the whole thing, since 1956
Eurovision Song Contest: every contest since 1956
70 contests, 1,789 songs, one cancelled year. It started with seven countries in a theatre in Lugano on 24 May 1956; the most recent, in Vienna, was won by Bulgaria. Every year has its own page: the story of the night, with the rows, the mishaps and the rule changes, then the winner and every entry.
- find your fave 1,782 Artists, A to Z A page for everyone who ever sang: every song, every result, and what happened to them on the night.
- pick a flag 52 Countries Every song a country has sent, its wins, its last places and the years it hosted.
- the good stuff 223 Scandals, mishaps and lore Ties, walk-outs, stage invaders, lost scores and broken phone lines, sorted by what went wrong.
- the numbers 0 Records, from most wins to nul points Most wins (Ireland and Sweden, seven each), every song that scored nothing, the closest finishes, and whether it matters when you sing.
- while they count 215 Opening and interval acts What opened every show and what filled the gap while the votes were counted, from a clown in 1962 to Riverdance, Justin Timberlake and Madonna.
Think the juries got it wrong? Rank any year yourself
Every contest, year by year
The headline is that year’s story. Tap it to read what happened, see the winner sing, and get every entry.
No contest matches that. Try a year, a host city or a winner’s name.
The 2020s
- 2026: Five countries boycott the seventieth contest, and Bulgaria wins its first
Vienna, Austria · 35 countries
Bulgaria “Bangaranga” Dara
- 2025: Austria wins in Basel, and the public vote is questioned
Basel, Switzerland · 37 countries
Austria “Wasted Love” JJ
- 2024: A disqualification before the final, and a contest that needed fixing
Malmö, Sweden · 37 countries
Switzerland “The Code” Nemo
- 2023: Liverpool hosts for Ukraine, and Loreen wins a second time
Liverpool, United Kingdom · 37 countries
Sweden “Tattoo” Loreen
- 2022: Russia is excluded, and Ukraine wins with the biggest public vote ever
Turin, Italy · 40 countries
Ukraine “Stefania (Стефанія)” Kalush Orchestra
- 2021: Back under covid rules, and Måneskin win for Italy
Rotterdam, Netherlands · 39 countries
Italy “Zitti e buoni” Måneskin
- 2020: The contest that never happened
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Cancelled. The only year without a contest.
The 2010s
- 2019: Tel Aviv: boycott calls, Madonna, and a result that had to be corrected
Tel Aviv, Israel · 41 countries
Netherlands “Arcade” Duncan Laurence
- 2018: Toy wins, China's censor cuts two songs, and a man grabs the microphone
Lisbon, Portugal · 43 countries
Israel “Toy” Netta
- 2017: Russia's singer is banned, and Portugal wins after 53 years
Kyiv, Ukraine · 42 countries
Portugal “Amar pelos dois” Salvador Sobral
- 2016: A new way of counting, and a winner who topped neither vote
Stockholm, Sweden · 42 countries
Ukraine “1944” Jamala
- 2015: Australia arrives, and the public's favourite comes third
Vienna, Austria · 40 countries
Sweden “Heroes” Måns Zelmerlöw
- 2014: Rise Like a Phoenix, and a hall that booed Russia
Copenhagen, Denmark · 37 countries
Austria “Rise Like a Phoenix” Conchita Wurst
- 2013: One host, no draw, and votes for sale
Malmö, Sweden · 39 countries
Denmark “Only Teardrops” Emmelie de Forest
- 2012: Euphoria in Baku, and a host under scrutiny
Baku, Azerbaijan · 42 countries
Sweden “Euphoria” Loreen
- 2011: Italy comes back, the champion defends, and Azerbaijan wins
Düsseldorf, Germany · 43 countries
Azerbaijan “Running Scared” Ell and Nikki
- 2010: Lena, a stage invader and a World Cup sold to pay for it
Oslo, Norway · 39 countries
Germany “Satellite” Lena
The 2000s
- 2009: A pun on Putin, voters called in for questioning, and a record win
Moscow, Russia · 42 countries
Norway “Fairytale” Alexander Rybak
- 2008: Two semi-finals, a contest that nearly moved, and Russia's first win
Belgrade, Serbia · 43 countries
Russia “Believe” Dima Bilan
- 2007: Serbia wins at its first attempt, and the semi-final goes east
Helsinki, Finland · 42 countries
Serbia “Molitva (Молитва)” Marija Šerifović
- 2006: Hard Rock Hallelujah: Finland wins after 45 years
Athens, Greece · 37 countries
Finland “Hard Rock Hallelujah” Lordi
- 2005: The fiftieth contest, and the Big Four at the bottom
Kyiv, Ukraine · 39 countries
Greece “My Number One” Helena Paparizou
- 2004: The first semi-final, and Ukraine wins at the second attempt
Istanbul, Turkey · 36 countries
Ukraine “Wild Dances” Ruslana
- 2003: Three songs within three points, and nothing at all for Britain
Riga, Latvia · 26 countries
Turkey “Everyway That I Can” Sertab Erener
- 2002: A winner that was nearly not allowed to enter
Tallinn, Estonia · 24 countries
Latvia “I Wanna” Marie N
- 2001: A football stadium, a rude commentator and the first winner from the East
Copenhagen, Denmark · 23 countries
Estonia “Everybody” Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL
- 2000: Two brothers nobody tipped, a disowned entry and a broadcast cut short
Stockholm, Sweden · 24 countries
Denmark “Fly on the Wings of Love” Olsen Brothers
The 1990s
- 1999: Any language, no orchestra, and a winner knocked off her feet
Jerusalem, Israel · 23 countries
Sweden “Take Me to Your Heaven” Charlotte Nilsson
- 1998: Dana International, under armed guard, and the public's first verdict
Birmingham, United Kingdom · 25 countries
Israel “Diva (דיווה)” Dana International
- 1997: The public gets a vote, and the orchestra starts to leave
Dublin, Ireland · 25 countries
United Kingdom “Love Shine a Light” Katrina and the Waves
- 1996: Germany misses the cut, and Holland becomes Poland
Oslo, Norway · 23 countries
Ireland “The Voice” Eimear Quinn
- 1995: Ireland asks not to have to host again, and a 24-word song wins
Dublin, Ireland · 23 countries
Norway “Nocturne” Secret Garden
- 1994: Seven new countries, three in a row, and seven minutes called Riverdance
Dublin, Ireland · 25 countries
Ireland “Rock 'n' Roll Kids” Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan
- 1993: A town of 1,500, and three new countries out of Yugoslavia
Millstreet, Ireland · 25 countries
Ireland “In Your Eyes” Niamh Kavanagh
- 1992: Johnny Logan's third win, and Yugoslavia's last song
Malmö, Sweden · 23 countries
Ireland “Why Me” Linda Martin
- 1991: A tie, a count-back and a show that kept going wrong
Rome, Italy · 22 countries
Sweden “Fångad av en stormvind” Carola
- 1990: Songs about the Wall, hosts who quit, and a tape that started without Spain
Zagreb, Yugoslavia · 22 countries
Italy “Insieme: 1992” Toto Cutugno
The 1980s
- 1989: Two children, a crossbow and Yugoslavia's only win
Lausanne, Switzerland · 22 countries
Yugoslavia “Rock Me” Riva
- 1988: Céline Dion, by one point, on the last vote
Dublin, Ireland · 21 countries
Switzerland “Ne partez pas sans moi” Céline Dion
- 1987: Johnny Logan wins it twice
Brussels, Belgium · 22 countries
Ireland “Hold Me Now” Johnny Logan
- 1986: The winner was thirteen, and Switzerland wanted her thrown out
Bergen, Norway · 20 countries
Belgium “J'aime la vie” Sandra Kim
- 1985: Norway, at last, and a skirt that came off on live television
Gothenburg, Sweden · 19 countries
Norway “La det swinge” Bobbysocks
- 1984: The youngest host, and the night the booing started
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · 19 countries
Sweden “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley” Herreys
- 1983: Lost in three languages, and a winner the hall walked out on
Munich, West Germany · 20 countries
Luxembourg “Si la vie est cadeau” Corinne Hermès
- 1982: A little peace, and "Where is Harrogate?"
Harrogate, United Kingdom · 18 countries
Germany “Ein bißchen Frieden” Nicole
- 1981: Bucks Fizz, a bomb scare and a first glimpse of Riverdance
Dublin, Ireland · 20 countries
United Kingdom “Making Your Mind Up” Bucks Fizz
- 1980: The winner that could not come, and Morocco's only song
The Hague, Netherlands · 19 countries
Ireland “What's Another Year” Johnny Logan
The 1970s
- 1979: Jerusalem, and a win handed over by the last jury
Jerusalem, Israel · 19 countries
Israel “Hallelujah (הללויה)” Milk and Honey
- 1978: A-Ba-Ni-Bi, a bunch of daffodils and the first nul points
Paris, France · 20 countries
Israel “A-Ba-Ni-Bi (א-ב-ני-בי)” Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta
- 1977: A strike, a five-week delay and no postcards
London, United Kingdom · 18 countries
France “L'Oiseau et l'Enfant” Marie Myriam
- 1976: A waiver for the Greek singer, and four points France forgot
The Hague, Netherlands · 18 countries
United Kingdom “Save Your Kisses for Me” Brotherhood of Man
- 1975: Twelve points arrive, and Sweden regrets winning
Stockholm, Sweden · 19 countries
Netherlands “Ding-a-dong” Teach-In
- 1974: Waterloo, a funeral and a song that started a coup
Brighton, United Kingdom · 17 countries
Sweden “Waterloo” ABBA
- 1973: Armed guards, backing tracks and any language you like
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · 17 countries
Luxembourg “Tu te reconnaîtras” Anne-Marie David
- 1972: The contest nobody wanted to host
Edinburgh, United Kingdom · 18 countries
Luxembourg “Après toi” Vicky Leandros
- 1971: Pickets outside, jurors on the stage
Dublin, Ireland · 18 countries
Monaco “Un banc, un arbre, une rue” Séverine
- 1970: A boycott, a coin-toss host and the first postcards
Amsterdam, Netherlands · 12 countries
Ireland “All Kinds of Everything” Dana
The 1960s
- 1969: Four winners and not enough medals
Madrid, Spain · 16 countries
France “Un jour, un enfant” Frida Boccara
Netherlands “De troubadour” Lenny Kuhr
Spain “Vivo cantando” Salomé
United Kingdom “Boom Bang-a-Bang” Lulu
- 1968: Colour, a borrowed singer and a one-vote finish
London, United Kingdom · 17 countries
Spain “La La La” Massiel
- 1967: Mirrors, a muddled scoreboard and Britain's first win
Vienna, Austria · 17 countries
United Kingdom “Puppet on a String” Sandie Shaw
- 1966: Third time lucky for Udo Jürgens — and nul points for Modugno
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · 18 countries
Austria “Merci, Chérie” Udo Jürgens
- 1965: Booed in rehearsal, dumped by phone, and the contest's first pop winner
Naples, Italy · 18 countries
Luxembourg “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” France Gall
- 1964: A banner on the stage, and the biggest landslide there has been
Copenhagen, Denmark · 16 countries
Italy “Non ho l'età” Gigliola Cinquetti
- 1963: Two studios, and a vote that was read out twice
London, United Kingdom · 16 countries
Denmark “Dansevise” Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann
- 1962: The lights go out, and nul points is born
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · 16 countries
France “Un premier amour” Isabelle Aubret
- 1961: Sixteen countries, a garden on stage, and a love song with a secret
Cannes, France · 16 countries
Luxembourg “Nous les amoureux” Jean-Claude Pascal
- 1960: London steps in, and a last-placed singer's daughter wins
London, United Kingdom · 13 countries
France “Tom Pillibi” Jacqueline Boyer
The 1950s
- 1959: Cannes, a revolving stage and the first country to win twice
Cannes, France · 11 countries
Netherlands “Een beetje” Teddy Scholten
- 1958: Italy sang twice, France won, and the world bought “Volare”
Hilversum, Netherlands · 10 countries
France “Dors mon amour” André Claveau
- 1957: The scoreboard arrives — and so does a five-minute song
Frankfurt, West Germany · 10 countries
Netherlands “Net als toen” Corry Brokken
- 1956: Seven countries, fourteen songs, and a result nobody kept
Lugano, Switzerland · 14 songs
Switzerland “Refrain” Lys Assia
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. Looking for the Asian contest? It's new this year: Eurovision Asia 2026.