Next Cambodia's Finest Voice Sat 17 Oct

Rank the songs

five wins!

France at Eurovision

France first sang at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, at the very first one, and has entered 68 contests. It has won five times: in 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969 and 1977. The contest has been held there three times, most recently in Paris in 1978.

68
contests
5
wins
3
hosted
first song
1956
contests
68 (69 songs: two in 1956)
wins
5 — 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977
second place
5 — 1957, 1976, 1990, 1991, 2021
last place
1 — 2014
in the final
22 of 22 tries since semi-finals began in 2004
sung in
French (66), English (6), Corsican (2), Breton (2), Antillean Creole (1), and two more
hosted
Cannes 1959, Cannes 1961, Paris 1978
not in the line-up
1974, 1982

The five wins

Photos are stills from the contest’s own videos on YouTube. Each one opens that year’s story.

Every song

All 70 entries, newest first. The year opens the story of that contest; the name opens the artist.

Year Artist Song Result Points
2026 Vienna Monroe “Regarde!” French 11th of 25 158
2025 Basel Louane “Maman” French 7th of 26 230
2024 Malmö Slimane “Mon amour” French 4th of 26 445
2023 Liverpool La Zarra “Évidemment” French 16th of 26 104
2022 Turin Alvan and Ahez “Fulenn” Breton 24th of 25 17
2021 Rotterdam Barbara Pravi “Voilà” French 2nd of 26 499
2020 Rotterdam Tom Leeb “Mon alliée (The Best in Me)” French, English Contest cancelled —
2019 Tel Aviv Bilal Hassani “Roi” French, English 16th of 26 105
2018 Lisbon Madame Monsieur “Mercy” French 13th of 26 173
2017 Kyiv Alma “Requiem” French, English 12th of 26 135
2016 Stockholm Amir “J'ai cherché” French, English 6th of 26 257
2015 Vienna Lisa Angell “N'oubliez pas” French 25th of 27 4
2014 Copenhagen Twin Twin “Moustache” French 26th of 26 2
2013 Malmö Amandine Bourgeois “L'enfer et moi” French 23rd of 26 14
2012 Baku Anggun “Echo (You and I)” French, English 22nd of 26 21
2011 Düsseldorf Amaury Vassili “Sognu” Corsican 15th of 25 82
2010 Oslo Jessy Matador “Allez Ola Olé” French 12th of 25 82
2009 Moscow Patricia Kaas “Et s'il fallait le faire” French 8th of 25 107
2008 Belgrade Sébastien Tellier “Divine” English, French 19th of 25 47
2007 Helsinki Les Fatals Picards “L'Amour à la française” French, English ("Franglais") 22nd of 24 19
2006 Athens Virginie Pouchain “Il était temps” French 22nd of 24 5
2005 Kyiv Ortal “Chacun pense à soi” French 23rd of 24 11
2004 Istanbul Jonatan Cerrada “À chaque pas” French, Spanish 15th of 24 40
2003 Riga Louisa Baïleche “Monts et merveilles” French 18th of 26 19
2002 Tallinn Sandrine François “Il faut du temps” French 5th of 24 104
2001 Copenhagen Natasha St-Pier “Je n'ai que mon âme” French, English 4th of 23 142
2000 Stockholm Sofia Mestari “On aura le ciel” French 23rd of 24 5
1999 Jerusalem Nayah “Je veux donner ma voix” French 19th of 23 14
1998 Birmingham Marie Line “Où aller” French 24th of 25 3
1997 Dublin Fanny “Sentiments songes” French 7th of 25 95
1996 Oslo Dan Ar Braz and l'Héritage des Celtes “Diwanit bugale” Breton 19th of 23 18
1995 Dublin Nathalie Santamaria “Il me donne rendez-vous” French 4th of 23 94
1994 Dublin Nina Morato “Je suis un vrai garçon” French 7th of 25 74
1993 Millstreet Patrick Fiori “Mama Corsica” French, Corsican 4th of 25 121
1992 Malmö Kali “Monté la riviè” French, Antillean Creole 8th of 23 73
1991 Rome Amina “C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison” French 2nd of 22 146
1990 Zagreb Joëlle Ursull “White and Black Blues” French 2nd of 22 132
1989 Lausanne Nathalie Pâque “J'ai volé la vie” French 8th of 22 60
1988 Dublin Gérard Lenorman “Chanteur de charme” French 10th of 21 64
1987 Brussels Christine Minier “Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche” French 14th of 22 44
1986 Bergen Cocktail Chic “Européennes” French 17th of 20 13
1985 Gothenburg Roger Bens “Femme dans ses rêves aussi” French 10th of 19 56
1984 Luxembourg City Annick Thoumazeau “Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles” French 8th of 19 61
1983 Munich Guy Bonnet “Vivre” French 8th of 20 56
1981 Dublin Jean Gabilou “Humanahum” French 3rd of 20 125
1980 The Hague Profil “Hé, hé m'sieurs dames” French 11th of 19 45
1979 Jerusalem Anne-Marie David “Je suis l'enfant soleil” French 3rd of 19 106
1978 Paris Joël Prévost “Il y aura toujours des violons” French 3rd of 20 119
1977 London Marie Myriam “L'Oiseau et l'Enfant” French winner! 136
1976 The Hague Catherine Ferry “Un, deux, trois” French 2nd of 18 147
1975 Stockholm Nicole “Et bonjour à toi l'artiste” French 4th of 19 91
1973 Luxembourg City Martine Clémenceau “Sans toi” French 15th of 17 65
1972 Edinburgh Betty Mars “Comé-comédie” French 11th of 18 81
1971 Dublin Serge Lama “Un jardin sur la terre” French 10th of 18 82
1970 Amsterdam Guy Bonnet “Marie-Blanche” French 4th of 12 8
1969 Madrid Frida Boccara “Un jour, un enfant” French joint winner! 18
1968 London Isabelle Aubret “La Source” French 3rd of 17 20
1967 Vienna Noëlle Cordier “Il doit faire beau là-bas” French 3rd of 17 20
1966 Luxembourg City Dominique Walter “Chez nous” French 16th of 18 1
1965 Naples Guy Mardel “N'avoue jamais” French 3rd of 18 22
1964 Copenhagen Rachel “Le Chant de Mallory” French 4th of 16 14
1963 London Alain Barrière “Elle était si jolie” French 5th of 16 25
1962 Luxembourg City Isabelle Aubret “Un premier amour” French winner! 26
1961 Cannes Jean-Paul Mauric “Printemps (avril carillonne)” French 4th of 16 13
1960 London Jacqueline Boyer “Tom Pillibi” French winner! 32
1959 Cannes Jean Philippe “Oui oui oui oui” French 3rd of 11 15
1958 Hilversum André Claveau “Dors mon amour” French winner! 27
1957 Frankfurt Paule Desjardins “La Belle Amour” French 2nd of 10 17
1956 Lugano Mathé Altéry “Le Temps perdu” French Placing not published —
1956 Lugano Dany Dauberson “Il est là” French Placing not published —

Points for a song that went out in a semi-final are its semi-final points. Before 2004 there were no semi-finals: every song sang on the one night.

Sent more than once

The two acts France has sent to more than one contest.

Hosting

The three contests held in France.

On air at home

The channels that carried the contest in France, year by year, and who commentated where our source names them. Newest first.

  1. 2026
    • France 4 (semi-finals) Stéphane Bern
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Camille Cerf
  2. 2025
    • Culturebox (semi-finals) Stéphane Bern
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
  3. 2024
    • Culturebox (semi-finals) Nicky Doll
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
  4. 2023
    • Culturebox (semi‑finals) Anggun and André Manoukian
    • France 2 (final) Laurence Boccolini and Stéphane Bern
    • Guadeloupe La Première (semi‑finals) Anggun and André Manoukian
    • Guadeloupe La Première (final) Laurence Boccolini and Stéphane Bern
  5. 2022
    • Culturebox (semi-finals) Laurence Boccolini
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
    • Polynésie La Première (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
    • Saint-Pierre and Miquelon La Première (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
    • France 3 Bretagne (final) Goulwena an Henaff, Yann-Herle, Thelo Mell and Mael Gwenneg
  6. 2021
    • Culturebox (semi-finals) Laurence Boccolini
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini
  7. 2019
    • France 4 (semi-finals) André Manoukian and Sandy Heribert
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and André Manoukian
  8. 2018
    • France 4 (semi-finals) Christophe Willem and André Manoukian
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern, Christophe Willem and Alma
  9. 2017
    • France 4 (semi-finals) Marianne James and Jarry
    • France 2 (final) Marianne James, Stéphane Bern and Amir Haddad
  10. 2016
    • France 4 (semi-finals) Marianne James and Jarry
    • France 2 (final) Marianne James and Stéphane Bern
  11. 2015
    • France Ô (semi-final 1) Mareva Galanter and Jérémy Parayre
    • France 2 (final) Stéphane Bern and Marianne James
  12. 2014
    • France Ô (semi-final 1) Audrey Chauveau and Bruno Berberes
    • France 3 (final) Cyril Féraud and Natasha St-Pier
  13. 2013
    • France Ô (semi-final 2) Audrey Chauveau and Bruno Berberes
    • France 3 (final) Cyril Féraud and Mireille Dumas
  14. 2012
    • France3.fr (semi-final 1)
    • France Ô (semi-final 2) Audrey Chauveau and Bruno Berberes
    • France 3 (final) Cyril Féraud and Mireille Dumas
  15. 2011
    • France Ô (semi-final 2) Audrey Chauveau and Bruno Berberes
    • France 3 (final) Laurent Boyer and Catherine Lara
    • France Bleu (final) Fabien Lecœuvre and Serge Poezevara
  16. 2010
    • France 4 (semi-finals) Peggy Olmi and Yann Renoard
    • France 3 (final) Cyril Hanouna and Stéphane Bern
  17. 2009
    • France 4 (semi-final 2) Peggy Olmi and Yann Renoard
    • France 3 (final) Julien Courbet and Cyril Hanouna
  18. 2008
    • France 4 (semi-final 2) Peggy Olmi and Yann Renoard
    • France 3 (final) Jean Paul Gaultier and Julien Lepers
  19. 2007
    • France 4 (semi-final) Peggy Olmi and Yann Renoard
    • France 3 (final) Julien Lepers and Tex
  20. 2006
    • France 4 (semi-final) Peggy Olmi and Éric Jean-Jean
    • France 3 (final) Michel Drucker and Claudy Siar
  21. 2005
    • France 4 (semi-final)
    • France 3 (final) Julien Lepers and Guy Carlier
  22. 2004
    • France 3 (final) Laurent Ruquier and Elsa Fayer
    • France Bleu (final) Jean-Luc Delarue
  23. 2003
    • France 3 Laurent Ruquier and Isabelle Mergault
  24. 2002
    • France 3 Marc-Olivier Fogiel and Dave
  25. 2001
    • France 3 Marc-Olivier Fogiel and Dave
  26. 2000
    • France 3 Julien Lepers
  27. 1999
    • France 3 Julien Lepers
  28. 1998
    • France 2 Chris and Laura Mayne
  29. 1997
    • France 2 Olivier Minne
  30. 1996
    • France 2 Olivier Minne
  31. 1995
    • France 2 Olivier Minne
  32. 1994
    • France 2 Patrice Laffont
  33. 1993
    • France 2 Patrice Laffont
  34. 1992
    • Antenne 2 Thierry Beccaro
  35. 1991
    • Antenne 2 Léon Zitrone
  36. 1990
    • Antenne 2 Richard Adaridi
  37. 1989
    • Antenne 2 Lionel Cassan
    • TV5 Europe Jean-Charles Simon
  38. 1988
    • Antenne 2 Lionel Cassan
  39. 1987
    • Antenne 2 Patrick Simpson-Jones
  40. 1986
    • Antenne 2 Patrice Laffont
    • Second canal de RFO
  41. 1985
    • Antenne 2 Patrice Laffont
    • Second canal de RFO
  42. 1984
    • Antenne 2 Léon Zitrone
    • RFO-Martinique
  43. 1983
    • Antenne 2 Léon Zitrone
    • RFO-Martinique
  44. 1981
    • TF1 Patrick Sabatier
  45. 1980
    • TF1 Patrick Sabatier
  46. 1979
    • TF1 Marc Menant
  47. 1978
    • TF1 Léon Zitrone
  48. 1977
    • TF1 Georges de Caunes
  49. 1976
    • TF1 Jean-Claude Massoulier
  50. 1975
    • TF1 Georges de Caunes
  51. 1974
    • Première Chaîne Pierre Tchernia
  52. 1973
    • Première Chaîne Pierre Tchernia
  53. 1972
    • Première Chaîne Pierre Tchernia
  54. 1971
    • Deuxième Chaîne Georges de Caunes
  55. 1970
    • Deuxième Chaîne Pierre Tchernia
  56. 1969
    • Deuxième Chaîne, France Inter Pierre Tchernia
  57. 1968
    • Deuxième Chaîne Pierre Tchernia
    • France Inter
  58. 1967
    • Première Chaîne, France Inter Pierre Tchernia
  59. 1966
    • Première Chaîne François Deguelt
    • France Inter
  60. 1965
    • Première Chaîne, France Inter Pierre Tchernia
  61. 1964
    • RTF, Inter Jeunesse Robert Beauvais
  62. 1963
    • RTF Pierre Tchernia
  63. 1962
    • RTF Pierre Tchernia
    • France I
  64. 1961
    • RTF, France I Robert Beauvais
  65. 1960
    • RTF Pierre Tchernia
  66. 1959
    • RTF Claude Darget
    • France II
  67. 1958
    • RTF Pierre Tchernia
    • France I
  68. 1957
    • RTF, Paris-Inter Robert Beauvais
  69. 1956
    • RTF Michelle Rebel
    • Paris-Inter

In our contest stories

Lines about France from our story of each contest. Follow a link for the rest of that night.

  • 1956 Fourteen songs

    Seven broadcasters entered: Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

  • 1957 The result

    France was second with 17, Denmark third with 10.

  • 1958 The result

    André Claveau's "Dors mon amour" took 27 of the 100 votes — the first of France's five victories.

  • 1959

    France had won in Hilversum, so in 1959 the contest went to the Riviera, to the hall built for the film festival.

  • 1959 Cannes

    A garden of plants from the south of France was laid out in front of it for the occasion and the flags of the competing countries flew from the roof.

  • 1960 The result

    France won for the second time, drawing level with the Netherlands.

  • 1962 The same sixteen

    Belgium's Fud Leclerc was making his fourth appearance, the first artist to reach that number; only three acts have matched it since. And Jean Philippe, who had sung for France in 1959, turned up representing Switzerland — the first person to sing for two different countries.

  • 1962 A Sunday, a clown, and the dark

    Straight after the next song, France's, it happened again, worse.

  • 1963 London again

    France had won in 1962 and passed on hosting.

  • 1965 France Gall's week

    Luxembourg's entry was "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", written by Serge Gainsbourg and sung by the French teenager France Gall — at seventeen, the youngest performer that year.

  • 1965 The result

    France was third and Austria fourth, its best result so far.

  • 1969 Colour that Spain could not see

    The picture left Madrid by two routes at once, in case one failed — over the relay network through France, and by satellite through Italy.

  • 1969 Eighteen, four times

    Spain — Salomé, "Vivo cantando"; United Kingdom — Lulu, "Boom Bang-a-Bang"; Netherlands — Lenny Kuhr, "De troubadour", which she co-wrote; France — Frida Boccara, "Un jour, un enfant"

  • 1977 The result

    It was France's fifth victory, more than any other country, and France kept that record to itself for six years.

  • 1978

    France, five times a winner by now, put the contest in the Palais des Congrès in Paris, a four-year-old hall in the 17th arrondissement, and changed how the show was fronted.

  • 2014 The result

    France finished last, with two points.

Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. “Not in the line-up” means no song from France was in that year’s contest, whatever the reason. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.