<ref name="Edinburgh 72">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Edinburgh 1972 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/edinburgh-1972 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=48–51}} Monaco's [[TMC (TV channel)|Télé Monte-Carlo]] (TMC) had initially expressed interest in hosting, however no suitable venue in Monaco was available in time for the contest. After Spain's TVE and Germany's ARD, having come second and third the previous year, and France's ORTF had turned down the opportunity to host, the BBC offered once again to step in, taking the contest outside of London and [[England]] for the first time, to the [[Scotland|Scottish]] capital.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=76–98}}<ref name="72 overview">{{Cite web |date=25 March 2014 |title=Seeking out more about the 1972 contest? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/seeking-out-more-about-the-1972-contest |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The same 18 countries from 1971 were again present, and the same voting system was implemented.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=76–98}} The contest was broadcast in 28 countries, and for the first time was available live in Asia, with viewers able to watch the show in [[Japan]], [[Taiwan]], the [[Philippines]], [[Hong Kong]] and [[Thailand]].<ref name="Edinburgh 72" /><ref name="72 overview" /> Luxembourg earned their third contest win, represented by the Greek singer [[Vicky Leandros]] with "[[Après toi]]"; it was Leandros' second attempt at Eurovision, having previously come 4th for Luxembourg in 1967.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="72 overview" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1973]]''' was the eighteenth edition of the contest, organised by [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]] and held on 7 April 1973 at the [[Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg|Nouveau Théâtre]] in [[Luxembourg City]], [[Luxembourg]].<ref name="Luxembourg 73">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1973 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1973 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}} {{Esccnty|Israel}} made its first appearance, becoming the first non-European nation to enter the contest, while Austria and Malta both withdrew, bringing the total participating nations to 17.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=113–128}} Coming less than a year after the [[Munich massacre]], security was unusually tight in light of Israel's debut, with the venue sealed off by the authorities and the Israeli delegation being isolated in their hotel and surrounded by armed guards when not required at the venue; the audience had also been warned not to stand during the show at the risk of being shot.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=52–55}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=113–128}} This year marked the first abolition of the language rule, allowing participants the freedom to choose the language in which they wished to perform: several countries capitalised on this, with Finland and Sweden performing in English, while Norway performed in both English and French.<ref name="Luxembourg 73" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=113–128}} Pre-recorded backing tracks were also permitted for the first time, however all vocals were still required to be performed live and any instruments featured on the track had to be seen on stage.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=113–128}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} Luxembourg won the contest for the second year in a row, with the French singer [[Anne-Marie David]] giving Luxembourg its fourth win with "[[Tu te reconnaîtras]]"; Luxembourg thus became the first country to win two outright back-to-back victories, Spain having won in both 1968 and 1969 but sharing the latter title.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2012 |title=39 years ago today – Luxembourg complete back to back wins |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/39-years-ago-today-luxembourg-complete-back-to-back-wins |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

[[File:ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png|thumb|Sweden's [[ABBA]] went on to achieve worldwide fame following their Eurovision win in {{Escyr|1974}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1974]]''' was the nineteenth edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 6 April 1974 at [[Brighton Dome|The Dome]] in [[Brighton]], United Kingdom.<ref name="Brighton 74">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brighton 1974 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/brighton-1974 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=56–59}} Luxembourg's CLT turned down the offer to host the contest for a second year in a row, and Spain's RTVE as runner-up in 1973 had also rejected hosting duties; an offer by Israel's IBA was turned down due to their limited technical capabilities, and in the end the BBC threw its hat into the ring once again to take on the contest for the fifth time.<ref name="Brighton 74" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=142–168}} 17 countries competed in total, with {{Esccnty|Greece}} making its debut appearance; France withdrew a number of days before the event following the death of the [[President of France]] [[Georges Pompidou]], in a mark of respect as his funeral was arranged for the day of the contest.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=142–168}} The voting system was modified once again to bring back the system last used in 1970, with 10 jury members casting a single vote for their favourite song.<ref name="Brighton 74" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=142–168}} Sweden's [[ABBA]] were declared the winners of the contest with "[[Waterloo (song)|Waterloo]]", giving Sweden its first Eurovision title.<ref name="Winners" /> ABBA's win in the contest would propel them to worldwide fame, with an estimated 380&nbsp;million records sold across their career, with "Waterloo" alone selling five million copies and becoming one of the contest's most successful winning songs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 September 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1974 – The arrival of ABBA |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1974-the-arrival-of-abba |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Andrew |date=21 October 2014 |title=Why are Abba so popular? |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140415-why-are-abba-so-popular |access-date=30 June 2020 |website=bbc.com |publisher=[[BBC|BBC Culture]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Murrells |first=Joseph |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |title=The Book of Golden Discs |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |year=1978 |isbn=0-214-20480-4 |edition=2nd, illustrated |page=395 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1975]]''' was the twentieth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|sv|[[Sveriges Television|Sveriges Radio]]|i=unset}} (SR) and held on 22 March 1975 at the [[Stockholm International Fairs|Stockholmsmässan]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden.<ref name="Stockholm 75">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Stockholm 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-1975 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=60–63}} A then-record 19 countries took part in this edition, which saw Greece withdrawing, France and Malta returning, and {{Esccnty|Turkey}} making its debut entry.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=180–194}} SR had initially been hesitant in staging the contest due to the expense that came with it, and had wanted all competing countries to share the costs, however these cost sharing plans were not implemented in time for the '75 event.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=180–194}}<ref name="Sweden's first">{{Cite web |date=22 March 2013 |title=Recalling Sweden's first staging of the contest in 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-sweden-s-first-staging-of-the-contest-in-1975 |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The Stockholm event also saw demonstrations by left-wing activists who opposed the high costs of hosting the event.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=60–63}} A new voting system was introduced at this contest, which has been the basis for the rewarding of points at all future contests: each country's jury awarded 12 points to their top placed song, 10 points to their second placed, and then 8 to 1 points for those ranked third to tenth.<ref name="Stockholm 75" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=60–63}}<ref name="Sweden's first" /> The Netherlands was the first country to win the contest under this new system, with [[Teach-In (band)|Teach-In]] achieving a fourth Dutch Eurovision win with "[[Ding-a-dong]]".<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1976 rehearsals - United Kingdom - Brotherhood of Man 20.jpg|thumb|"[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]" by [[Brotherhood of Man]] would become the contest's most successful winning song, selling over six million copies worldwide.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1976]]''' was the twenty-first edition of the contest, organised by [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and held on 3 April 1976 at the [[World Forum (The Hague)|Nederlands Congresgebouw]] in [[The Hague]], Netherlands.<ref name="The Hague 76">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1976 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1976 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=64–67}} The previous year's host Sweden, in response to the protests during the 1975 event and fearful of the costs involved in staging the event should they win again, decided to withdraw, joining Malta and Turkey, however with Austria and Greece returning a total of 18 countries took to the stage for the Netherlands' third contest as hosts.<ref name="The Hague 76" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=64–67}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=227–243}} Partly in response to the concerns raised by the Swedish broadcaster, all competing countries were now required to contribute to the costs of running Eurovision, with the value of the contribution fee dependent on the country's viewership and population.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=227–243}} The United Kingdom earned its third Eurovision victory, courtesy of [[Brotherhood of Man]] and "[[Save Your Kisses for Me]]", which would go on to sell over six million records worldwide, more than any other winning song in the history of the contest.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-8444-2994-3}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1977]]''' was the twenty-second edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 7 May 1977 at the [[Wembley Conference Centre]] in [[London]], United Kingdom.<ref name="London 77">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: London 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/london-1977 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}} Originally scheduled to take place on 2 April, a [[Strike action|strike]] by BBC cameramen and technicians forced a five-week delay.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=267–287}}<ref name="77 throwback">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=21 September 2017 |title=#ThrowbackThursday to 40 years ago: Eurovision 1977 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/throwback-thursday-1977 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The language rule was re-introduced at this contest, meaning that songs could only be performed in one of the national languages of the country it represented.<ref name="London 77" /><ref name="77 throwback" /> 18 countries took part in the London contest, with Sweden returning and Yugoslavia withdrawing; an attempt was also made by {{Esccnty|Tunisia}} to take part in the contest for the first time, however this eventually did not materialise, despite being drawn to perform fourth on stage.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=68–71}}<ref name="77 throwback" /> France set a new record in recording its fifth Eurovision win, with [[Marie Myriam]] taking the contest with "[[L'Oiseau et l'Enfant]]", in what would become France's last victory to date.<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1978]]''' was the twenty-third edition of the contest, organised by [[TF1]] and held on 22 April 1978 at the [[Palais des congrès de Paris|Palais des Congrès]] in [[Paris]], France.<ref name="Paris 78">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Paris 1978 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/paris-1978 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=72–75}} A new record of 20 countries competed in France's third showing as host, with Denmark and Turkey returning, the former making its first appearance since 1966.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=312–237}}<ref name="78 anniv">{{Cite web |date=22 April 2011 |title=33 years ago today – Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta seal Israel's maiden win |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/33-years-ago-today-izhar-cohen-alphabeta-seal-israel-s-maiden-win |access-date=13 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Israel won the contest for the first time, represented by [[Izhar Cohen]] and the [[Alphabeta]] with the song "[[A-Ba-Ni-Bi]]".<ref name="Winners" /> Israel's win proved problematic for a number of non-competing broadcasters who were airing the event, particularly those in the [[Arab world]] with limited [[International recognition of Israel|recognition of Israel]], and many broadcasters ended the transmission of the event early when it became clear that Israel would win.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=312–237}}<ref name="78 anniv" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1979]]''' was the twenty-fourth edition of the contest, organised by the [[Israel Broadcasting Authority]] (IBA) and held on 31 March 1979 at the [[International Convention Center (Jerusalem)|International Convention Centre]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="Jerusalem 79">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Jerusalem 1979 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1979 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=76–79}} 19 countries took part, with Turkey, who had initially intended to participate and had already selected their act, withdrawing at a late stage following pressure from Arab nations who objected to a predominantly Muslim nation taking part in Israel.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=352–365}} A tight result saw Israel and Spain vie for first place, with Spain leading by only one point going into the final vote, which was Spain's own; by giving the hosts 10 points they awarded Israel its second victory in a row, handing the victory to [[Milk and Honey (Israeli group)|Milk and Honey]] and the song "[[Hallelujah (Milk and Honey song)|Hallelujah]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="Jerusalem 79" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2014|pp=352–365}}

== 1980s ==
[[File:Eurovision Song Contest 1980 - Johnny Logan 4 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Ireland's [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] would go on to win the contest three times, picking up his first Eurovision win in {{Escyr|1980}} in [[The Hague]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1980]]''' was the twenty-fifth edition of the contest, organised by [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and held on 19 April 1980 at the [[World Forum (The Hague)|Nederlands Congresgebouw]] in [[The Hague]], Netherlands.<ref name="The Hague 80">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: The Hague 1980 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/the-hague-1980 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=80–83}} Israel, having won the previous year, had initially agreed to host the contest, however due to the cost of hosting the event for a second year in a row, IBA eventually declined to host the event. After a number of other broadcasters, including the BBC, appeared reluctant to stage the event, NOS stepped in on the understanding that they could host a scaled-back production, using the same venue as in 1976.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=39–55}} The 19 April date proved problematic for Israel as it conflicted with [[Yom HaZikaron]], and after failed attempts to move the date Israel ultimately pulled out, the first and only time that the previous year's winning country was unable to defend its title.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=39–55}}<ref name="1980 milestone">{{Cite web |date=9 September 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1980 – Irish eyes are smiling |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1980-irish-eyes-are-smiling |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Monaco also withdrew from the contest, however the number of competing countries remained steady at 19, with Turkey returning and {{Esccnty|Morocco}} making its debut entry, becoming the first African country to compete in the contest.<ref name="The Hague 80" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=39–55}} [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]] recorded the first of his three Eurovision wins in The Hague, giving Ireland its second victory with the song "[[What's Another Year]]".<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1981]]''' was the twenty-sixth edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 4 April 1981 at the [[Royal Dublin Society#RDS Simmonscourt|RDS Simmonscourt]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 81">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1981 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1981 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=84–87}} 20 countries competed in total, with {{Esccnty|Cyprus}} making its debut appearance, Israel and Yugoslavia returning, and Morocco and Italy withdrawing, the latter for the first time since the contest was formed.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=86–103}} A worldwide audience of around 500&nbsp;million viewers was expected, with some 30 countries taking the broadcast across Europe, Asia and North Africa.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=86–103}} The voting came down to a close contest between Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany, and the UK gained its fourth victory by a 4-point margin over Germany. [[Bucks Fizz]], specially formed for the contest, would have great success in the following years, and their Eurovision winning song "[[Making Your Mind Up]]" would go on to become a Europe-wide hit.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=84–87}}<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1982]]''' was the twenty-seventh edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 24 April 1982 at the [[Harrogate Convention Centre]] in [[Harrogate]], United Kingdom.<ref name="Harrogate 82">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Harrogate 1982 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/harrogate-1982 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=88–91}} 18 countries competed in total, with France and Greece withdrawing.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=126–143}} French broadcaster TF1 in withdrawing criticised the contest's musical quality and describing it as a "monument to drivel", where as Greece, which would have performed second on the night, was forced to pull out a few weeks before the contest when it was discovered that its intended entry had been previously released and based on a Greek folk song.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=88–91}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=126–143}}<ref name="82 looking back">{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=17 March 2017 |title=35 years ago: Looking back at Harrogate 1982 with host Jan Leeming |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/interview-jan-leeming-harrogate-1982 |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Germany dominated the voting and would win with the biggest margin yet seen under the current system (61 points), as well as gaining a new record number of 12 points, with 9 juries placing them top. [[Nicole (German singer)|Nicole]] became the first German act to win the contest, 26 years after their first entry, and during the winning reprise would perform her winning entry "[[Ein bißchen Frieden]]" in English, French, Dutch and the original German.<ref name="Harrogate 82" /><ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1983]]''' was the twenty-eighth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|de|[[Bayerischer Rundfunk]]|i=unset}} (BR) on behalf of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and held on 23 April 1983 at the [[Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle]] in [[Munich]], [[West Germany]].<ref name="Munich 83">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Munich 1983 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/munich-1983 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=92–95}} 20 countries were present at Germany's second contest has hosts, with returns from Italy, Greece and France, with the latter represented by a new broadcaster, [[France 2|Antenne 2]], following a public outcry over the previous year's absence, however Ireland withdrew for the first time due to a financial crisis at broadcaster RTÉ.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=165–180}}<ref name="Luxembourg last win">{{Cite web |date=23 April 2014 |title=Recalling the last win by Luxembourg in 1983 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-the-last-win-by-luxembourg-in-1983 |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Luxembourg recorded its fifth outright win after a close vote over Israel, Sweden and Yugoslavia, with the French singer [[Corinne Hermès]] cementing the Grand Duchy as one of the contest's most successful countries with "[[Si la vie est cadeau]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="Luxembourg last win" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1984]]''' was the twenty-ninth edition of the contest, organised by [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|RTL]] and held on 5 May 1984 at the [[Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg|Théâtre Municipal]] in [[Luxembourg City]], [[Luxembourg]].<ref name="Luxembourg 84">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Luxembourg 1984 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/luxembourg-1984 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=96–99}} 19 countries in total took part, with Ireland returning and Israel declining to participate as the date of the contest clashed with Yom HaZikaron, with Greece also withdrawing at a late stage after broadcaster ERT decided that their potential songs were too low quality for the event.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=200–211}} [[Désirée Nosbusch]], chosen as the hostess for the event, became the youngest person to compère the contest, at only 19 years old.<ref name="Luxembourg 84" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=96–99}} 10 years after ABBA had earned Sweden its first Eurovision win, [[Herreys]] gave the Scandinavian country its second, taking the contest with "[[Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley]]".<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Sandra Kim, 22 septembre 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Sandra Kim]] ''(pictured in 2012)'' became the contest's youngest winner in {{Escyr|1986}}, at 13 years old.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1985]]''' was the thirtieth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|sv|[[Sveriges Television]]|i=unset}} (SVT) and held on 4 May 1985 at the [[Scandinavium]] in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden.<ref name="Gothenburg 85">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Gothenburg 1985 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/gothenburg-1985 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=100–103}} With over 8,000 spectators present in the arena, the 1985 event was the largest yet held, and was the first contest to be broadcast live via [[Satellite television|satellite]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=100–103}}<ref name="Eurovision network" /> 19 countries were again present, with Israel and Greece returning but Yugoslavia and the Netherlands withdrawing, the latter for the first time; in both cases the contest clashed with national memorial days, with the [[Remembrance of the Dead]] held in the Netherlands and in Yugoslavia the anniversary of the death of President [[Josip Broz Tito]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=100–103}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=227–239}} A close-fought contest in the voting between Norway, Germany and Sweden saw the perennial losers victorious for the first time: Norway had previously come last on six occasion, more than any other country, leading to great celebrations in the arena when [[Bobbysocks!]] were crowned the winners with "[[La det swinge]]".{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=100–103}}<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1986]]''' was the thirty-first edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|no|[[NRK|Norsk rikskringkasting]]|i=unset}} (NRK) and held on 3 May 1986 at the [[Grieg Hall|Grieghallen]] in [[Bergen]], Norway.<ref name="Bergen 86">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} 20 countries competed in total: the Netherlands and Yugoslavia returned after a year's absence and {{Esccnty|Iceland}} made its debut appearance.<ref name="Bergen 86" /> Italy had decided to opt-out of this year's event, while Greece withdrew at a late stage due to the contest coinciding with [[Holy Saturday]].{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=265–276}} In a landmark event the 500th song to grace the Eurovision stage was performed at this contest, courtesy of Luxembourg's [[Sherisse Laurence]] and "[[L'Amour de ma vie (Sherisse Laurence song)|L'Amour de ma vie]]".<ref name="1500 songs">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=10 May 2018 |title=That's how you write the 1,500th Eurovision song! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/norway-2018-alexander-rybak-1500th-eurovision-song |access-date=12 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> This contest also saw one of the first open representations of a member of the [[LGBT community]], when members of the Norwegian [[Drag (clothing)|drag]] group the [[Great Garlic Girls]] accompanied the home nation's singer [[Ketil Stokkan]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}} Belgium scored its first and only victory to date, with [[Sandra Kim]] becoming the contest's youngest ever winner, at only 13 years old, with the song "[[J'aime la vie]]";<ref name="Winners" /> Kim had previously told producers before the contest that she was 15 years old, and when the truth was revealed the Swiss delegation, who had come second, protested and petitioned for Belgium to be disqualified to no avail.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=104–107}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 November 2012 |title=1986: Belgium's greatest year |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/1986-belgium-s-greatest-year |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1987]]''' was the thirty-second edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|fr|[[RTBF|Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française]]|i=unset}} (RTBF) and held on 9 May 1987 at the [[Heysel Plateau|Palais de Centenaire]] in [[Brussels]], Belgium.<ref name="Brussels 87">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Brussels 1987 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/brussels-1987 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=108–111}} Belgium had at that point waited longer than any other country to host its first contest, 31 years after their debut entry. Since the contest's formation two broadcasters had been responsible for choosing Belgium's entries, with French-language RTBF and Dutch-language [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep]] (BRT) alternating every other year. Initially BRT had wanted to co-produce the first Belgian contest with RTBF, the broadcaster which had won the previous year, however disagreements quickly arose between the two organisations, and so RTBF organised the contest on its own, with BRT selecting the Belgian entry.<ref name="1987 throwback">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=10 August 2017 |title=Throwback Thursday: 1987 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/throwback-thursday-1987 |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 22 countries entered the contest, a new record, with Italy and Greece making a return and joining the 20 countries from the previous year.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=302–313}} [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]], the winner of the 1980 contest, returned for Ireland and became the first artist to record two wins in the contest with "[[Hold Me Now (Johnny Logan song)|Hold Me Now]]", and in doing so giving Ireland its third contest win.<ref name="Brussels 87" /><ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Celine Dion Live 2017.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Céline Dion]], one of the world's best-selling artists, was still relatively unknown outside of her native Canada when she won the {{Escyr|1988||1988 contest}} for Switzerland.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1988]]''' was the thirty-third edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 30 April 1988 at the [[Royal Dublin Society#RDS Simmonscourt|RDS Simmonscourt]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 88">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1988 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1988 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=112–115}} This was Ireland's third contest, which fell in the same year as the [[Irish anniversary festivals|millennium of Dublin's founding]].{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=336–350}} The same group of countries from 1987 entered, however Cyprus was forced to withdraw at a late stage when it was discovered that their entry had previously competed in the Cypriot national selection in 1984.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=336–350}} The RTÉ production team made a great effort to modernise the contest and attract a younger audience, with a modern stage commissioned, the largest yet seen, which featured two giant [[video wall]]s, and the first ever use of a computerised scoreboard.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=336–350}}<ref name="1988 milestone">{{Cite web |date=12 September 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1988 – When Celine was crowned Queen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1988-when-celine-was-crowned-queen |access-date=14 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> In one of the closest contests yet seen, Switzerland emerged victorious by only a single point over the United Kingdom, with a then-unknown [[Céline Dion]] earning Switzerland its second victory with "[[Ne partez pas sans moi]]".<ref name="Winners" /> Although her Eurovision-winning song was not commercially successful, Dion would later become one of the world's best-selling artists, having sold over 200&nbsp;million records throughout her career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Southern |first=Kieran |date=21 May 2019 |title=Celine Dion and James Corden recreate famous Titanic scene for Carpool Karaoke |publisher=[[Irish Independent]] |agency=[[PA Media]] |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/celine-dion-and-james-corden-recreate-famous-titanic-scene-for-carpool-karaoke-38132381.html |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1989]]''' was the thirty-fourth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|fr|[[Télévision Suisse Romande|Télévision suisse romande]]|i=unset}} (TSR) on behalf of [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]] and held on 6 May 1989 at the [[Palais de Beaulieu]] in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland.<ref name="Lausanne 89">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lausanne 1989 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lausanne-1989 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=116–119}} This marked the second Eurovision to be held in Switzerland, 33 years after the inaugural contest was held in the Alpine country. With Cyprus returning, the final contest of the 1980s equalled the record of 22 competing countries set in 1987.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=371–384}} A modification to the tie-break rule was implemented this year: a count-back would now occur for the countries which were tied for first place, with the country with the most 12 points being declared the winner, with further comparisons against 10 points and lower also conducted if required to break the tie.<ref name="Lausanne 89" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2016|pp=371–384}} Two of the competing acts created controversy in the run-up to the contest due to their young age, with France's [[Nathalie Pâque]] and Israel's Gili Netanel becoming the youngest ever participants in contest history at 11 and 12 years old respectively.<ref name="Lausanne 89" /> Yugoslavia recorded their only win in the contest, when [[Riva (band)|Riva]] took victory with "[[Rock Me (Riva song)|Rock Me]]".<ref name="Winners" />

== 1990s ==
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1990]]''' was the thirty-fifth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|sh|[[Croatian Radiotelevision|Radiotelevizija Zagreb]]|i=unset}} (RTZ) on behalf of {{lang|sh|[[Yugoslav Radio Television|Jugoslovenska radio-televizija]]|i=unset}} (JRT) and held on 5 May 1990 at the [[Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall]] in [[Zagreb]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].<ref name="Zagreb 90">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Zagreb 1990 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/zagreb-1990 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=34–46}} In response to the Israeli and French singers in 1989, the EBU introduced a new age rule, barring anyone below the age of 16 on the day of the contest from competing; this rule means that Sandra Kim, the contest's youngest winner at 13 years old, remains so in perpetuity.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=34–46}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=120–123}} Italy's [[Toto Cutugno]] became the first winner of the decade, giving Italy its second win with [[Insieme: 1992]], an ode to the planned formation of the [[European Union]] in 1992.<ref name="Winners" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=120–123}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1991]]''' was the thirty-sixth edition of the contest, organised by [[RAI]] and held on 4 May 1991 at [[Cinecittà|Studio 15 di Cinecittà]] in [[Rome]], Italy.<ref name="Rome 91">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rome 1991 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rome-1991 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=124–127}} This was the second edition of the contest to be held in Italy, and was presented by the two previous Italian winners, [[Gigliola Cinquetti]] and [[Toto Cutugno]]. The contest was originally planned to be held in [[Sanremo]], the site of the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] which was the inspiration for Eurovision, however following the outbreak of the [[Gulf War]], RAI decided to move the contest to the Italian capital to better ensure the security of the foreign delegations.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=124–127}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=65–75}} The Netherlands once again withdrew as the contest fell on the [[Remembrance of the Dead]] memorial, but Malta made its first appearance in the contest since 1975, keeping the contest participants at 22; Germany also made its first appearance as a unified country following [[German reunification]] in October 1990.<ref name="Rome 91" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=65–75}} The closest ever final result was recorded, with Sweden and France both finishing with the same number of points; Sweden was subsequently declared the winner when, in the only ever use of the tie-break rule in contest history, a count-back revealed that Sweden had collected more 10 points than France, after both countries had collected the same number of 12 points.<ref name="Rome 91" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=124–127}} [[Carola Häggkvist|Carola]] therefore became the third Swedish act to win the contest with "[[Fångad av en stormvind]]" in her second participation in the contest, having previously come third in 1983.<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Linda Martin 2013 01 (crop 1).jpg|thumb|In winning the {{Escyr|1992||1992 contest}}, [[Linda Martin]] was the first of three Irish artists in a row to win Eurovision in the early 1990s.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1992]]''' was the thirty-seventh edition of the contest, organised by [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] and held on 9 May 1992 at the [[Malmö Isstadion]] in [[Malmö]], Sweden.<ref name="Malmö 92">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-1992 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=128–131}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2021 |title=Watch Now #EurovisionAgain: Malmö 1992 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain1992 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821224015/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain1992 |archive-date=21 August 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en}}</ref> A new record 23 countries entered the contest, with the Netherlands making its return.<ref name="Malmö 92" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=96–110}} This contest would mark the last appearance of Yugoslavia, having already begun the process of [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|breaking up]] and now representing the [[Serbia and Montenegro|Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=128–131}} Ireland's [[Linda Martin]] emerged the winner with the [[Johnny Logan (singer)|Johnny Logan]]-penned "[[Why Me? (Linda Martin song)|Why Me?]]", giving Ireland its fourth win and Logan his third as both performer and songwriter; it was Martin's second contest appearance, having previously come second for Ireland in 1984.<ref name="Winners" /> With the United Kingdom and Malta taking second and third, this was the first contest to have solely English-language songs feature in the top 3.<ref name="Malmö 92" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=96–110}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1993]]''' was the thirty-eighth edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 15 May 1993 at the [[Green Glens Arena]] in [[Millstreet]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Millstreet 93">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Millstreet 1993 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/millstreet-1993 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=132–135}} It remains the only Irish production of the contest to be held outside of Dublin and, as a small town of only 1,500 people, Millstreet became the smallest Eurovision host to date, although the Green Glens Arena was able to hold up to 8,000 spectators.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Millstreet Town: Green Glens Arena |url=http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401191842/http://www.millstreet.ie/green%20glens/greenglens.htm |archive-date=1 April 2019 |access-date=3 July 2020 |website=millstreet.ie}}</ref> Changes in Europe in the 1990s were first reflected at this contest, with several new countries formed following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] and [[breakup of Yugoslavia]] wishing to compete for the first time. In order to accommodate this growing number, the first Eurovision pre-selection took place in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia on 3 April, ''[[Kvalifikacija za Millstreet]]'';<ref name="Millstreet 93" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=131–146}} seven countries competed for three places at the contest, with the former Yugoslav states {{Esccnty|Slovenia}}, {{Esccnty|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} and {{Esccnty|Croatia}} emerging the winners and joining 22 countries which had taken part in Malmö, with only [[Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslavia]] absent, banned from competing following [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 757|UN sanctions]].<ref name="93/94 milestone">{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=18 September 2016 |title=Milestone Moments: 1993/4 – The Eurovision Family expands |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/milestone-moments-1993-4-the-eurovision-family-expands |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> In order to better manage the participating countries in years to come, a [[Promotion and relegation|relegation system]] was introduced, which saw the bottom-placed countries missing out the following year and replaced by new and returning countries.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref name="93/94 milestone" /> A two-horse race soon developed in the voting between the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the final jury crucial in giving victory to the hosts: [[Niamh Kavanagh]] became the first Irish act to win on home soil with "[[In Your Eyes (Niamh Kavanagh song)|In Your Eyes]]", their second consecutive win and a record-equalling fifth win in total.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="Sweeney">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2016 |title=Fionnuala Sweeney: The atmosphere in Millstreet was electric! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/fionnuala-sweeney-the-atmosphere-in-millstreet-was-electric |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1994]]''' was the thirty-ninth edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 30 April 1994 at the [[Point Theatre]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 94">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=136–139}} RTÉ thus became the first broadcaster to host two consecutive contests. Seven countries joined the contest for the first time, replacing the bottom six countries from Millstreet, and Italy which withdrew voluntarily; Luxembourg, one of those countries relegated, subsequently failed to return the following year, and their 1993 entry would remain their last for 31 years.<ref name="Millstreet 93" /><ref name="93/94 milestone" /><ref name="Luxembourg return">{{cite web |title=Luxembourg to return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/luxembourg-return-eurovision-2024 |access-date=27 February 2024 |date=12 May 2023 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Estonia}}, {{Esccnty|Hungary}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}} and {{Esccnty|Slovakia}}, which had failed to qualify from ''Kvalifikacija za Millstreet'' the previous year, joined new entries from {{Esccnty|Lithuania}}, {{Esccnty|Poland}} and {{Esccnty|Russia}} in debuting, competing alongside the top 18 countries from Millstreet.<ref name="93/94 milestone" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=168–181}} [[Riverdance]], which would go on to become one of the world's most successful dance productions, made its debut in this edition as the interval act; originally a seven-minute performance, it would later be expanded into a full show which would go on to be performed at over 450 venues worldwide and be seen by over 250&nbsp;million people.<ref name="93/94 milestone" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Riverdance: The Journey |url=https://riverdance.com/the-show/the-journey/ |access-date=29 June 2020 |website=riverdance.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2015 |title=Amazing facts about the Irish dance phenomenon "Riverdance" |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/amazing-facts-about-the-irish-dance-phenomenon-riverdance |access-date=29 June 2020 |website=IrishCentral.com}}</ref> [[Satellite link]]s were used during the voting at this contest, which enabled the jury spokespersons to be seen in vision for the first time.<ref name="Sweeney" /><ref name="Dublin 94" /> Ireland secured its third consecutive win, a feat yet to be replicated, and earned a record-breaking sixth win courtesy of [[Paul Harrington (musician)|Paul Harrington]] and [[Charlie McGettigan]] and "[[Rock 'n' Roll Kids]]";<ref name="Winners" /> Poland secured the best-ever showing yet seen for a debut country, when [[Edyta Górniak]] placed second.<ref name="Dublin 94" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=136–139}}

[[File:Eimear Quinn tijdens Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Eimear Quinn]] became the seventh artist to win the contest for Ireland in {{Escyr|1996}}, which remains a record to this day.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1995]]''' was the fortieth edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 13 May 1995 at the [[Point Theatre]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 95">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1995 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1995 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=140–143}} RTÉ had concerns about staging the contest for a third consecutive year, and the BBC submitted an offer to take on the event, as well as proposing a joint production in [[Belfast]], the capital of [[Northern Ireland]];{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=140–143}} ultimately RTÉ decided to produce the contest solo, hosting its third consecutive contest, which remains a record, with the Point Theatre becoming the first venue to host two contests in a row.<ref name="Dublin 95" /> The number of competing countries was reduced to 23, with the bottom seven countries from 1994 relegated and the five countries relegated at Millstreet in 1993 returning.<ref name="Dublin 95" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=210–228}} Norway scored its second contest victory with the Irish-Norwegian duo [[Secret Garden (duo)|Secret Garden]] and the song "[[Nocturne (Secret Garden song)|Nocturne]]";<ref name="Winners" /> some criticism arose following its victory that, as a mainly instrumental number containing only 24 words in total, the winning song should not have been eligible for the song contest, to no avail.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=140–143}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1996]]''' was the forty-first edition of the contest, organised by [[NRK]] and held on 18 May 1996 at the [[Oslo Spektrum]] in [[Oslo]], Norway.<ref name="Oslo 96">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} A new qualifying system was introduced at this contest, principally to appease Germany, one of the contest's biggest financial backers, which otherwise would have been relegated, which saw all countries, except the host nation, competing in an audio-only qualifying round.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} 29 countries submitted entries for this qualifying round, with all competing nations and Norway voting and deciding the 22 countries which would advance to the final and join Norway as the host country and previous year's winner.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–277}}<ref name="96 recall">{{Cite web |date=18 May 2014 |title=Recalling Ireland's record seventh win in 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-ireland-s-record-seventh-win-in-1996 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Germany however would be one of the seven countries to be eliminated, along with Hungary, Denmark, Russia, Israel, Romania and the [[North Macedonia|former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]], in what would have been their debut entry.<ref name="Oslo 96" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}} For the first and only time to date, the voting was conducted using [[virtual reality]] technology, with the graphics for the scoreboard superimposed over the contest's '[[Chroma key|blue room]]'.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}}<ref name="96 recall" /> Ireland secured its record seventh win, with [[Eimear Quinn]] providing its fourth win in five years with "[[The Voice (Eimear Quinn song)|The Voice]]".<ref name="Winners" /> As in previous contests the most commercially successful contest entry would be one of the losing songs, with the UK's "[[Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit]]" by [[Gina G]] becoming an international hit, reaching the top 20 of the US ''[[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and eventually being nominated for a [[Grammy Award]];<ref name="Oslo 96" /><ref name="96 recall" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sarah |date=21 May 2012 |title=50 best-selling tracks of the '90s |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/50-best-selling-tracks-of-the-90s-1437045 |access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=[[NME]]}}</ref> it also remains the last UK entry to reach [[Lists of UK Singles Chart number ones|number one]] on the [[UK Singles Chart]].{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–277}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2021 |title=Eurovision: Where every UK entry has reached on the Official Singles Chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eurovision-where-every-uk-entry-has-reached-on-the-official-singles-chart__18955/ |access-date=13 March 2021 |website=officialcharts.com |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1997]]''' was the forty-second edition of the contest, organised by [[RTÉ]] and held on 3 May 1997 at the [[Point Theatre]] in [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref name="Dublin 97">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1997 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} 25 countries competed in the third contest held at the Point Theatre, with a new relegation system implemented to reduce the number of competing entries: the number of points each country earned in the last four contests was used to calculate an average score for each country, and the countries with the lowest average were made to sit out for a year.<ref name="Dublin 97" /><ref name="1997 eurovision again">{{Cite web |last=Escudero |first=Victor M. |date=18 April 2020 |title=#EurovisionAgain travels back to Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain-dublin-1997 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Israel withdrew voluntarily due to the contest conflicting with [[Yom HaShoah]], giving a reprieve to Bosnia and Herzegovina which would have otherwise been relegated; Italy also made a brief return after a four-year absence, in what would be their last entry for fourteen years.<ref name="1997 eurovision again" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=296–309}} The first use of [[televoting]] was implemented at this contest on a trial basis, with the points from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom being determined by the viewing public rather than an assembled jury.<ref name="Dublin 97" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}} Full backing tracks were also now permitted without restriction, allowing songs to be performed without live music if desired, although live vocals were still required.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=148–151}}<ref name="1997 eurovision again" /> The United Kingdom emerged victorious for the fifth time, 16 years after their last win, with [[Katrina and the Waves]] and "[[Love Shine a Light]]".<ref name="Winners" />

[[File:Dana International op Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg|thumb|upright|Israel's [[Dana International]] became the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] and [[LGBT]] performer to win the contest in {{Escyr|1998}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1998]]''' was the forty-third edition of the contest, organised by the [[BBC]] and held on 9 May 1998 at the [[Utilita Arena Birmingham|National Indoor Arena]] in [[Birmingham]], United Kingdom.<ref name="Birmingham 98">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Birmingham 1998 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/birmingham-1998 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}} 25 countries were featured in the eighth contest held in the UK, a new record, with {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}} making its debut appearance.<ref name="Birmingham 98" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–346}} Following the successful trial in 1997 televoting took place in the majority of countries for the first time at this contest.<ref name="Birmingham 98" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=324–346}} The first result widely determined by the viewing public saw Israel, the UK and Malta vie for first place, with Israel's [[Dana International]] declared victorious with the final result, giving Israel its third win with "[[Diva (Dana International song)|Diva]]".<ref name="Birmingham 98" /><ref name="Winners" /> Dana International, the contest's first [[Transgender|trans]] performer, had emerged a controversial figure in Israel following her selection for the contest, with criticism being levied by conservative sections of Israeli society and death threats being received from fanatical factions.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=152–155}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 1998 |title=Transsexual singer stirs up passions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/05/98/eurovision/90279.stm |access-date=7 July 2020 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 1999]]''' was the forty-fourth edition of the contest, organised by [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]] and held on 29 May 1999 at the [[International Convention Center (Jerusalem)|International Convention Centre]] in [[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]].<ref name="Jerusalem 99">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} 23 countries took part in Israel's second contest as hosts, with Lithuania returning after a 5-year absence.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=367–382}}<ref name="99 history">{{Cite web |date=29 May 2012 |title=13 years ago today: Sweden wins the contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/13-years-ago-today-sweden-wins-the-contest |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> It was the first contest not to feature an orchestra, which had become an optional requirement this year, a change which IBA had utilised in an effort to cut costs.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=367–382}} This change, which proved controversial, meant that all entries would be accompanied by a backing track for the first time, a decision which former winner Johnny Logan claimed had turned the contest into "[[karaoke]]".{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref name="99 history" /> The language rule was also relaxed once again, which allowed artists the option to perform in any language, with many now choosing to sing in English.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}<ref name="99 history" /> The "[[Big Four (Eurovision)|Big Four]]" group of countries was formed at this contest, a rule which saw the contest's largest financial backers, Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, now being exempt from relegation and able to participate every year.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=367–382}} The contest became a close race between Sweden and Iceland, with [[Charlotte Perrelli|Charlotte Nilsson]] earning Sweden's fourth contest win with "[[Take Me to Your Heaven (song)|Take Me to Your Heaven]]".<ref name="Winners" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}} Following the winning reprise the broadcast was concluded by all participating artists assembling on-stage to perform "[[Hallelujah (Milk and Honey song)|Hallelujah]]", the Israeli winning song from 1979, as a tribute to the victims of the then-ongoing [[Kosovo War|war in the Balkans]].<ref name="Jerusalem 99" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=156–159}}

== 2000s ==
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2000]]''' was the forty-fifth edition of the contest, organised by [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] and held on 13 May 2000 at the [[Ericsson Globe|Globe Arena]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden.<ref name="Stockholm 00">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2000 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=160–163}} 24 countries competed in the contest, with {{Esccnty|Latvia}} making its first appearance.<ref name="Stockholm 00" /> The first contest of the new millennium was held before the biggest crowd yet seen in its history, with over 13,000 spectators witnessing the show in the arena, and it was the first contest to be broadcast live via the internet.<ref name="2000 decade">{{Cite web |date=21 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Stockholm 2000 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-stockholm-2000 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref name="Webcasting">{{Cite web |last=Laven |first=Philip |date=July 2002 |title=Webcasting and the Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528091401/http://www.ebu.ch/en/technical/trev/trev_291-editorial.html |archive-date=28 May 2008 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=ebu.ch |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> Denmark secured its second win, its first since 1963, represented by the [[Olsen Brothers]] with the song "[[Fly on the Wings of Love]]".<ref name="Winners" /> Russia, which had placed second, petitioned for the song's disqualification for the partial use of a [[vocoder]], which was rejected by the EBU.<ref name="2000 decade" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2001]]''' was the forty-sixth edition of the contest, organised by [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] and held on 12 May 2001 at the [[Parken Stadium]] in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark.<ref name="Copenhagen 01">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2001 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=164–167}} A [[retractable roof]] was specially constructed over the football stadium for the contest, and with 38,000 spectators it became the biggest live audience ever seen at Eurovision, a record which still stands.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=164–167}}<ref name="2001 decade">{{Cite web |date=22 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Copenhagen 2001 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-copenhagen-2001 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 23 countries competed in total, and the relegation system was again altered, by removing the average score comparison and bringing back the system used in 1994 and 1995 of relegating the bottom-placed countries, with the Big Four being exempt no matter their placing.<ref name="Copenhagen 01" /><ref name="2001 decade" /> Estonia was declared the winner, represented by [[Tanel Padar]], [[Dave Benton]] and [[Soul Militia|2XL]] with "[[Everybody (Tanel Padar and Dave Benton song)|Everybody]]".<ref name="Winners" /> With its victory, Estonia became the first country from the former [[Eastern Bloc]] to win the contest, sparking an eight-year chain of victories for new countries, and [[Aruba]]-born Benton became the first [[Black people|black]] artist to win the contest.<ref name="2001 decade" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2002]]''' was the forty-seventh edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|et|[[Eesti Televisioon]]|i=unset}} (ETV) and held on 25 May 2002 at the [[Saku Suurhall]] in [[Tallinn]], Estonia.<ref name="Tallinn 02">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Tallinn 2002 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/tallinn-2002 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=168–171}} 24 countries participated in the first contest to be held behind the former [[Iron Curtain]].<ref name="2002 decade">{{Cite web |date=23 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Tallinn 2002 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-tallinn-2002 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The [[Marcel Bezençon Awards]], a series of additional prizes honouring some of the best songs and artists in each contest's final as voted for by the accredited press, commentators and composers, were first awarded at this contest and have been subsequently featured at every contest since, traditionally handed out backstage shortly before the grand final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Marcel Bezençon Awards |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/marcel-bezencon-awards |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Latvia earned its first title, only two years after their first entry, represented by [[Marija Naumova|Marie N]] and "[[I Wanna (Marie N song)|I Wanna]]".<ref name="Winners" /> Latvia had originally been relegated due to its poor performance in Copenhagen, but was given a reprieve when Portugal decided to withdraw voluntarily.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=168–171}}<ref name="2002 decade" />

[[File:Ruslana - Wild Dances.jpg|thumb|[[Ruslana]] earned Ukraine its first victory on only its second contest appearance in {{Escyr|2004}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2003]]''' was the forty-eighth edition of the contest, organised by [[Latvian Television]] (LTV) and held on 24 May 2003 at the [[Skonto Hall]] in [[Riga]], Latvia.<ref name="Riga 03">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}} 26 countries took part in the contest, with {{Esccnty|Ukraine}} joining the contest for the first time.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}}<ref name="2003 decade">{{Cite web |date=24 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-riga-2003 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> This would become the last contest to be held over a single evening, with an announcement in January 2003 that from 2004 a semi-final would be introduced: the top 10 countries from the 2003 event alongside the "Big Four" would qualify automatically for the final in 2004, with all other countries competing in the semi-final for 10 qualification places.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=172–175}}<ref name="2004 decade" /> Turkey gained its first Eurovision win, with [[Sertab Erener]] victorious in one of the closest contests ever seen, as "[[Everyway That I Can]]" triumphed with only three points separating the top three countries.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="2003 decade" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2004]]''' was the forty-ninth edition of the contest, organised by the [[Turkish Radio and Television Corporation]] (TRT) and held on 12 and 15 May 2004 at the [[Abdi İpekçi Arena]] in [[Istanbul]], Turkey.<ref name="Istanbul 04">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/istanbul-2004 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=176–179}} A record 36 countries competed in the first contest held under the new format, with the relegated countries from 2003 being joined by {{Esccnty|Albania}}, {{Esccnty|Andorra}}, {{Esccnty|Belarus}} and {{Esccnty|Serbia and Montenegro}} in their debut appearances, with Monaco also making its first appearance after a 25-year absence.<ref name="2004 decade">{{Cite web |date=25 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-istanbul-2004 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 22 countries entered the first Eurovision semi-final, with the top 10 joining the 14 automatic qualifiers in the final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2011 |title=Countdown to Baku – Istanbul 2004 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-istanbul-2004 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Ukraine emerged the winner, in only their second contest appearance, represented by [[Ruslana]] and "[[Wild Dances]]".<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2005]]''' was the fiftieth edition of the contest, organised by the [[National Television Company of Ukraine]] (NTU) and held on 19 and 21 May 2005 at the [[Palace of Sports, Kyiv|Palace of Sports]] in [[Kyiv]], Ukraine.<ref name="Kyiv 05">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Kyiv 2005 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2005 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=180–183}} 39 countries competed in total, with debut entries from {{Esccnty|Moldova}} and {{Esccnty|Bulgaria}}, and a return from Hungary for the first time since 1998.<ref name="2005 decade">{{Cite web |date=27 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Kyiv 2005 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-kyiv-2005 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Lebanon}} had also planned to make a debut appearance, however they withdrew at a late stage due to issues with [[International recognition of Israel|competing alongside Israel]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=180–183}} Greece's [[Helena Paparizou]] became the winner of the anniversary edition of the contest with "[[My Number One]]", the first win for Greece after 31 years of competition.<ref name="Winners" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=180–183}}

On 22 October 2005, a special competition was held to celebrate the contest's 50th anniversary. '''''[[Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest]]''''' was organised by [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] and held at the [[Forum Copenhagen]] in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, hosted by former Eurovision contestants [[Katrina Leskanich]] and [[Renārs Kaupers]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=183}} 14 songs from Eurovision history, chosen by fans and the contest's Reference Group, competed to determine the most popular song from the contest's first 50 years.<ref name="Congratulations">{{Cite web |title=Congratulations Show – Eurovision History |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905232704/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/congratulations-show |archive-date=5 September 2015 |access-date=26 June 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congratulations info |url=http://www.congratulations-info.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013065504/http://www.congratulations-info.com/ |archive-date=13 October 2005 |access-date=26 June 2020 |website=congratulations-info.com |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]}}</ref> Broadcast live in 31 countries which had competed in Eurovision at that point, the combined votes of the viewing public and juries selected a winner over two rounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Participating broadcasters in the 50th anniversary show |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/english/1869.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013063930/http://www.eurovision.tv/english/1869.htm |archive-date=13 October 2005 |access-date=26 June 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> The winning song, announced at the end of the show, was "[[Waterloo (song)|Waterloo]]" by [[ABBA]], the winning song from the {{Escyr|1974||1974 contest}} for Sweden.<ref name="Congratulations" />

[[File:Marija Šerifović.jpg|thumb|upright|Serbia became only the second country to win on its debut appearance, when [[Marija Šerifović]] was victorious in {{Escyr|2007}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2006]]''' was the fifty-first edition of the contest, organised by the [[Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation]] (ERT) and held on 18 and 20 May 2006 at the [[O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall|Olympic Indoor Hall]] in [[Athens]], Greece.<ref name="Athens 06">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/athens-2006 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=184–187}} 37 nations competed in the contest, with the first appearance of {{Esccnty|Armenia}}. Serbia and Montenegro had intended to compete, but controversy over the winner of their [[Evropesma|national selection]] resulted in their late withdrawal.<ref name="2006 decade">{{Cite web |date=30 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Athens 2006 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-athens-2006 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> A new landmark was achieved at this contest with the performance of the 1,000th song in Eurovision history, when Ireland's [[Brian Kennedy (singer)|Brian Kennedy]] performed "[[Every Song Is a Cry for Love]]" in the semi-final.<ref name="1500 songs" /> 45 years after first entering the contest, Finland secured its first win, represented by [[Lordi]] and "[[Hard Rock Hallelujah]]".<ref name="Winners" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=184–187}}

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2007]]''' was the fifty-second edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|fi|[[Yle]]isradio|i=unset}} (YLE) and held on 10 and 12 May 2007 at the [[Hartwall Arena]] in [[Helsinki]], Finland.<ref name="Helsinki 07">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=188–191}} A record 42 countries competed in the contest, which saw the debut entries from the {{Esccnty|Czech Republic}}, {{Esccnty|Georgia}}, {{Esccnty|Montenegro}} and {{Esccnty|Serbia}}, the latter two as independent countries for the first time. 28 countries competed in the single semi-final, the biggest number of participants ever seen in a Eurovision show.<ref name="2007 decade">{{Cite web |date=30 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-helsinki-2007 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Serbia became only the second country to win on its debut appearance, represented by [[Marija Šerifović]] and "[[Molitva]]".<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2008]]''' was the fifty-third edition of the contest, organised by the [[Radio Television of Serbia]] (RTS) and held on 20, 22 and 24 May 2008 at the [[Štark Arena|Belgrade Arena]] in [[Belgrade]], Serbia.<ref name="Belgrade 08">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/belgrade-2008 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=192–195}} A new record 43 countries competed in the contest, with {{Esccnty|Azerbaijan}} and {{Esccnty|San Marino}} making their first appearances in the contest.<ref name="2008 decade">{{Cite web |date=31 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-belgrade-2008 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> A second semi-final was introduced at this contest, with all countries except the hosts and the "Big Four" now competing on one of the two semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2012 |title=Countdown to Baku – Belgrade 2008 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-belgrade-2008 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Russia gained its first contest win, represented by [[Dima Bilan]] and the song "[[Believe (Dima Bilan song)|Believe]]"; it was Bilan's second appearance in the contest, having previously come second for Russia in 2006.<ref name="Winners" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2009]]''' was the fifty-fourth edition of the contest, organised by [[Channel One (Russia)|Channel One]] (C1R) and held on 12, 14 and 16 May 2009 at the [[Olympic Stadium (Moscow)|Olimpiyskiy Arena]] in [[Moscow]], Russia.<ref name="Moscow 09">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/moscow-2009 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=196–199}} 42 countries competed, including Slovakia in its first appearance in 11 years.<ref name="2009 decade">{{Cite web |date=31 December 2009 |title=The end of a decade: Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-end-of-a-decade-moscow-2009 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Georgia's entry was embroiled in controversy, when it was accused of being critical of Russian leader [[Vladimir Putin]] following the recent [[Russo-Georgian War]]; after requests made by the EBU to change the lyrics were rejected, Georgia subsequently withdrew.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2009 |title=Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm |access-date=8 July 2020 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Juries returned to the contest this year, with the points awarded in the final decided by an equal mix of jury and televoting; the qualifiers from the semi-finals however remained predominantly decided by televoting in this contest.<ref name="2009 Baku">{{Cite web |date=18 April 2012 |title=Countdown to Baku – Moscow 2009 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-moscow-2009 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Norway secured its third contest win, as [[Alexander Rybak]] earned a runaway victory with "[[Fairytale (Alexander Rybak song)|Fairytale]]"; with 387 points, Rybak earned the highest points total yet seen in the contest, which remains the highest total under this system.<ref name="Winners" /><ref name="2009 Baku" />

== 2010s ==
[[File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (1).jpg|thumb|Five previous Eurovision-winning acts performed as part of the interval at the {{Escyr|2012||2012 contest}} in [[Baku]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2010]]''' was the fifty-fifth edition of the contest, organised by [[NRK]] and held on 25, 27 and 29 May 2010 at the [[Telenor Arena]] in [[Oslo]], Norway.<ref name="Oslo 10">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Oslo 2010 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-2010 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 39 countries participated in total, with Georgia returning after a year's absence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2009 |title=Exclusive: 39 countries to be represented in Oslo |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-39-countries-to-be-represented-in-oslo |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Several countries withdrew for this year due to the effects of the [[2008 financial crisis]], including Andorra which has yet to make a reappearance, with the crisis also impacting the production of the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moskwa |first=Wojchich |date=27 May 2010 |title=Eurovision song contest feels the pinch |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/us-norway-eurovision/eurovision-song-contest-feels-the-pinch-idINTRE64Q27120100527 |access-date=18 August 2020 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |archive-date=7 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907173346/https://in.reuters.com/article/us-norway-eurovision/eurovision-song-contest-feels-the-pinch-idINTRE64Q27120100527 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mix of jury and televoting seen in the 2009 final was extended into the semi-finals this year, each with an equal stake in determining the 10 qualifiers in each semi-final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 October 2009 |title=Juries also get 50% stake in Semi-Final result |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/juries-also-get-50-stake-in-semi-final-result |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Germany gained its second contest win, becoming the first "Big Four" country to win since its formation in 1999, with [[Lena Meyer-Landrut|Lena]] the first German winner in 28 years with "[[Satellite (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)|Satellite]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2010 |title=Germany wins, see full results! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/germany-wins-see-full-results |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2012 |title=Countdown to Baku – Oslo 2010 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/countdown-to-baku-oslo-2010 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2011]]''' was the fifty-sixth edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|de|[[Norddeutscher Rundfunk]]|i=unset}} (NDR) on behalf of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and held on 10, 12 and 14 May 2011 at the [[Merkur Spiel-Arena|Düsseldorf Arena]] in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany.<ref name="Düsseldorf 11">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Düsseldorf 2011 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dusseldorf-2011 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 43 countries competed in the third contest held on German soil, equalling the record set in 2008; among the returning countries was Italy, making its first appearance since 1997, which automatically qualified for the final as a member of the newly expanded "[[Big Five (Eurovision)|Big Five]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2010 |title=43 nations on 2011 participants list! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-nations-on-2011-participants-list |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Azerbaijan earned its first title, represented by [[Ell & Nikki]] and the song "[[Running Scared (Ell & Nikki song)|Running Scared]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 2011 |title=Azerbaijan wins 2011 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/azerbaijan-wins-2011-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2012]]''' was the fifty-seventh edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|az|[[İctimai Television]]|i=unset}} (İTV) and held on 22, 24 and 26 May 2012 at the [[Baku Crystal Hall]] in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]].<ref name="Baku 12">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Baku 2012 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/baku-2012 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 42 countries competed in the contest; Armenia had originally applied to compete, but withdrew at a late stage due to security concerns related to the [[Armenia–Azerbaijan relations|ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2012 |title=Armenia withdraws from Eurovision 2012 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/armenia-withdraws-from-eurovision-2012 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2012 |title=Armenia pulls out of Azerbaijan-hosted Eurovision show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17292360 |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The contest was also marked by concerns over Azerbaijan's human rights record, as well as tensions with neighbouring [[Iran]] over the "anti-Islamic" nature of the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elder |first=Miriam |date=25 May 2012 |title=Eurovision does little to help human rights in Azerbaijan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/25/eurovision-azerbaijan-human-rights |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2012 |title=Iran's "gay" Eurovision jibes strain Azerbaijan ties |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/azerbaijan-iran/irans-gay-eurovision-jibes-strain-azerbaijan-ties-idUKL5E8GM61H20120522 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190814/http://uk.reuters.com/article/azerbaijan-iran/irans-gay-eurovision-jibes-strain-azerbaijan-ties-idUKL5E8GM61H20120522 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 September 2017 |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Sweden secured its fifth Eurovision title, represented by [[Loreen]] and "[[Euphoria (Loreen song)|Euphoria]]", which would go on to become a great commercial success following the contest, selling over two million copies worldwide.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 May 2012 |title=Sweden wins 2012 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sweden-wins-2012-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Copsey |first=Robert |date=22 May 2013 |title=Loreen debuts 'We Got The Power' music video |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a483550/loreen-debuts-we-got-the-power-music-video/ |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>

[[File:ESC2014 - Austria 17 (crop).jpg|thumb|[[Conchita Wurst]] became the second Austrian artist to win the contest in {{Escyr|2014}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2013]]''' was the fifty-eighth edition of the contest, organised by [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] and held on 14, 16 and 18 May 2013 at the [[Malmö Arena]] in [[Malmö]], Sweden.<ref name="Malmö 13">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 2013 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 39 countries competed in total, with Armenia returning after a year's absence; among the withdrawing countries were Slovakia and Turkey, which have yet to make subsequent appearances in the contest, with the Turkish broadcaster TRT citing amendments to the contest rules in recent years, as well as espousing criticism of the [[LGBT]] nature of some performances, as reasons for their continued non-participation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2012 |title=39 countries to take part in Eurovision 2013 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/39-countries-to-take-part-in-eurovision-2013 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref name="Turkey LGBT">{{Cite web |date=4 August 2018 |title=Turkey to return Eurovision 'if no more bearded divas' |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-return-eurovision-if-no-more-bearded-divas-135427 |access-date=1 July 2020 |publisher=[[Hürriyet Daily News]]}}</ref> Denmark won the contest for the third time, represented by [[Emmelie de Forest]] and "[[Only Teardrops]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2013 |title=Denmark wins 2013 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/denmark-wins-2013-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2014]]''' was the fifty-ninth edition of the contest, organised by [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] and held on 6, 8 and 10 May 2014 at the [[B&W Hallerne]] in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark.<ref name="Copenhagen 14">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Copenhagen 2014 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/copenhagen-2014 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Artists representing 37 countries competed in Denmark's third contest as host, with Austria emerging as the victor to gain their second victory, their first in 48 years, with [[Conchita Wurst]] and "[[Rise Like a Phoenix]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 January 2014 |title=37 countries represented at Eurovision in 2014 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/37-countries-represented-at-eurovision-in-2014-updated |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2014 |title=Austria wins 2014 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/austria-wins-2014-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The bearded [[drag queen]]'s victory proved controversial among some, particularly in Russia where several conservative voices voiced criticism of her win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Caroline |date=11 May 2014 |title=Conchita Wurst pledges to promote tolerance after jubilant welcome home |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/11/conchita-wurst-pledges-to-promote-tolerance |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Developments in Russia, particularly the introduction of a [[Russian gay propaganda law|gay propaganda law]] and the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea from Ukraine]], were also present in the contest when audible [[booing]] could be heard during the Russian entry and voting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Fraser |date=11 May 2014 |title=Eurovision 2014: the booing of Russia was a disgrace |url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504080615/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/culturehousedaily/2014/05/eurovision-2014-the-booing-of-russia-was-a-disgrace/ |archive-date=4 May 2015 |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[The Spectator]]}}</ref>

In celebration of the contest's sixtieth anniversary, the EBU organised a special concert at the [[Hammersmith Apollo]] in [[London]], United Kingdom on 31 March 2015.<ref name="60th anniv">{{Cite web |date=5 February 2015 |title=Official: London to host Eurovision's 60th Anniversary Event |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/official-london-to-host-eurovision-s-60th-anniversary-event |access-date=17 September 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> '''''[[Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits]]''''' featured live performances from fifteen previous Eurovision acts from thirteen countries, [[Montage (filmmaking)|video montages]] of past editions of the contest and footage of former entries, and a performance by the cast of [[Riverdance]], originally conceived as the interval performance for the {{Escyr|1994||1994 contest}} before being developed into a full production.<ref name="Greatest Hits tonight">{{Cite web |date=31 March 2015 |title=Tonight: Recording of Eurovision's Greatest Hits |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tonight-recording-of-eurovision-s-greatest-hits |access-date=17 September 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref name="BBC Greatest Hits">{{Cite web |date=3 April 2015 |title=BBC One – Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits, 03/04/2015 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02llhdd |access-date=17 September 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> A [[BBC]] production, the concert was recorded live and aired as a [[Broadcast delay|delayed broadcast]] on various dates that suited the individual participating broadcasters: the BBC and Ireland's [[RTÉ]] were the first to broadcast the event, in a simulcast on 3 April 2015.<ref name="60th anniv" /><ref name="Greatest Hits tonight" />

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2015]]''' was the sixtieth edition of the contest, organised by [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] and held on 19, 21 and 23 May 2015 at the [[Wiener Stadthalle]] in [[Vienna]], Austria.<ref name="Vienna 15">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Vienna 2015 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/vienna-2015 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 39 countries were initially announced as appearing at the contest, the first held in Austria since 1967; {{Esccnty|Australia}} was later added as the 40th country, making its first appearance in what was billed as a one-off to celebrate the contest's 60th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2014 |title=Eurovision 2015: 39 countries represented in Vienna |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2015-39-countries-represented-in-vienna |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref name="Australia">{{Cite web |date=10 February 2015 |title=Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-compete-in-the-2015-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Australia would advance directly to the final, meaning 27 countries would compete in the largest final ever seen in the contest.<ref name="Australia" /> Sweden earned its sixth contest victory, represented by [[Måns Zelmerlöw]] and "[[Heroes (Måns Zelmerlöw song)|Heroes]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |last2=Storvik-Green |first2=Simon |date=24 May 2015 |title=Sweden wins 2015 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/sweden-wins-2015-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

[[File:Salvador Sobral (Eurovision 2017).jpg|thumb|upright|Portugal gained its first Eurovision title after 53 years of competition, when [[Salvador Sobral]] won the {{Escyr|2017||2017 contest}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2016]]''' was the sixty-first edition of the contest, organised by [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] and held on 10, 12 and 14 May 2016 at the [[Ericsson Globe|Globe Arena]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden.<ref name="Stockholm 16">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Stockholm 2016 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 43 countries were initially announced as being represented at the contest, with Australia being invited to compete for a second time;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=26 November 2015 |title=43 countries represented in Stockholm! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-countries-represented-in-stockholm |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=17 November 2015 |title=Australia to return to the Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-to-return-to-the-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Romania was subsequently barred from competing due to outstanding debts owed by the Romanian broadcaster [[Romanian Television|TVR]], leaving 42 countries to compete in Sweden's sixth outing as hosts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2016 |title=TVR (Romania) no longer entitled to take part in Eurovision 2016 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tvr-romania-no-longer-entitled-to-take-part-in-eurovision-2016 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=22 April 2016 |title=Romania expelled from the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/04/22/romania-expelled-from-the-eurovision-song-contest-5833623/ |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]}}</ref> The voting system was transformed for the first time in over 30 years at this contest: each country would now award two sets of points, representing the votes of each country's jury and public separately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=18 February 2016 |title=Biggest change to Eurovision Song Contest voting since 1975 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/biggest-change-to-eurovision-song-contest-voting-since-1975 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Ukraine recorded its second win in the contest, courtesy of [[Jamala]] with "[[1944 (song)|1944]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |date=15 May 2016 |title=Ukraine wins the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ukraine-wins-the-2016-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv |ref=none}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2017]]''' was the sixty-second edition of the contest, organised by the [[Suspilne|Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine]] (UA:PBC) and held on 9, 11 and 13 May 2017 at the [[International Exhibition Centre]] in [[Kyiv]], Ukraine.<ref name="Kyiv 17">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Kyiv 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2017 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 43 countries applied to take part in the contest, however only 42 would subsequently take part in Ukraine's second contest: Russia were unable to compete after Ukrainian authorities banned their selected performer [[Yuliya Samoylova (singer)|Yuliya Samoylova]] from entering Ukraine due to illegally entering Crimea in 2015, with proposals for Samoylova to compete via satellite from Russia being rejected by the Russian broadcaster.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=31 October 2016 |title=43 countries to participate in Eurovision 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/43-countries-to-participate-in-eurovision-2017 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2017 |title=EBU: "Russia no longer able to take part in Eurovision 2017" |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/russia-unable-to-participate-2017-ebu-statement |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2017 |title=Eurovision threatens to ban Ukraine over Russian singer row |work=[[The Guardian]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/01/eurovision-threatens-to-ban-ukraine-over-russian-singer-row |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref> Portugal earned its first Eurovision title, 53 years after first entering the contest, with [[Salvador Sobral]] earning the biggest points total ever seen in Eurovision history as "[[Amar pelos dois]]" gained 758 points.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Paul |date=14 May 2017 |title=Portugal wins the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/portugal-salvador-sobral-winner-eurovision-2017 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2018]]''' was the sixty-third edition of the contest, organised by {{lang|pt|[[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal]]|i=unset}} (RTP) and held on 8, 10 and 12 May 2018 at the [[Altice Arena]] in [[Lisbon]], Portugal.<ref name="Lisbon 18">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Lisbon 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 43 countries competed in this contest, matching the previous record, with Russia returning after its absence the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2017 |title=150 days left until the Grand Final of Eurovision 2018! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/150-days-until-eurovision-2018-grand-final |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> This contest saw the performance of Eurovision's 1,500th song, when former winner [[Alexander Rybak]] performed "[[That's How You Write a Song]]" in the second semi-final for Norway.<ref name="1500 songs" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Caroline |first=Westbrook |date=10 May 2018 |title=Alexander Rybak's That's How You Write A Song is the 1,500th Eurovision entry |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/10/alexander-rybaks-write-song-1500th-eurovision-entry-7536490 |access-date=18 August 2020 |publisher=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]}}</ref> Israel gained its fourth Eurovision title, represented by [[Netta Barzilai|Netta]] with "[[Toy (song)|Toy]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zwart |first=Josianne |date=13 May 2018 |title=Israel's Netta wins the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/israel-netta-wins-2018-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref>

[[File:Duncan Laurence GFDress-048-20190517-EuroVisionary.jpg|thumb|[[Duncan Laurence]]'s "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]", winner of the {{Escyr|2019|3=2019 contest}} for the Netherlands, became the first Eurovision song of the 21st century to chart on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2019]]''' was the sixty-fourth edition of the contest, organised by the [[Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation]] (IPBC) and held on 14, 16 and 18 May 2019 at [[Expo Tel Aviv]] in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]].<ref name="Tel Aviv 19">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Tel Aviv 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/tel-aviv-2019 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The third Israeli contest was marked by controversy on multiple fronts, with Orthodox religious leaders and politicians in Israel calling on the contest to not interfere with [[Shabbat]], while other groups, including [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|BDS]], called for a boycott of the event in response to the country's policies towards [[Palestinians]] in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], and in opposition to what some consider as "[[Pinkwashing (LGBT)|pinkwashing]]" by the Israeli government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharon |first=Jeremy |date=14 May 2018 |title=Litzman demands Shabbat not be violated for Eurovision 2019 |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Litzman-demands-Shabbat-not-be-violated-for-Eurovision-2019-556381 |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Stephen |date=10 May 2019 |title=Israel counters Eurovision boycott campaign with Google ads |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-eurovision-israel-preparations/israel-counters-eurovision-boycott-campaign-with-google-ads-idUSKCN1SG11L |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2019 |title=L'Eurovision comme occasion de pinkwashing pour Israël – la communauté LGBT+ devrait le boycotter |trans-title=Eurovision as a pinkwashing opportunity for Israel – the LGBT+ community should boycott it |url=http://agencemediapalestine.fr/blog/2019/03/04/15797/ |access-date=16 August 2020 |publisher=Agence Média Palestine |language=fr}}</ref> 42 countries were initially announced as competing in this contest, with Australia having secured participation rights up to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groot |first=Evert |date=7 November 2018 |title=42 countries to compete in Eurovision 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/42-countries-take-part-in-eurovision-2019 |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grott |first=Evert |date=12 February 2019 |title=Australia secures spot in Eurovision for the next five years |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/australia-secures-spot-in-eurovision-until-2023 |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> However, only 41 countries entered the contest when Ukraine subsequently withdrew: conflicts between the Ukrainian broadcaster [[Suspilne|UA:PBC]] and the winner of its {{Esccnty|Ukraine|y=2019|t=national selection}} [[Maruv]] led to the latter refusing to compete, resulting in its withdrawal after other acts from the selection also declined to partake.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Groot |first=Evert |date=27 February 2019 |title=Ukraine withdraws from Eurovision 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ukraine-withdraws-from-eurovision-2019 |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=27 February 2019 |title=Ukraine pulls out of Eurovision Song Contest 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47394371 |access-date=18 August 2020 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The Netherlands recorded its fifth Eurovision win and first in 44 years, courtesy of [[Duncan Laurence]] with "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]", which would later become a [[sleeper hit]] in 2021, becoming the most-streamed Eurovision song on [[Spotify]] and the first since "[[Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit]]" to chart on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], eventually reaching the top 30 of the chart.<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Royston |first=Benny |date=19 May 2019 |title=Duncan Laurence wins Eurovision 2019 for the Netherlands |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/duncan-laurence-the-netherlands-wins-2019-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee Adams |first=William |date=2021-08-31 |title=Eurovision winners Måneskin and Duncan Laurence crack Top 30 on Billboard charts |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/08/31/maneskin-and-duncan-laurence-crack-top-30-on-billboard-charts/266506/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Wiwibloggs |language=en-US}}</ref>

== 2020s ==
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2020]]''' was scheduled to be held on 12, 14 and 16 May 2020 at [[Rotterdam Ahoy]] in [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands and organised by {{lang|nl|[[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|Nederlandse Publieke Omroep]]|i=unset}} (NPO), [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and [[AVROTROS]].<ref name="Rotterdam 20">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rotterdam 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> 41 countries applied to enter what would have been the Netherlands' fifth contest as hosts, but in March 2020, for the first time in its history, the contest was cancelled due to the uncertainty caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe|COVID-19 pandemic]] and the restrictions put in place by governments across Europe, which included [[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdowns]] and [[Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic|travel restrictions]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2019 |title=41 countries will 'Open Up' at Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/41-countries-eurovision-2020-rotterdam |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref name="cancellation statement">{{Cite web |date=18 March 2020 |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318142008/https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |archive-date=18 March 2020 |access-date=18 March 2020 |website=[[Eurovision.tv]]}}</ref> In its place, a special broadcast from [[Media Park (Hilversum)|Media Park]] in [[Hilversum]], '''''[[Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light]]''''', was held on what would have been the day of the final, in a celebration and showcase of the artists and songs that would have competed in the 2020 contest in a non-competitive format, as well as featuring performances by former Eurovision artists.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2020 |title=Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light |url=https://eurovision.tv/eurovision-europe-shine-a-light |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 May 2020 |title=Eurovision still shines despite cancelled final |work=[[The Guardian]] |agency=[[PA Media]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/17/eurovision-still-shines-despite-cancelled-final |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Måneskin - 2022154181022 2022-06-03 Rock am Ring - Sven - 1D X MK II - 1306 - AK8I1539.jpg|thumb|Italy's [[Måneskin]] achieved international breakthrough following their Eurovision win in {{Escyr|2021}}.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2021]]''' was the sixty-fifth edition of the contest, held on 18, 20 and 22 May 2021 at [[Rotterdam Ahoy]] in [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands and organised by [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]], [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and [[AVROTROS]].<ref name="Rotterdam 21">{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021 |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-15 |title=Dates for Eurovision 2021 announced |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dates-for-eurovision-2021-announced |access-date=2020-06-15 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Rotterdam was revealed as the host city of the 2021 contest during ''Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2020 |title=Rotterdam returns as Eurovision Song Contest Host City in 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-to-return-to-rotterdam-in-2021 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Many of the artists which had initially been selected to compete in 2020 were confirmed for their countries once again, however any song entered into the 2020 contest was ineligible for 2021 per the rules of the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2020 |title=18 acts are confirmed for Eurovision 2021! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/these-artists-are-already-confirmed-for-eurovision-2021 |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2020 |title=Rotterdam 2021 FAQs |url=https://eurovision.tv/2021-faqs |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> Pre-recorded backing vocals were permitted for the first time in 2021 on a trial basis, announced as an effort to modernise and increase the sustainability of the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2020 |title=Changes announced to ensure Eurovision comes "back for good" |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/changes-announced-to-ensure-eurovision-comes-back-for-good |access-date=16 August 2020 |website=eurovision.tv}}</ref> The same 41 countries which had originally planned to enter the 2020 contest were initially announced as competing again in this contest, however, a late withdrawal of Armenia and subsequent disqualification of the entry from Belarus brought the number of competing countries down to 39.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=41 Countries to participate at Eurovision 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/41-countries-to-participate-at-eurovision-2021 |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2021 |title=Armenia withdraws from Eurovision Song Contest 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/armenia-withdraws-from-eurovision-2021 |access-date=5 March 2021 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-26 |title=EBU statement on Belarusian participation |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/ebu-statement-on-belarusian-entry-2021 |website=[[Eurovision Song Contest]]}}</ref> Multiple contingency scenarios were devised in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from a normal, albeit [[Social distancing|less-crowded]] contest (which was the chosen option) to a fully-remote contest with participants performing via 'live-on-tape' recordings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=The 4 ways to make Eurovision 2021 happen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/the-4-ways-to-make-eurovision-2021-happen |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-18 |title=2021 artists to record song "live-on-tape" to ensure Contest will happen |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2021-artists-to-record-song-live-on-tape-to-ensure-contest-will-happen |access-date=2020-12-09 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-03 |title=Eurovision 2021 organizers set determined yet realistic plans for May |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2021-determined-yet-realistic-plans-for-may |access-date=2021-02-23 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref> Australia and Iceland were ultimately unable to perform at the contest live: the Australian delegation opted to use their 'live-on-tape' performance given logistical difficulties in travelling abroad as part of [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|the country's pandemic response]]; while Iceland competed using rehearsal footage following a COVID-19 outbreak among its delegation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 April 2021 |title=Australia to compete from home using 'live-on-tape' performance |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/australia-to-use-live-on-tape |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420060911/https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/australia-to-use-live-on-tape |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=29 May 2022 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2021 |title=EBU Statement regarding Icelandic delegation (Wednesday 19 May) |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-regarding-icelandic-delegation-wednesday-19-may |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519123300/https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-regarding-icelandic-delegation-wednesday-19-may |archive-date=19 May 2021 |access-date=29 May 2022 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]]}}</ref> Italy recorded its third Eurovision win, becoming the second "Big Five" country to win since its formation, as [[Måneskin]] ended a 31-year wait for victory with "[[Zitti e buoni]]".<ref name="Winners" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-22 |title=Congratulations ITALY: Måneskin win Eurovision Song Contest 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/congratulations-italy-maneskin-win-eurovision-2021 |access-date=2021-05-24 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en-gb}}</ref> Second-placed France and third-placed Switzerland also achieved their best results since 1991 and 1993 respectively.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Hannah |date=25 May 2021 |title=Fans celebrate France's highest-ever score at Eurovision |work=[[The Connexion]] |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/Fans-celebrate-France-s-highest-ever-score-at-Eurovision-after-Barbara-Pravi-emotional-performance |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529133254/https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/Fans-celebrate-France-s-highest-ever-score-at-Eurovision-after-Barbara-Pravi-emotional-performance |archive-date=29 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=8 March 2022 |title=Switzerland Announces Its Eurovision 2022 Act & Song |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/03/08/today-switzerland-announces-eurovision-2022-act-song/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308012218/https://eurovoix.com/2022/03/08/today-switzerland-announces-eurovision-2022-act-song/ |archive-date=8 March 2022 |access-date=29 May 2022 |website=Eurovoix}}</ref> Måneskin's win in the contest marked the band's international breakthrough, with their releases entering numerous European and global weekly charts in the months following their victory.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 3, 2021 |title=Chartbreaker: Inside Måneskin's Unlikely, TikTok-Assisted Journey to Rock Stardom |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9609530/maneskin-beggin-august-chartbreaker/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Lucas |title=Maneskin Is Italy's First Rock Band to Rule the Charts |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/pop-star-ranking/2021-september/maneskin-is-italy-s-first-rock-band-to-rule-the-charts.html |access-date=2021-09-14}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2022]]''' was the sixty-sixth edition of the contest, held on 10, 12 and 14 May 2022 at the [[Pala Alpitour|PalaOlimpico]] in [[Turin]], Italy and organised by [[RAI]].<ref name="Turin 22" /> 41 countries applied to take part in the contest, with Armenia and Montenegro submitting their first entries since 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-20 |title=REVEALED: the 41 countries joining Eurovision in Turin 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/41-countries-for-2022 |access-date=2021-10-20 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en-gb}}</ref> Russia, which had initially appeared on the list, was subsequently barred from competing following [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|its invasion of Ukraine]] in February 2022, resulting in 40 countries competing in Italy's third outing as hosts.<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |date=2022-02-25 |title=EBU statement regarding the participation of Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-russia-2022 |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en-gb}}</ref> Ukraine recorded its third win in the contest, represented by [[Kalush Orchestra]] with "[[Stefania (song)|Stefania]]", while the United Kingdom, which placed second, and Spain, which placed third, also achieved their best results since 1998 and 1995 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision Song Contest 2022! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/congratulations-Ukraine-Kalush-Orchestra-win-eurovision-2022 |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Eurovision.tv |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=15 May 2022 |title=Eurovision 2022: How Sam Ryder turned things around for the UK |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61450874 |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515022616/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61450874 |archive-date=15 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sanchez Gil |first=Juan |date=15 May 2022 |title=Ukraine, winner of Eurovision 2022: Spain and Chanel's result • The European Times News |work=The European Times |url=https://www.europeantimes.news/2022/05/ukraine-winner-of-eurovision-2022-spain-and-chanels-result/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515112042/https://www.europeantimes.news/2022/05/ukraine-winner-of-eurovision-2022-spain-and-chanels-result/ |archive-date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Loreen - Melodifestivalen 2023, Malmö 508.jpg|thumb|Upon winning the {{Escyr|2023|3=2023 contest}}, [[Loreen]] became the second artist to win the contest twice, having previously won in {{Escyr|2012}}, and helped Sweden equal Ireland's record of seven contest wins.]]
The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2023]]''' was the sixty-seventh edition of the contest, held on 9, 11 and 13 May 2023 at the [[Liverpool Arena]] in [[Liverpool]], United Kingdom and organised by the [[BBC]].<ref name="Liverpool 23" /> Ukraine's [[Suspilne|UA:PBC]] was initially given the opportunity to host following its victory the previous year, but due to security concerns caused by the Russian invasion of the country, the BBC was chosen, as the runner-up, to host the contest on its behalf.<ref name=":02">{{Cite press release |title=EBU, UA:PBC and BBC agree to host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom |date=25 July 2022 |publisher=EBU |url=https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-uapbc-and-bbc-agree-host-2023-eurovision-song-contest-united-kingdom |language=en |access-date=25 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725131354/https://eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-uapbc-and-bbc-agree-host-2023-eurovision-song-contest-united-kingdom |archive-date=25 July 2022 |website=Eurovision.tv}}</ref> 37 countries applied to take part in the ninth contest held in the UK, with several countries withdrawing for this year due to the effects of the [[Global energy crisis (2021–present)|global energy crisis]].<ref name="2023Countries">{{Cite web |date=2022-10-20 |title=Eurovision 2023: Here are the 37 countries competing in Liverpool |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-here-are-37-countries-competing-liverpool |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosney |first=Daniel |date=2022-10-17 |title=Eurovision: Montenegro and North Macedonia pull out of Liverpool contest |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63276833 |access-date=2022-10-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hallsenius |first=Hedda |date=2022-11-08 |title=Flera länder drar sig ur när Eurovision blir dyrare |trans-title=Several countries withdraw when Eurovision becomes more expensive |url=https://www.svt.se/kultur/hojda-intradesavgifter-till-eurovision-kan-bero-pa-ryssland |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=SVT Nyheter |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |language=sv}}</ref> Substantial changes to the voting system were made for this contest, with full televoting returning to determine the qualifiers from the semi-finals, and viewers from non-participating countries being allowed to vote in all shows, with their votes being aggregated and awarded as one set of points from an "extra country" for the overall public vote.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-22 |title=Voting changes announced for Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122131325/https://eurovision.tv/story/voting-changes-announced-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |archive-date=2022-11-22 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en}}</ref> [[Loreen]], the winner of the 2012 contest, returned for Sweden and became the second artist to record two wins in the contest with "[[Tattoo (Loreen song)|Tattoo]]", and in doing so giving Sweden a record-tying seventh contest win.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-14 |title=Sweden's Loreen wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/swedens-loreen-wins-eurovision-song-contest-2023 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Halliday |first=Josh |date=2023-05-14 |title=Sweden wins Eurovision song contest in Liverpool with Loreen |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/may/14/eurovision-2023-winner-liverpool-uk-ukraine |access-date=2023-05-14 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2024]]''' was the sixty-eighth edition of the contest, held on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024 at the [[Malmö Arena]] in [[Malmö]], Sweden and organised by [[Sveriges Television|SVT]].<ref name="Malmö 24" /> 37 countries applied to take part in the seventh contest held on Swedish soil, with Luxembourg making its first appearance since 1993.<ref name="Luxembourg return" /><ref name="Participants">{{cite web |date=5 December 2023 |title=Eurovision 2024: 37 broadcasters head to Malmö |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2024-37-broadcasters-head-malmo |access-date=5 December 2023 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU}}</ref> Romania, whose broadcaster [[TVR (broadcaster)|TVR]] had been given additional time to finalise its plans, ultimately opted not to participate this year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Marica |first1=Irina |title=Romania will not compete in Eurovision this year |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-not-compete-eurovision-2024 |publisher=Romania-Insider.com |access-date=27 February 2024 |date=25 January 2024}}</ref> The slogan of the previous year's event in Liverpool, "United by Music", was retained for 2024 and all future editions, thus ending the practice of individual slogans being created for each edition which had begun in 2002.<ref name="Slogan" /> Switzerland recorded its third victory and first in 36 years, courtesy of [[Nemo (rapper)|Nemo]] with "[[The Code (Nemo song)|The Code]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oltermann |first=Philip |date=2024-05-11 |title=Switzerland wins Eurovision song contest after controversial grand final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/12/switzerland-wins-eurovision-song-contest-after-controversial-grand-final |access-date=2024-05-12 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> This edition was beset by numerous controversies, most notably Israel's participation amidst the [[Gaza war]] with protests and petitions calling for or against the country's removal, and audible booing during the Israeli entry and voting,<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=2024-02-08 |title=Israel chooses Eurovision 2024 entrant amid calls for a boycott |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68238270 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pepper |first=Diarmuid |date=2024-05-10 |title=Eurovision organisers say no attempt was made to 'censor sound' during Israel's performance |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/eurovision-ebu-svt-israel-performance-sound-issues-6376520-May2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513215038/https://www.thejournal.ie/eurovision-ebu-svt-israel-performance-sound-issues-6376520-May2024/ |archive-date=13 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}</ref> as well as the disqualification of the Netherlands ahead of the final due to a backstage incident between its entrant [[Joost Klein]] and a production staff member, though the country retained its right to vote.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Alex |date=2024-05-11 |title=Eurovision Disqualifies Dutch Entrant Hours Before Final |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/arts/music/eurovision-joost-klein-disqualified.html |access-date=2024-05-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The '''[[Eurovision Song Contest 2025]]''' was the sixty-ninth edition of the contest, held on 13, 15 and 17 May 2025 at [[St. Jakobshalle]] in [[Basel]], Switzerland and organised by [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]].<ref name="Basel 25" /> 38 countries initially registered to compete in the contest, with Montenegro returning after a two-year absence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision 2025: 38 broadcasters participating in Basel |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-38-broadcasters |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |access-date=12 December 2024 |date=12 December 2024}}</ref> Moldova, which had initially appeared on the list, subsequently withdrew due to economic reasons and the quality of its {{Esccnty|Moldova|y=2025|t=national selection}}, resulting in 37 countries partaking in the third edition held in Switzerland.<ref name="Moldova">{{Cite web |date=2025-01-22 |title=Ultima oră! Republica Moldova nu va participa la Eurovision 2025 |trans-title=Breaking! The Republic of Moldova will not participate in Eurovision 2025 |url=https://moldova1.md/p/42773/ultima-ora-republica-moldova-nu-va-participa-la-eurovision-2025 |publisher=[[Teleradio-Moldova]] (TRM) |language=ro}}</ref> Austria recorded its third victory, represented by [[JJ (singer)|JJ]] with "[[Wasted Love (JJ song)|Wasted Love]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Alex |date=2025-05-18 |title=Austria Wins Eurovision 2025 Song Contest With JJ’s ‘Wasted Love’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/arts/music/eurovision-song-contest-austria-jj.html |access-date=2025-05-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd |location=London |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor}}
* {{Cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2012 |publisher=Telos Publishing |isbn=978-1-84583-065-6 |volume=One: The 1950s and 1960s |location=Prestatyn}}
* {{Cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2014 |publisher=Telos Publishing |isbn=978-1-84583-093-9 |volume=Two: The 1970s |location=Prestatyn}}
* {{Cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2016 |publisher=Telos Publishing |isbn=978-1-84583-118-9 |volume=Three: The 1980s |location=Prestatyn}}
* {{Cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Telos Publishing |isbn=978-1-84583-163-9 |volume=Four: The 1990s |location=Prestatyn}}
* {{Cite book |last=West |first=Chris |title=Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=[[Melville House Publishing|Melville House UK]] |isbn=978-1-911545-55-2 |edition=2nd |location=London |author-link=Chris West}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://eurovision.tv/events Eurovision Song Contest: History by events] 
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5gsm BBC World Service May 2023 documentary, mostly about Scandinavian entries] presented by Denmark's [[Emmelie de Forest]]
{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825083217/https://eurovision.tv/events |date=25 August 2017 }}

{{Eurovision years}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of The Eurovision Song Contest}}
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest]]