--- description: The grand final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday, May 17. Here's what to know. title: 10 Surprising Facts About the Eurovision Song Contest image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41633d328d88679d/6998c6b683ec371ca2c7a993/GettyImages-2152005505-1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [europe](/tag/europe/) ## europe Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 10 Surprising Facts About the Eurovision Song Contest by [Chantelle Lee](/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 1:11 PM CUTPublished: May 11, 2024 1:41 PM CUT  Nemo from Switzerland celebrates after winning the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with their song "The Code," on May 11, 2024. Nemo from Switzerland celebrates after winning the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with their song "The Code," on May 11, 2024.Jens Büttner—Getty Images by [Chantelle Lee](/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 1:11 PM CUTPublished: May 11, 2024 1:41 PM CUT The grand final of the 69th [Eurovision Song Contest](https://time.com/7285810/eurovision-2025-when-how-to-watch-basel-switzerland-protests-israel/ "undefined") takes place in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday, May 17\. The international songwriting competition is famed for its exuberant performances and original songs. Switzerland is the 2025 host as its contestant Nemo was crowned the winner last year after performing their song, "The Code." Nemo is set to make an appearance at the 2025 final, where they will perform on stage ahead of passing over the trophy to the new champion. This year's hotly-anticipated final will see the winner [crowned](https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works "undefined") by a combination of votes from viewers around the world and rankings by juries in the music industry. The 2024 contest reached [163 million viewers](https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2024-breaks-new-records "undefined") around the world over three live shows. For U.S. viewers, [Peacock will livestream the 2025 final](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-event/eurovision "undefined") from 3 p.m. ET. Dean Vuletic, a leading historian on Eurovision, called the contest “a show of cultural diversity unlike any other,” during a video call with TIME in 2024. Eurovision cemented its new slogan [“United by Music”](https://eurovision.tv/story/united-by-music-permanent-slogan#:~:text='United%20By%20Music'%20chosen%20as%20permanent%20Eurovision%20slogan "undefined") in late 2023 and organizers maintain that the competition is [non-political](https://time.com/6976082/eurovision-performers-palestinian-symbols/ "undefined"). But amid the Israel-Hamas war, the 2024 contest sparked backlash from pro-Palestinian protesters who criticized organizers for allowing Israel to participate. There have been further protests this year. Israel's Eurovision act Yuval Raphael qualified for the final, but[ protests disrupted](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c780xn5p72jo "undefined") her dress rehearsal earlier in the week. **Read More:** [_Eurovision Organizers Reprimand 2024 Performers for Wearing Pro-Palestinian Symbols_](https://time.com/6976082/eurovision-performers-palestinian-symbols/ "undefined") TIME has compiled 10 surprising facts about the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, notable past winners, controversies, and more. ## **Eurovision originally started off as a technical experiment in television broadcasting** Organizers wanted to see if they could hold a live, simultaneous, transnational broadcast across Europe. The very first contest was held on May 24, 1956, and only seven countries participated: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Italy, according to the [Eurovision website](https://eurovision.tv/history/origins-of-eurovision#:~:text=As%20television%20services%20were%20introduced,the%20programming%20material%20for%20national "undefined"). “It really was a showcase of the different musical cultures, popular musical cultures, in Europe,” Vuletic tells TIME.“I think this is why it has continued to attract the fascination of Europeans ever since.” The contest has increased in popularity and size since then. Now watched by viewers around the world, this year’s competition features performers from [37 countries](https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2024/participants "undefined").  Bambie Thug from Ireland with the song "Doomsday Blue" on the Eurovision stage at the first rehearsal for the final in the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, on May 10, 2024. Jens Büttner—Getty Images ## **A Holocaust survivor represented Germany at the first contest in 1956** Walter Andreas Schwarz, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, competed for Germany at the first Eurovision. He [ended up finishing second overall](https://eurovision.tv/participant/walter-andreas-schwarz "undefined"). Vuletic says this shows that “countries were already using Eurovision as cultural diplomacy from the very first contest.” ## **The term “Eurovision” comes from a British journalist** George Campey—who later joined the BBC, where he [held a number of senior roles](https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/bbc-memories/george-campey/ "undefined")—was a journalist at the London _Evening Standard_ [when he was writing an article about European television](https://eurovision.tv/story/newly-discovered-interview-with-journalist-who-created-the-name-eurovision#:~:text=George%20Campey%20was%20a%20journalist,of%20the%20name%20%27Eurovision%27. "undefined") in November 1951. “It came about partly by accident,” Campey said in a previous interview with the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/may/eurovision-first-broadcast/#:~:text=George%20Campey%2C%20BBC%20TV%20Publicity,he%20coined%20the%20term%20Eurovision. "undefined"). As Campey was typing, he wondered how he could get the phrase “European television” into a headline. He started typing “Euro” and then combined it with “vision.” The newspaper printed the phrase. The “catchy term” eventually caught on, Vuletic tells TIME. ## **The contest broke a world record** In 2015, the [Guinness Book of World Records](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2015/5/eurovision-recognised-by-guinness-world-records-as-the-longest-running-annual-tv-379520 "undefined") recognized Eurovision as the Longest Running Annual TV Music Competition. The contest has only ever been [canceled](https://eurovision.tv/about/facts-and-figures "undefined") once—in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Swedish pop group ABBA performs the song "Waterloo" during the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton on Feb. 9, 1974. Olle Lindeborg—Getty Images ## **2024 was the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision win** The pop supergroup represented Sweden in 1974 and performed the song “Waterloo.” It was the first time Sweden won the contest, according to the [Eurovision website](https://eurovision.tv/story/history-sweden-eurovision-song-contest#:~:text=Sweden's%20first%20win%20is%20one,music%20as%20recently%20as%202022! "undefined"). ABBA went on to enjoy widespread international success, with their songs immortalized in the popular musical [_Mamma Mia!_ and the accompanying films](https://time.com/5272814/abba-mamma-mia-kissed-a-teacher/ "undefined"). ## **Olivia Newton-John also competed at Eurovision** Also in 1974, the singer known for her role as Sandy in _Grease_ represented the U.K. at the international singing competition, according to the Eurovision [website](https://eurovision.tv/participant/olivia-newton-john "undefined"). She performed the song “Long Live Love,” placing fourth overall. ## **Celine Dion won Eurovision in 1988** The Canadian singer represented Switzerland in 1988, according to [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/eurovision-2024-song-contest-sweden-2a6a9a789415f04ae997a688274e4e6f "undefined")_._ Dion competed with the song [“Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi.”](https://eurovision.tv/participant/celine-dion "undefined") She’s another example of a Eurovision winner who went on to become a huge success in North America, Vuletic says. It “may sound strange because, you know, we talk about artists representing their own countries in Eurovision; that’s what usually happens,” Vuletic tells TIME. “But there is actually no rule requiring an artist to be a citizen of the country that it represents.” ## **A Eurovision song was the very first winner of the Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the** [**inaugural Grammy Awards**](https://www.grammy.com/awards/1st-annual-grammy-awards "undefined") **in 1959** Representing Italy, Domenico Modugno performed [“Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)”](https://eurovision.tv/story/10-eurovision-song-going-global "undefined") at the 1958 Eurovision and placed third overall. The song has since been covered by renowned musicians like David Bowie and Paul McCartney, according to [_Reuters_](https://www.reuters.com/graphics/MUSIC-EUROVISION/dwpkdykkzvm/ "undefined").  Céline Dion wins the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988\. The Canadian singer represented Switzerland by singing "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi." Sobli/RDB—Getty Images ## **Ireland and Sweden are the countries with the most wins** The two countries have each won Eurovision seven times, more than any other participating country, according to [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrgxs82 "undefined"). Cyprus, meanwhile, has entered the competition the most times with the least wins (they have yet to win). ## **Not all participating countries are in Europe** In order to participate in the contest, a country has to be an [active member](https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/05/09/eurovision-2024-countries-graphics/73626722007/ "undefined") of the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, so eligibility is not solely dependent on geography. [Australia](https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrgxs82 "undefined"), for instance, has participated in Eurovision since 2015\. Israel is also a [regular participant](https://eurovision.tv/country/israel#:~:text=Israel%20made%20its%20debut%20in,already%20one%20of%20its%20members. "undefined") in the competition. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6977120/eurovision-song-contest-surprising-facts/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6977120/eurovision-song-contest-surprising-facts/"},"headline":"10 Surprising Facts About the Eurovision Song Contest","datePublished":"2024-05-11T13:41:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-19T13:11:26.000Z","description":"The grand final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday, May 17. 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