History of Eurovision Song Contest in Timeline
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. Member broadcasters submit original songs representing their countries, which are then performed live and broadcast across the Eurovision and Euroradio networks. Participating countries vote for other countries' songs to determine an overall winner. It's a significant cultural event known for its diverse musical styles, elaborate staging, and enthusiastic fan base. The contest brings together nations in a celebration of music and performance.
1944: Reference to Deportation of Crimean Tatars
The year 1944 is referenced in the title and lyrics of the Ukrainian winning song of 2016 "1944 by Jamala", which alluded to the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, sparking controversy and political debate.
1950: Formation of the European Broadcasting Union
In 1950, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) was formed among 23 broadcasting organisations.
1951: First Use of 'Eurovision'
In 1951, British journalist George Campey first used the word "Eurovision" in the Evening Standard, referring to a BBC programme relayed by Dutch television.
1951: Sanremo Music Festival Inspiration
In 1951, the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, held in the Italian Riviera, inspired the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest.
1953: International Broadcast via Eurovision Network
In 1953, the coronation of Elizabeth II was among the events broadcast internationally via the Eurovision transmission network.
January 1955: Committee Formed to Investigate Cooperation Initiatives
In January 1955, an EBU committee, headed by Marcel Bezençon, was formed to investigate new initiatives for cooperation between broadcasters, approving the study of a European song competition.
October 1955: Agreement to Organize the Song Contest
In October 1955, the EBU's general assembly agreed to the organisation of the song contest, initially titled the European Grand Prix, and accepted SRG SSR's proposal to host the event in Lugano.
1956: Live Orchestra Integral
From 1956, a live orchestra formed an integral part of the Eurovision Song Contest, providing accompaniment to all the acts performing.
1956: Switzerland wins inaugural contest
In 1956, Switzerland won the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest with its second entry.
1956: Inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Planning
In 1956, the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, held since 1951, served as a basis for the initial planning of the Eurovision Song Contest, with adjustments for its international scope. The Eurovision Song Contest was developed as a way of putting transnational live television to the test, promoting television, as well as encouraging the production of original songs.
1956: First Contest
In 1956, the first Eurovision Song Contest featured seven countries.
1956: First Eurovision Song Contest
Since 1956, Eurovision has been held annually (except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), making it the longest-running international music competition on television and one of the world's longest-running television programmes.
1956: Limited Footage of 1956 Contest Available
The only footage available of the 1956 contest is a Kinescope recording of Lys Assia's reprise of her winning song. Audio recordings of the contest exists.
1957: Lys Assia Competing Again
In 1957, Lys Assia competed for Switzerland after winning in 1956.
1957: Rule Against Voting for Own Country Introduced
In 1957, a rule was introduced that national juries and the public in each country are not allowed to vote for their own country.
1957: Introduction of Scoreboard and Public Voting
In 1957, the use of a scoreboard and public announcement of the voting, inspired by the BBC's Festival of British Popular Songs, began at the Eurovision Song Contest.
1957: Voting Segment Introduced
Since 1957, each country's votes have been announced during a voting segment as part of the broadcast, with a selected spokesperson assigned to announce the results.
1958: "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" wins Grammy Award
In 1958, "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", also known as "Volare", the third-placed song for Italy performed by Domenico Modugno, won a Grammy Award, the first Grammy winner for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
1958: Winning Broadcaster Hosting Tradition Begins
In 1958, the tradition of the winning broadcaster hosting the following year's contest, which has since become a standard feature, began.
1958: Exceptions to Hosting Tradition
Since 1958, the winning broadcaster traditionally hosts the following year's Eurovision event, with some exceptions. Hosting the contest is seen as a unique opportunity for promoting the host country and boosting its economy, though some broadcasters may try to avoid the cost by sending deliberately subpar entries.
1959: Establishment of Melodifestivalen in Sweden
In 1959, Melodifestivalen was first established in Sweden, which is now one of the most watched television shows in the country each year.
1961: References to Homosexual Relationships
In 1961, "Nous les amoureux", the winning song for Luxembourg, contained references to the difficulties faced by a homosexual relationship.
1961: Sopot International Song Festival begins
In 1961, the Sopot International Song Festival began. It has been held annually since then.
1963: Denmark's first win
In 1963, Denmark won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time.
1964: No Full Recording of 1964 Contest Exists
No full recording of the 1964 Eurovision contest is known to exist, but audio recordings of the contest exist.
1965: Criticism over Swedish entry
In 1965, the Swedish entry was criticized for being performed in English.
1965: Tenth Edition
In 1965, the tenth edition of the Eurovision Song Contest had 18 participating countries.
1965: Italian Name Used for Official Logo in Italy
When Italy hosted the 1965 contest, the Italian name Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone was used for the official logo.
1966: Austria wins Eurovision
In 1966, Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest.
1966: Introduction of language rule
In 1966, a new rule was introduced restricting songs to be performed only in an official language of the country it represented.
1967: Vienna Boys' Choir perform in 1967
In 1967, Vienna Boys' Choir performed on the Eurovision stage.
1968: Introduction of Colour Broadcasts
In 1968, colour broadcasts were introduced to the Eurovision Song Contest, enhancing the viewing experience.
1968: Spain wins Eurovision
Spain won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968.
1969: Four winners in 1969
In 1969, four entries finished the contest with an equal number of points and were all declared winners, as allowed by the rules at the time.
1969: Spain wins Eurovision again
Spain won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1969.
1970: Julio Iglesias represents Spain
In 1970, Julio Iglesias represented Spain and placed fourth, which led to his worldwide success and an estimated 100 million records sold during his career.
1970: Introduction of Video Postcards
In 1970, short video postcards were first introduced to "bulk up" the Eurovision Song Contest after a number of countries decided not to compete. These postcards have since become a regular part of the show.
1971: Groups Permitted
In 1971, groups were permitted to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time.
1972: OTI Festival begins
In 1972, the OTI Festival, an Ibero-American contest, was first held by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI).
1972: Release of 'En un mundo nuevo'
In 1972, the Spanish musical film "En un mundo nuevo", which celebrates the Eurovision Song Contest, was released.
1972: Luxembourg wins Eurovision
Luxembourg won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972.
1973: "Eres tú" success
In 1973, "Eres tú", the runner-up for Spain performed by Mocedades, became the first Spanish-language song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
1973: Charlie Rivel performs in 1973
In 1973, Charlie Rivel performed on the Eurovision stage.
1973: Pre-Recorded Backing Tracks Allowed
In 1973, pre-recorded backing tracks were first allowed for competing acts, but any pre-recorded instruments were required to be seen being "performed" on stage.
1973: First Abolishment of Language Rule
In 1973, the language rule requiring songs to be performed in an official language of the country was first abolished.
1973: Luxembourg wins Eurovision again
Luxembourg won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1973.
1975: Introduction of '12 Points' System
In 1975, the '12 points' system was first introduced, a modification of which is still in use today.
1975: Netherlands wins Eurovision
In 1975, the Netherlands won the Eurovision Song Contest.
1976: "Save Your Kisses for Me" success
In 1976, "Save Your Kisses for Me", the winning song for the United Kingdom performed by Brotherhood of Man, went on to sell over six million singles, becoming the best-selling winning song.
1976: Dutch Name Used for Official Logo in Netherlands
When the Netherlands hosted in 1976, the Dutch name Eurovisiesongfestival was used for the official logo.
1977: Intervision Song Contest rebrands Sopot International Song Festival
In 1977, the Sopot International Song Festival was rebranded as the Intervision Song Contest. It was under the patronage of the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT).
1978: Arab States Cut Broadcasts During Israel's Performance
In 1978, Israel's first win at Eurovision proved controversial for Arab states broadcasting the contest, with many cutting to advertisements during Israel's performance and ultimately cutting the feed before the end of voting as it became clear Israel would win.
1978: Israel wins Eurovision
Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978.
1979: Israel wins Eurovision again
Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1979.
1980: Johnny Logan Wins for Ireland
In 1980, Johnny Logan won for Ireland.
1980: Intervision Song Contest held for the last time
In 1980, the Intervision Song Contest, previously known as the Sopot International Song Festival, was held for the last time under the patronage of the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT).
1980: Ralph Siegel's entries
In 1980, the entries of Germany and Luxembourg were either written or co-written by Ralph Siegel.
1980: Dutch Name Used for Official Logo in Netherlands
When the Netherlands hosted in 1980, the Dutch name Eurovisiesongfestival was used for the official logo.
1981: Songs of Europe
In 1981, the EBU held "Songs of Europe" to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest's twenty-fifth anniversary. The event included live performances and video recordings of all Eurovision Song Contest winners up to 1981.
1982: "Ein bißchen Frieden" Wins for Germany
In 1982, Ralph Siegel co-wrote "Ein bißchen Frieden", the winning entry for Germany.
1984: Foundation of OGAE
In 1984, the Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision (OGAE), one of the oldest and largest Eurovision fan clubs, was founded in Finland.
1986: Sandra Kim's Win
In 1986, Sandra Kim won for Belgium at the age of 13, remaining the contest's youngest winner.
1987: Johnny Logan Wins Again
In 1987, Johnny Logan won for Ireland for the second time.
1988: Céline Dion wins for Switzerland
In 1988, Céline Dion won for Switzerland, which helped launch her international career and led to her selling an estimated 200 million records worldwide.
1988: Introduction of Computer Graphics Scoreboard
In 1988, a computer graphics scoreboard was introduced, replacing the manually updated one.
1988: Switzerland's winning gap
Switzerland had a 32-year gap between winning in 1956 and winning again in 1988.
1990: Regular Participation
By 1990, 22 countries were regularly competing in the Eurovision Song Contest each year.
1990: Minimum Age Rule Introduced
From 1990, all Eurovision contestants had to be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show.
1991: Italian Name Used for Official Logo in Italy
When Italy hosted the 1991 contest, the Italian name Concorso Eurovisione della Canzone was used for the official logo.
1992: Johnny Logan wins as songwriter in 1992
In 1992, Johnny Logan was the winning songwriter for Ireland with "Why Me?" performed by Linda Martin.
1992: Ireland wins Eurovision
Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992.
1993: Smallest Hosting Settlement
In 1993, Millstreet, Ireland, hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. With a population of 1,500 at the time, it remains the smallest hosting settlement, although its Green Glens Arena could host up to 8,000 spectators.
1993: Introduction of Pre-Selection Method
In 1993, a pre-selection method, Kvalifikacija za Millstreet, was introduced to reduce the number of competing entries, with seven new countries from Central and Eastern Europe participating.
1993: System Used Again
In 1993, a relegation system was introduced. A similar relegation system was used again between 1993 and 1995.
1993: Merger of EBU and OIRT
In 1993, the EBU merged with the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT), further expanding the number of broadcasters eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
1993: Kvalifikacija za Millstreet Pre-Qualifying Round
In 1993, the Eurovision Song Contest included a pre-qualifying round called Kvalifikacija za Millstreet for seven new countries.
1993: Ireland wins Eurovision again
Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1993.
1994: Introduction of Relegation Systems
From 1994, relegation systems were introduced to manage the number of competing entries, barring the poorest performing countries from entering the following year's contest.
1994: Riverdance debut
In 1994, Riverdance first began as the interval performance at the contest in Ireland, launching a successful dance production.
1994: New Relegation System Introduced
In 1994, a new relegation system was introduced, with the lowest-placed countries being forced to sit out the following year's event.
1994: Live Television Feeds for Spokespersons
In 1994, live television feeds were employed for the first time, allowing the venue audience and home viewers to see the spokespersons announce their country's votes.
1994: System Used Again
In 1994, the relegation system was used again for qualification for the 1995 contest.
1994: Charlie McGettigan Returns Trophy
In 2026, in protest of Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, Charlie McGettigan, the 1994 winner, returned his trophy.
1994: Ireland wins Eurovision for the third time in a row
Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time in a row in 1994.
1995: System Used Again
In 1995, the relegation system was used again for qualification for the 1996 contest.
1996: Brief Rebranding as Eurosong
For the 1996 edition, the Eurovision Song Contest was briefly rebranded as Eurosong in English.
1996: "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" success
In 1996, "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit", which came eighth for the United Kingdom performed by Gina G, sold 790,000 records and achieved success across Europe and the US, reaching number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1996: Audio-Only Qualification Round Held
In 1996, an audio-only qualification round was held in Oslo, Norway, to appease Germany, but Germany still missed out on participating in the main contest.
1996: Production Compromised by Germany's Absence
In 1996, the production of the contest was significantly compromised by the absence of Germany.
1996: Ireland wins Eurovision again
Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1996.
1997: First Openly Gay Artist
In 1997, Paul Oscar became the contest's first openly gay artist to compete when he represented Iceland.
1997: Relegation System Introduced
In 1997, a relegation system was introduced, with each country's average scores in the preceding five contests being used as a measure to determine which countries would be relegated.
1997: All Instrumental Music Allowed to Be Pre-Recorded
In 1997, all instrumental music was allowed to be pre-recorded, although the host country was still required to provide an orchestra.
1997: Televoting Introduced on Trial Basis
In 1997, televoting was first introduced to the contest on a trial basis in five countries, allowing the viewing public to determine their votes.
1997: Introduction of Televoting
Since the introduction of televoting in 1997, analysis on voting patterns have revealed examples which indicate voting preferences among countries based on shared religion, as well as "patriotic voting", where foreign nationals vote for their country of origin.
1998: Live Orchestra Integral until 1998
From 1956 to 1998, a live orchestra formed an integral part of the Eurovision Song Contest, providing accompaniment to all the acts performing.
1998: Televoting Extended
From 1998, televoting was extended to almost all competing countries.
1998: Objections and Threats to Dana International
In 1998, Dana International's selection for the Eurovision Song Contest was met with objections and death threats from orthodox religious sections of Israeli society.
1998: First Trans Performer
In 1998, Dana International, representing Israel, became the contest's first trans performer and the first LGBTQ artist to win the contest.
1999: Second Abolishment of Language Rule
Ahead of the 1999 contest, the language rule was once again abolished, allowing songs to be performed in any language.
1999: Native-language rule abolished
In 1999, the rule requiring native-language songs was abolished.
1999: Orchestra Becomes Optional
In 1999, the rules were changed, making the orchestra an optional requirement. The host broadcaster, Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), decided not to provide an orchestra, resulting in all acts using backing tracks for the first time.
1999: Advertising Opportunities Introduced
Since 1999, broadcasters who wished to do so were given the opportunity to provide advertising during short hiatuses in the show's schedule.
2000: Denmark's second win
In 2000, Denmark won the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time, after a 37-year gap.
2000: Introduction of Streaming
In 2000, streaming was introduced to the Eurovision Song Contest.
2000: OTI Festival held for the last time
In 2000, the OTI Festival, an Ibero-American contest held by the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana (OTI), was held for the last time.
2001: Aqua performs in 2001
In 2001, Danish Europop group Aqua performed in a non-competitive manner.
2001: Largest Host Venue
In 2001, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, which became the largest host venue with almost 38,000 spectators.
2001: System Changed Again
In 2001, the relegation system changed again, back to the same system used between 1993 and 1995 where only the results from that year's contest would count towards relegation.
2001: Online Availability
Since 2001, the Eurovision Song Contest has been available online via the official Eurovision website, expanding its reach to a global audience.
2002: Latvia wins on third appearance
In 2002, Latvia won the Eurovision Song Contest with its third entry.
2002: Introduction of Unique Slogans
In 2002, a unique slogan was first introduced as an integral part of each Eurovision contest's visual identity.
2002: Appearance of Sestre
In 2002, the drag group Sestre represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest.
2003: Influx of new broadcasters
In 2003, an influx of new broadcasters applying for the contest prompted the introduction of a semi-final from 2004.
2004: Introduction of the Generic Logo
Ahead of the 2004 contest, the EBU introduced a generic logo to create a consistent visual identity for the Eurovision Song Contest.
2004: Televoting Becomes Mandatory
From 2004, televoting became mandatory in the Eurovision Song Contest.
2004: Expansion to Multi-Programme Event
From 2004, the Eurovision Song Contest expanded to become a multi-programme event, with a semi-final at the 49th contest.
2004: Fire of Anatolia performs in 2004
In 2004, Fire of Anatolia performed on the Eurovision stage.
2004: Ukraine wins on second appearance
In 2004, Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest on its second appearance.
2004: Introduction of semi-final
In 2004, the Eurovision Song Contest introduced a semi-final, becoming a two-day event. 36 countries competed, with new entries from Albania, Andorra, Belarus, and Serbia and Montenegro and the return of previously relegated countries.
2004: Standardisation of Names
In 2004, the Eurovision Song Contest's names were standardised when the contest was rebranded.
2004: "Big Five" Automatically Qualify for Final
Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, the "Big Five" countries have automatically qualified for the final.
2004: EBU Owns Copyright of Contest
Until 2004, the host broadcaster owned the copyright of the contest that they produced, with the EBU owning the copyright of all subsequent editions.
2005: Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
In 2005, "Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest" was organized to celebrate the event's fiftieth anniversary. It featured a contest to determine the most popular song from 14 selected entries from the contest's first 50 years.
2005: Greece wins after 31 years
In 2005, Greece recorded its first win in the Eurovision Song Contest, 31 years after its first appearance.
2005: Introduction of Widescreen Broadcasts
In 2005, broadcasts in widescreen began at the Eurovision Song Contest, providing a more immersive visual experience.
2005: Single Semi-Final
In 2005, the single semi-final format continued to be held.
2006: Criticism of Eurovision's Musical Content
In 2006, British historian Tony Judt criticized the Eurovision Song Contest's musical content and execution, labeling it as banal and a subject of ridicule on public television during the 1970s and 1980s.
2006: Finland wins after 45 years
In 2006, Finland ended a 45-year losing streak and won the Eurovision Song Contest.
2006: "4,000 Years of Greek Song"
The 2006 contest held in Greece featured an opening performance and interval act entitled "4,000 Years of Greek Song", exploring the country's culture and history.
2007: Apocalyptica performs in 2007
In 2007, Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica performed in a non-competitive manner.
2007: Marija Šerifović Wins for Serbia
In 2007, Marija Šerifović won for Serbia. She later publicly came out as a lesbian in 2013.
2007: Serbia wins on first appearance
In 2007, Serbia won the Eurovision Song Contest on its first participation as an independent country.
2007: Calls for Boycott Due to Voting Biases
In 2007, criticism of the voting system reached its peak, leading to calls for countries to boycott the contest due to perceived voting biases, especially after Eastern European countries dominated the top 15 places.
2007: Appearance of Verka Serduchka and DQ
In 2007, drag performers such as Verka Serduchka for Ukraine and DQ for Denmark appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest.
2007: Introduction of High-Definition Broadcasts
In 2007, high-definition broadcasts were introduced to the Eurovision Song Contest, further improving the viewing quality.
2007: Eurovision Dance Contest first edition
In 2007, the Eurovision Dance Contest, an event featuring pairs of dancers performing ballroom and Latin dancing, was held for its first edition.
2007: Joulupukki presents the award
In 2007, the fictional character Joulupukki (the original Santa Claus in Finland) presented the award to the winner Marija Šerifović.
2007: Criticism Over Qualifiers
In 2007, with 42 countries competing, criticism arose over the qualifiers, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe, and the poor performance of entries from Western European countries.
2008: Addition of Second Semi-Final
From 2008, a second semi-final was added to each edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
2008: Eurovision in Concert first edition
In 2008, Eurovision in Concert, one of the first Eurovision "pre-parties," held its first edition in Amsterdam. These pre-parties are events where artists who will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest perform and meet fans and the press.
2008: Record 43 Participating Countries
In 2008, a record 43 countries participated in a single Eurovision Song Contest for the first time.
2008: Standard trophy design introduced
In 2008, a standard trophy design was introduced: a handmade trophy of sandblasted glass with painted details in the shape of a 1950s-style microphone, designed by Kjell Engman of Kosta Boda.
2008: Establishment of Current Three-Show Format
Since 2008, each Eurovision Song Contest is typically formed of three live television shows held over one week: two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and a final on Saturday.
2009: Alexander Rybak wins semi-final in 2009
In 2009, Alexander Rybak finished first at the second semi-final for Norway.
2009: Georgia Withdraws Due to Political Lyrics
In 2009, Georgia's planned entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In", caused controversy due to lyrics perceived as critical of Vladimir Putin. After the EBU requested changes which were refused, Georgia withdrew from the contest.
2009: t.A.T.u. and Cirque du Soleil perform in 2009
In 2009, Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. and Cirque du Soleil performed in a non-competitive manner.
2009: Jury Reintroduced for the Final
In 2009, a jury was reintroduced for the final, with each country's points comprising both the votes of the jury and public in an equal split.
2009: Reintroduction of Juries of Music Professionals
In 2009, juries of music professionals were reintroduced in an effort to reduce the impacts of bloc voting.
2010: Jury and Public Voting Expanded to Semi-Finals
From 2010, the mix of jury and public voting was expanded into the semi-finals of Eurovision.
2011: "Big Four" Expanded to "Big Five"
In 2011, Italy began competing again, expanding the "Big Four" to the "Big Five".
2011: Lena competed for Germany
In 2011, Lena competed for Germany after winning in 2010.
2011: Project to Collate Footage Initiated
In 2011, a project was initiated to collate footage and related materials of all editions of Eurovision ahead of the event's 60th edition in 2015.
2011: Record 43 Participating Countries
In 2011, a record 43 countries participated in a single Eurovision Song Contest.
2012: Turkey ceases participation
In 2012, Turkey ceased participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, citing consternation over the automatic qualification of the "Big" countries, among other aspects.
2012: Baku Crystal Hall hosts Eurovision
The 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, was held at Baku Crystal Hall. The venue had not existed when Azerbaijan won the previous year.
2013: Release of 'Cupcakes'
In 2013, Eytan Fox's Israeli comedy film "Cupcakes", which celebrates the Eurovision Song Contest, was released.
2013: Same-Sex Kiss in Finnish Performance
In 2013, Krista Siegfrids' performance of "Marry Me" for Finland included a same-sex kiss with one of her female backing dancers.
2013: Marija Šerifović Comes Out
In 2013, Marija Šerifović, who won for Serbia in 2007, publicly came out as a lesbian.
2013: Turkey Pulls Out of Contest
In 2013, Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT) from Turkey pulled out of the contest, citing dissatisfaction in the voting rules and later citing LGBTQ performances as another reason for its continued boycott.
2013: Flag Parade introduction
In 2013, the Eurovision Song Contest final introduced the "Flag Parade" as part of the opening act. Competing artists entered the stage behind their country's flag, similar to the Olympic Games opening ceremony procession.
2013: Turkvision Song Contest begins
In 2013, the Turkvision Song Contest, a contest for countries and autonomous regions with Turkic links, was first held.
2013: Producer-Determined Performance Order
Starting in 2013, the order in which countries perform is determined by the contest's producers, submitted to the executive supervisor and reference group for approval to provide a better experience for TV viewers and ensure entries stand out.
2014: "Euphoria" becomes most downloaded Eurovision song
By 2014, "Euphoria" by Loreen had become the most downloaded Eurovision song to date.
2014: Austria wins Eurovision again
In 2014, Austria won the Eurovision Song Contest again, 48 years after their first win.
2014: Conchita Wurst Wins for Austria
In 2014, Conchita Wurst, the drag persona of openly gay Thomas Neuwirth, won for Austria.
2014: Wurst Winning
In 2014, Wurst, the drag persona of openly gay Thomas Neuwirth, won for Austria.
2014: Logo Revamp by Cityzen Agency
In 2014, the Amsterdam-based Cityzen Agency revamped the generic Eurovision logo for the contest's 60th edition.
2015: Australia's First Participation
In 2015, Australia became the first country without an active EBU member broadcaster to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, following an invitation by the contest's reference group to Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).
2015: Vienna Boys' Choir perform in 2015
In 2015, Vienna Boys' Choir performed on the Eurovision stage.
2015: 60th Edition of Eurovision
In 2015, the 60th edition of Eurovision was celebrated following a project initiated in 2011 to collate footage and materials.
2015: Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits
In 2015, the Eurovision Song Contest's sixtieth anniversary was marked by "Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits", a concert of performances by past Eurovision artists and video montages of performances and footage from previous contests.
2016: Justin Timberlake performs in 2016
In 2016, American entertainer Justin Timberlake performed in a non-competitive manner.
2016: Tie-Break Procedure Introduced
In 2016, a tie-break procedure was introduced, giving priority to the country with more public votes when two or more countries finish with the same number of points.
2016: "Love Love Peace Peace"
In 2016, the interval act included "Love Love Peace Peace", a humorous ode to the history and spectacle of the contest itself.
2017: Portugal wins after 53 years
In 2017, Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest 53 years after it first competed.
2017: "Occidentali's Karma" reaches 200 million views
In 2017, the video for "Occidentali's Karma" by Francesco Gabbani became the first Eurovision song to reach more than 200 million views on YouTube.
2018: Alexander Rybak wins semi-final in 2018
In 2018, Alexander Rybak finished first at the second semi-final for Norway.
2018: Same-Sex Relationship Portrayed in Irish Performance
In 2018, Ryan O'Shaughnessy's performance of "Together" for Ireland featured two male dancers portraying a same-sex relationship.
2018: Record 43 Participating Countries
In 2018, a record 43 countries participated in a single Eurovision Song Contest.
2018: Termination of Broadcasting Rights in China
In 2018, broadcasting rights were terminated in China due to censorship of "abnormal sexual relationships and behaviours" that went against Chinese broadcasting guidelines.
2019: "Soldi" becomes most-streamed Eurovision song
In 2019, "Soldi" by Mahmood became the most-streamed Eurovision song on Spotify.
2019: Madonna performs in 2019
In 2019, American entertainer Madonna performed in a non-competitive manner.
2019: Calls for Boycott of Contest in Tel Aviv
In 2019, ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, various political groups called for a boycott due to opposition to Israeli government policies and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2019: Duncan Laurence Wins for the Netherlands
In 2019, openly bisexual performer Duncan Laurence won for the Netherlands.
2019: Netherlands wins Eurovision again
In 2019, the Netherlands won the Eurovision Song Contest again, after a 44 year gap.
2019: Public Points Revealed in Ascending Order
Since 2019, the public points have been revealed in ascending order based on the jury vote, with the country that received the fewest points from the jury being the first to receive their public points.
May 2020: Martin Österdahl Becomes Executive Supervisor
In May 2020, Martin Österdahl took over as the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, succeeding Jon Ola Sand.
2020: Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Eurovision contest, the EBU organized a special non-competitive broadcast, "Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light", which provided a showcase for the songs that would have taken part in the competition.
2020: Release of 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'
In 2020, Netflix released the musical comedy film "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga", produced with backing from the EBU and starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams.
2020: COVID-19 pandemic impacts Eurovision pre-parties
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, community events such as EurovisionAgain moved virtually. EurovisionAgain, where fans watched and discussed past contests on YouTube and social media, became a top trend on Twitter across Europe and facilitated over £20,000 in donations for UK-based LGBTQ charities during the first COVID-19 lockdowns.
2020: Cancellation Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time the event was not held since its inception.
2020: Cancellation of Eurovision 2020
In 2020, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place a special broadcast, Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, was produced by the organisers, which honoured the songs and artists that would have competed in 2020 in a non-competitive format.
2020: Turkvision Song Contest held for the fourth and last time
In 2020, the Turkvision Song Contest, a contest for countries and autonomous regions with Turkic links, was held for the fourth and last time.
2020: "Arcade" gains viral success
In late 2020 and early 2021, "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence gained viral success on TikTok.
2020: Hungary's Non-Participation
Since 2020, LGBTQ visibility in the contest has been cited as a deciding factor for the non-participation of Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelő Alap (MTVA) from Hungary, although no official reason was given.
2020: Cancellation of the 2020 Edition
The 2020 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled, leading to a review of rules and the introduction of more flexibility in subsequent contests.
2021: Belarus Disqualified for Political Song
In 2021, Belarus' planned entry, "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)", caused controversy due to its politicization, resulting in the Belarusian broadcaster being disqualified when the song was deemed to breach contest rules on neutrality.
2021: Måneskin wins and attracts worldwide attention
In 2021, Måneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest for Italy with "Zitti e buoni", attracting worldwide attention across their repertoire immediately following their victory.
2021: First Trans Host
In 2021, Nikkie de Jager became the first trans person to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
2021: Live Backing Vocals Optional
In 2021, live backing vocals became optional, previously they were required. This change aimed to introduce flexibility after the 2020 cancellation and facilitate modernization.
2021: Måneskin Wins for Italy
In 2021, rock band Måneskin, featuring openly lesbian Victoria De Angelis, won for Italy.
2022: American Song Contest held for the first time
In 2022, the American Song Contest, an adaptation of the Eurovision format for artists in the United States, was held for the first time, featuring songs representing U.S. states and territories. Further adaptations for Canada and Latin America were also announced.
2022: Anti-war songs in response to Russian invasion
In 2022, the contest featured known anti-war songs "Fragile", "People Have the Power", and "Give Peace a Chance" in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that year.
2022: Testing of Ultra-High-Definition
In 2022, ultra-high-definition was tested for the first time during the Eurovision Song Contest, exploring even higher broadcast quality standards.
October 2023: Renewed Calls for Israel's Exclusion
Following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, there were renewed calls for Israel's exclusion from the upcoming 2024 Eurovision event.
2023: Development halted on Canadian adaptation of Eurovision
By 2023, development on the Canadian adaptation of the American Song Contest, an adaptation of the Eurovision format, had been halted.
2023: "United by Music" Slogan
In 2023, "United by Music" served as the slogan for the Eurovision Song Contest before being retained as the permanent slogan for all future editions as part of the contest's brand strategy.
2023: Loreen Wins Again
In 2023, Loreen won for Sweden for the second time.
2023: Introduction of Rest of the World Vote
In 2023, a Rest of the World vote was introduced, allowing viewers in non-participating countries to vote online, with these votes aggregated and awarded as one set of points.
2023: Refugee crisis alluded to in 2023
In 2023, an interval act in the first semi-final alluded to the refugee crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2023: Full Public Voting Reintroduced in Semi-Finals
In 2023, full public voting was reintroduced to determine the results of the semi-finals.
2024: Adoption of Permanent Slogan
From 2024 onwards, the Eurovision Song Contest replaced the unique slogan for each edition with a permanent slogan.
2024: Controversy over Israel's Entry "Hurricane"
In 2024, Israel's entry "Hurricane" was accepted by the EBU but required rewrites due to the EBU's objection to the original lyrics' political nature, referencing the October 7 attacks. Protests against Israel's participation also occurred during the event.
2024: Nemo wins Eurovision for Switzerland
In 2024, Nemo, representing Switzerland, became the first non-binary winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
2024: Live performances in semi-finals
In 2024, a change was made so that entries from the "Big" countries, along with the host country, would be performed live in one of the two semi-finals outside of the competition for qualification, aimed at giving these countries "a fairer playing field" in the final.
2024: Switzerland's latest win
Switzerland won Eurovision again in 2024, 36 years after their previous win in 1988.
June 2025: Martin Green Takes Over as Executive Supervisor
In June 2025, Martin Green took over from Martin Österdahl on an interim basis as the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.
2025: 72 winning songs as of 2025
As of 2025, 72 songs from 27 countries have won the Eurovision Song Contest.
2025: Potentially Only Contest Germany Has Not Participated In
As of 2025, the 1996 contest is potentially the only contest Germany has not participated in.
2025: Contested Result and Protests
In 2025, Israel's second-place finish and win in the public vote were contested by several participating countries, due to Israel's extensive advertising campaign to encourage voting. Protests were held against Israel's participation.
2025: Logo Revamp by Pals studio
In 2025, the Sheffield-based studio Pals revamped the generic Eurovision logo for the contest's 70th edition.
2025: Qualifiers' press conference until 2025
Until 2025, the delegations from the qualifying countries in each semi-final attended a qualifiers' press conference after their respective semi-final at Eurovision.
2026: Minimum Age Rule Until 2026
From 1990 to 2026, all Eurovision contestants had to be aged 16 or over on the day of the live show.
2026: Introduction of "Chameleon Heart"
From 2026, a design element named the "Chameleon Heart" is intended to serve as an additional generic symbol for the Eurovision Song Contest, reflecting the host nation's identity, a performer's individuality, or a particular theme.
2026: Upcoming Positional Voting System
In 2026, a positional voting system is set to be implemented, with each country awarding two sets of points to their ten favorite songs.
2026: Boycotts and Trophy Returns
In 2026, after Israel was permitted to compete, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain announced they would boycott the contest. Additionally, 2024 winner Nemo and 1994 winner Charlie McGettigan returned their trophies in protest of the decision.
2026: Asia-Pacific adaptation of Eurovision scheduled to debut
In 2026, an adaptation of the Eurovision Song Contest for the Asia-Pacific region is scheduled to debut.
2026: Introduction of Latest Eurovision Network Logo
In 2026, the latest Eurovision network logo was introduced, displayed as the ident at the start and end of programmes.
2026: Jury and Public Voting to Return to Semi-Finals
In 2026, the mix of jury and public voting is set to return to the semi-finals.
2026: Planned Eurovision concert tour postponed
In early 2026, a concert tour was announced, consisting of shows in indoor arenas across ten European cities and featuring notable past entrants as well as ten acts from the 2026 contest for the contest's seventieth anniversary. However, it was later postponed indefinitely due to low demand and high ticket prices.
2027: Minimum Age Increasing to 18
In 2027, the minimum age for Eurovision contestants is set to change to 18.
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