The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is an annual international singing competition organized since 1956 by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Performers selected by national public broadcasters represent their countries with an original song (up to three minutes), performed live by up to six individuals.
The first contest took place on 24 May 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland, featuring seven countries with two entries each. Designed to promote cultural diversity, technological innovation, and European unity, ESC has evolved over decades. Language rules—first requiring songs in national languages, later lifted and reinstated—have shifted over time, with a free-language rule reinstated in 1999.
The contest gained international fame in 1974 after Sweden’s ABBA won with “Waterloo.” Participation has since expanded beyond Europe, with countries like Australia and Israel joining. Due to growing entries, semi-finals were introduced in 2004, and the “Big Five” countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) automatically qualify for the Grand Final.
The voting system combines public televotes and professional juries (both awarding sets of 1–8, 10, and 12 points). In the final, an aggregated "Rest of the World" online vote also contributes. The entry with the highest combined score wins.
ESC was canceled once in 2020 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. By 2025, 69 contests had been held, with over 50 countries participating and 27 winning at least once. It holds the record as the longest-running annual international TV music competition and remains a global symbol of cultural fellowship and spectacle.
