Eurovision is an international song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union. Starting in 1956, it is one of the longest-running television shows globally. The contest’s winner has been determined via different voting techniques, including points awarded by juries or televoters to countries.
Eurovision, often a hot topic of discussion, showcases the remarkable diversity and creativity of musical talents across Europe. The competition allows enthusiasts to engage with European fans’ favourite song top choice, trying to predict the winner of the contest or the countries that will garner the most points. This unique and colorful event not only celebrates music but also offers an exciting opportunity for individuals to join the fun and suspense by placing bets on their top choice songs and artists. It’s a testament to the way Eurovision has captured the hearts of audiences, turning the competition into a vibrant and entertaining spectacle.
Eurovision Song Contest History
The Eurovision Song Contest started in 1956 with only 7 participating nations. It was the only time when the contest had two songs per country. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, more countries decided to participate in the competition in the 1990s.
In 1993 and 1994, 25 countries participated in the contest, a record. In 1996, 29 countries wanted to take part in the competition. But, a pre-qualification contest was organized to reduce the number of participants to 23. Since Norway was the host country, it automatically qualified as the 24th participant.
A semi-final was introduced in 2008 to solve the issue of a growing number of participants. As the interest in the competition rose even further, a second semi-final was launched in 2008. Therefore, a record number of 43 countries took part in the contest in 2008.
Top Eurovision Winners
Are you interested to know which countries have emerged as the winner of the Eurovision contest most often?
Table of Contents
Ireland
Ireland holds the title for the highest number of Eurovision wins. The nation debuted in 1965 and participated in the contest 56 times. Ireland made it to the finals 45 times and occupied the first position 7 times.
| Year | Winning Artist | Song Name |
| 1970 | Dana | All Kinds of Everything |
| 1980 | Johnny Logan | What’s Another Year? |
| 1987 | Johnny Logan | Hold Me Now |
| 1992 | Linda Martin | Why Me? |
| 1993 | Niamh Kavanagh | In Your Eyes |
| 1994 | Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan | Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids |
| 1996 | Elmear Quinn | The Voice |
Check out the first winning song of Ireland at the Eurovision Contest in this video:
Sweden
After debuting in 1958, Sweden has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 62 times. In 1958, the participant representing Sweden was Alice Babs, and she finished fourth. Along with Ireland, Sweden has also managed to be the most successful country in the contest, with 7 wins.
| Year | Winning Artist | Song Name |
| 1974 | ABBA | Waterloo |
| 1984 | Herreys | Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley |
| 1991 | Carola | Fångad av en stormvind |
| 1999 | Charlotte Nilsson | Take Me to Your Heaven |
| 2012 | Loreen | Euphoria |
| 2015 | Måns Zelmerlöw | Heroes |
| 2023 | Loreen | Tattoo |
France
France is one of the Big Five countries that automatically qualifies for the Eurovision Song Contest final because of its significant contribution to the European Broadcasting Union. France has emerged as the winner of the contest five times.
| Year | Winning Artist | Song Name |
| 1958 | André Claveau | Dors, mon amour |
| 1960 | Jacqueline Boyer | Tom Pillibi |
| 1962 | Isabelle Aubret | Un premier amour |
| 1969 | Frida Boccara | Un jour, un enfan |
| 1977 | Marie Myriam | L’Oiseau et l’Enfant |
France also had four artists who finished second:
- Paule Desjardins in 1957
- Catherine Ferry in 1976
- Joëlle Ursull in 1990
- Amina in 1991
Luxembourg
Luxembourg debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. After 1993, the country stopped participating in the contest. But the nation is all set to make a comeback in 2024. Out of its 37 appearances in the contest, the country won five times.
| Year | Winning Artist | Song Name |
| 1961 | Jean-Claude Pascal | Nous les amoureux |
| 1965 | France Gall | Poupée de cire, poupée de son |
| 1972 | Vicky Leandros | Après toi |
| 1973 | Anne-Marie David | Tu te reconnaîtras |
| 1983 | Corinne Hermes | Si la vie est cadeau |
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is another Big Five country that automatically qualifies for the Eurovision final. The country has hosted the contest for a record number of nine times:
- London (1960, 1963, 1968, and 1977)
- Edinburgh (1972)
- Brighton (19740
- Harrogate (1982)
- Birmingham (1998)
- Liverpool (2023)
The United Kingdom has finished as the runner-up for a record number of 16 times. But it has emerged as the winner on five occasions.
| Year | Winning Artists | Song Name |
| 1967 | Sandie Shaw | Puppet on a String |
| 1969 | Lulu | Boom Bang-a-Bang |
| 1976 | Brotherhood of Man | Save Your Kisses for Me |
| 1981 | Bucks Fizz | Make Your Mind Up |
| 1997 | Katrina and the Waves | Love Shine a Light |
Scooptimes Pays Tribute to the Eurovision Legends
Let us talk about some of the Eurovision legends who have captured the hearts of millions:
1. Celine Dion
Celine Dion won for Switzerland in 1988 with her song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. She became an absolute legend by delivering heart-wrenching hits like “My Heart Will Go On” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” The lady has sold more than 200 million records all over the globe.
2. Loreen
Loreen won for Sweden in 2012. Her song Euphoria scored 372 in the contest, topping the charts in multiple European nations. Even after her first win at the Eurovision Contest, Loreen continued to release amazing singles and became a legend winning the contest twice!
3. Johnny Logan
Logan became the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 and 1982. He also wrote the winning song by Linda Martin in 1992. With multiple Eurovision wins tied to his name, it’s unsurprising that Johnny Logan earned the title of Mr. Eurovision.
Conclusion
Eurovision is a fascinating contest with talented singers pleasing your ears with unforgettable melodies. If you want more fun surrounding the contest, you can bet on the top choice on any popular betting site.