Eurovision began as television glue for postwar Europe
Inspired by Italy's Sanremo Festival, the European Broadcasting Union launched an annual song contest in 1956. Seven countries sent two songs each that first night—Switzerland's Lys Assia won with Refrain—and Guinness now calls Eurovision the longest-running international televised music competition.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organized yearly by the EBU. Each participating broadcaster offers an original song, performs live over Eurovision and Euroradio networks, and votes for others' entries. Except for the COVID-cancelled 2020 edition—replaced by the non-competitive Europe Shine a Light special—it has run annually since 1956. Broadcasters from fifty-two countries have entered at least once; a single contest peaked at forty-three participants in 2008 and again in 2011. Eligible competitors are EBU members and invited associates, including non-European Israel, Morocco, and Australia.
The EBU formed in 1950 among twenty-three organizations. British journalist George Campey used "Eurovision" in the Evening Standard in 1951 for a BBC show relayed in the Netherlands. After network relays such as Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation, an EBU committee proposed a light-entertainment contest. Early voting in 1956 stayed private—only the winner was announced—before public scoreboards arrived. By the 1960s roughly sixteen to eighteen countries competed regularly; Central and Eastern European broadcasters largely joined only after the Cold War. Semi-finals arrived in the 2000s after 1990s relegation rules.
Hosting usually follows the previous winner, doubling as tourism promotion, with a fresh theme beside the shared logo. Interval guests have ranged from Cirque du Soleil and Madonna to the debut of Riverdance. Hundreds of millions watch yearly, placing it among the world's most viewed non-sporting events. Camp aesthetics, stylistic range, and importance in LGBTQ culture feed a large fan culture. Critics note that political friendships and rivalries may sway votes, and late withdrawals or controversies recur—yet as of 2026 the contest counts seventy editions and remains a fixture of international television.
Source: Eurovision Song Contest
