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Broadcasters from fifty-two countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since it started in 1956, with winning songs coming from twenty-seven of those countries. The contest, organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is held annually between members of the union who participate representing their countries. Broadcasters submit songs to the event where they are performed live by the performer(s) they had selected and cast votes to determine the winning song of the competition.

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Participation since 1956:
  Entered at least once
  Never entered, although eligible to do so
  Entry intended, but later withdrew
  Competed as a part of another country, but never as a sovereign country
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Each country's number of Eurovision wins as of 2024
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Line graph showing the number of countries participating in each Eurovision Song Contest.

Participation in the contest is primarily open to all broadcasters with active EBU membership, with only one entrant per country allowed in any given year. To become an active member of the EBU, a broadcaster has to be from a country which is covered by the European Broadcasting Area –that is not limited only to the continent of Europe–, or is a member state of the Council of Europe.[1] Thus, eligibility is not determined by geographic inclusion within Europe, despite the "Euro" in "Eurovision", nor does it have a direct connection with the European Union. Several countries geographically outside the boundaries of Europe have been represented in the contest: Israel, and Armenia, in Western Asia, since 1973 and 2006 respectively; Morocco, in North Africa, in the 1980 competition alone; and Australia making a debut in the 2015 contest. In addition, several transcontinental countries with only part of their territory in Europe have been represented: Turkey, from 1975 to 2012; Russia, from 1994 to 2021; Georgia, since 2007; and Azerbaijan, which made its first appearance in the 2008 edition. Two of the countries that have previously sought to enter the competition, Lebanon and Tunisia, in Western Asia and North Africa respectively, are also outside of Europe. A broadcaster from the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, in Western Asia, announced in 2009 its interest in joining the contest in time for the 2011 edition.[2] However, this did not materialise, and there are no known plans for a future Qatari entry. Australia, where the contest has been broadcast since the 1970s, has been represented every year since its debut in 2015, as its broadcaster is an EBU associate member and had received special approval from the contest's Reference Group.

The number of countries represented each year has grown steadily, from seven in 1956 to over twenty in the late 1980s. A record forty-three countries participated in 2008, 2011, and 2018. As the number of contestants has risen, preliminary competitions and relegation have been introduced, to ensure that as many countries as possible get the chance to compete. In 1993, a preliminary show, Kvalifikacija za Millstreet ("Qualification for Millstreet"), was held to select three Eastern European countries to compete for the first time in the main contest.[3] After the 1993 contest, a relegation rule was introduced: the six lowest-placed countries in the contest would not compete in the following year.[4] In 1996, a new system was introduced. Audiotapes of all twenty-nine entrants were submitted to national juries. The twenty-two highest-placed songs after the juries voted reached the contest. Norway, as the host country, directly qualified for the final.[5] From 1997 to 2001, a system was used whereby the countries with the lowest average scores over the previous five years were relegated. Countries could not be relegated for more than one year at a time.[6]

The relegation system used in 1994 and 1995 was used again between 2001 and 2003. Since 1999, the winning country in the previous year's contest automatically qualifies for the following year's final, along with the "Big Four/Five" — those countries whose broadcasters are the largest financial contributors to the EBU.[a] In 2004, a semi-final was introduced. In addition to the Big Four, the countries that were in the top 10 the previous year received a bye and qualified directly for the final. A further ten countries qualified from the semi-final, making a total of 24 in the final.[7] Since 2008, two semi-finals are held with all countries, except the previous year's winner and the "Big Four/Five", participating in one of the semi-finals.[8]

Some countries, such as Germany, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, have entered most years, while Morocco has only entered once. Two countries, Tunisia and Lebanon, have attempted to enter the contest but withdrew before making a debut.

Participants

The following table lists the countries with a broadcaster that have participated in the contest at least once, up to 2023. Planned entries for the cancelled 2020 contest and entries that failed to qualify in the qualification rounds in 1993 or 1996 are not counted.

Shading indicates countries whose broadcaster have withdrawn from the contest or former participants that are unable to compete in future contests. Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro were both dissolved, in 1991 and 2006 respectively. Serbia and Montenegro participated in the 1992 contest as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which consisted of only those two republics. Montenegro and Serbia have each competed as separate countries since 2007.[9] The Belarusian broadcaster BTRC was expelled from the EBU in July 2021, preventing them from competing in future editions of the contest, or any EBU event indefinitely.[10] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent exclusion of Russia from the 2022 contest, the Russian broadcasters VGTRK and Channel One announced their intention to withdraw their EBU membership in February 2022 and were suspended from the union in May, preventing Russia from competing in future editions of the contest, or any EBU event for an indefinite period of time.[11]

Table key
† Inactive – countries which participated in the past but did not appear in the most recent contest, or will not appear in the upcoming contest
◇ Ineligible – countries whose broadcasters are no longer part of the EBU and are therefore ineligible to participate
‡ Former – countries which previously participated but no longer exist
More information Country, Broadcaster(s) ...
Statistics (As of 2024)
Country Broadcaster(s)[12] Debut year Latest entry Entries Finals Qualifying[b] Latest final Best placement Wins
Amount Rate Pos Latest[c]
 Albania RTSH 2004 2024 20 11 10/19 53% 2023 5th 2012 0
 Andorra † RTVA 2004 2009 6 0 0/6 0% N/A 12th (SF) 2007 0
 Armenia AMPTV 2006 2024 16 13 12/15 80% 2024 4th 2014 0
 Australia SBS 2015 2024 9 7 6/8 75% 2023 2nd 2016 0
 Austria ORF 1957 2024 56 49 7/14 50% 2024 1st 2014 2
 Azerbaijan İTV 2008 2024 16 13 12/15 80% 2022 1st 2011 1
 Belarus ◇ BTRC 2004 2019 16 6 6/16 38% 2019 6th 2007 0
 Belgium[d] RTBF[e] / VRT[f] 1956 2024 65 54 8/19 42% 2023 1st 1986 1
 Bosnia and Herzegovina † BHRT[g] 1993 2016 19 18 7/8 88% 2012 3rd 2006 0
 Bulgaria † BNT 2005 2022 14 5 5/14 36% 2021 2nd 2017 0
 Croatia HRT 1993 2024 29 20 8/17 47% 2024 2nd 2024 0
 Cyprus CyBC 1981 2024 40 33 11/18 61% 2024 2nd 2018 0
 Czechia[h] ČT 2007 2024 12 5 5/12 42% 2023 6th 2018 0
 Denmark DR 1957 2024 52 44 10/18 56% 2019 1st 2013 3
 Estonia ERR[i] 1994 2024 29 19 10/20 50% 2024 1st 2001 1
 Finland Yle 1961 2024 57 49 11/19 58% 2024 1st 2006 1
 France France Télévisions[j] 1956 2024 66 66 Permanent finalist[k] 2024 1st 1977 5
 Georgia GPB 2007 2024 16 8 8/16 50% 2024 9th 2011 0
 Germany ARD (NDR)[l] 1956 2024 67 67 Permanent finalist[k] 2024 1st 2010 2
 Greece ERT[m] 1974 2024 44 41 14/17 82% 2024 1st 2005 1
 Hungary † MTVA[n] 1994 2019 17 14 10/13 77% 2018 4th 1994 0
 Iceland RÚV 1986 2024 36 27 10/19 53% 2022 2nd 2009 0
 Ireland RTÉ[o] 1965 2024 57 46 7/18 39% 2024 1st 1996 7
 Israel IPBC[p] 1973 2024 46 39 11/18 61% 2024 1st 2018 4
 Italy RAI 1956 2024 49 49 Permanent finalist[k] 2024 1st 2021 3
 Latvia LTV 2000 2024 24 11 6/19 32% 2024 1st 2002 1
 Lithuania LRT 1994 2024 24 17 12/19 63% 2024 6th 2006 0
 Luxembourg RTL[q] 1956 2024 38 38 1/1 100% 2024 1st 1983 5
 Malta PBS[r] 1971 2024 36 26 8/18 44% 2021 2nd 2005 0
 Moldova TRM 2005 2024 19 13 12/18 67% 2023 3rd 2017 0
 Monaco † TMC[s] 1959 2006 24 21 0/3 0% 1979 1st 1971 1
 Montenegro RTCG 2007 2022 12 2 2/12 17% 2015 13th 2015 0
 Morocco † RTM[t] 1980 1 1 N/A 1980 18th 1980 0
 Netherlands AVROTROS[u] 1956 2024 64 53[v] 10/19[v] 53% 2022[v] 1st 2019 5
 North Macedonia[w] † MRT 1998 2022 21 9 6/18 33% 2019 7th 2019 0
 Norway NRK 1960 2024 62 59 14/17 82% 2024 1st 2009 3
 Poland TVP 1994 2024 26 16 7/17 41% 2023 2nd 1994 0
 Portugal RTP[x] 1964 2024 55 46 8/17 47% 2024 1st 2017 1
 Romania † TVR 1994 2023 23 19 11/15 73% 2022 3rd 2010 0
 Russia ◇ RTR / C1R[y] 1994 2021 23 22 11/12 92% 2021 1st 2008 1
 San Marino SMRTV 2008 2024 14 3 3/14 21% 2021 19th 2019 0
 Serbia RTS 2007 2024 16 13 12/15 80% 2024 1st 2007 1
 Serbia and Montenegro ‡ UJRT 2004 2005 2 2 1/1 100% 2005 2nd 2004 0
 Slovakia † RTVS[z] 1994 2012 7 3 0/4 0% 1998 18th 1996 0
 Slovenia RTVSLO 1993 2024 29 17 8/20 40% 2024 7th 2001 0
 Spain RTVE[aa] 1961 2024 63 63 Permanent finalist[k] 2024 1st 1969 2
 Sweden SVT[ab] 1958 2024 63 62 13/14 93% 2024 1st 2023 7
  Switzerland SRG SSR 1956 2024 64 53 8/19 42% 2024 1st 2024 3
 Turkey † TRT 1975 2012 34 33 6/7 86% 2012 1st 2003 1
 Ukraine UA:PBC[ac] 2003 2024 19 19 14/14 100% 2024 1st 2022 3
 United Kingdom BBC 1957 2024 66 66 Permanent finalist[k] 2024 1st 1997 5
 Yugoslavia[ad] ‡ JRT 1961 1992 27 27 N/A 1992 1st 1989 1
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Other EBU members

The following countries have broadcasters eligible to participate in the contest, but have never done so:

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, and Tunisia have broadcasters that are members of both the EBU and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU). Although they could participate, it is believed that they refuse to do so due to the ongoing participation of Israel.[14] However, Tunisia and Lebanon attempted to compete in 1977 and 2005 respectively. Vatican City could participate through its member broadcaster Vatican Radio (RV), which was also a founding member of the EBU, though RV only broadcasts papal events, and the population is less than 900 – the vast majority of whom are clergy.[14][15] Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Slovakia and the Czech Republic made their debut as independent states in 1994 and 2007 respectively.

Lebanon

Main article: Lebanon in the Eurovision Song Contest

Lebanon has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Télé Liban (TL), was set to make the country's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "Quand tout s'enfuit" performed by Aline Lahoud,[16] but withdrew due to Lebanon's laws banning the broadcast of Israeli content.[17]

Scotland

On 18 December 2018, it was announced that the Scottish Gaelic branch of the BBC, BBC Alba, would debut at Eurovision Choir in 2019, which was held in Gothenburg, Sweden.[18] However, they did not progress beyond the semi-final. This was the first time Scotland had competed separately from the United Kingdom in a Eurovision event.

The Scottish Media Group (STV) is a full EBU member. Its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest would represent Scotland. As in other Eurovision events, it can only happen if the BBC renounces its right to represent the United Kingdom as a whole.

Tunisia

Établissement de la radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne (ERTT) attempted to enter the 1977 edition representing Tunisia and was scheduled fourth in the running order; however, before selecting an act, it withdrew for undisclosed reasons.[19][20] It is believed that it did not want to compete with Israel.[20] In 2007, ERTT clarified that it would not participate in the contest in the foreseeable future due to government requests.[19]

Wales

In the 1960s, the late Welsh singer, scholar, and writer Meredydd Evans proposed that Wales should have its own entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1969, Cân i Gymru was launched by BBC Cymru Wales as a selection show for the contest, with songs to be performed in Welsh. However, it was decided that the BBC would continue to send one entry for the whole of the United Kingdom. Despite this, Cân i Gymru has been broadcast every year since, with the exception of 1973. The winning song takes part in the annual Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland.

Wales has appeared as an independent country in another EBU production, Jeux sans frontières, and Welsh national broadcaster Sianel Pedwar Cymru (S4C), that is a full EBU member, has been encouraged to take part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, where it made its debut in 2018, finishing in last place.[21] Wales participated in the inaugural Eurovision Choir in 2017, where it finished second.[22] The country is also eligible to take part in the minority language song contest Liet-Lávlut. In May 2024, a campaign was started by record label Coco & Cwtsh – to which Cân i Gymru winner Sara Davies is signed – for Wales to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest; however, as in other Eurovision events, this can only happen if the BBC renounces to its right to represent the United Kingdom as a whole.[23]

Participating countries by decade

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Participants in the Eurovision Song Contest, coloured by decade of debut

The table lists the participating countries in each decade since the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956.

Seven countries participated in the first contest. Since then, the number of entries has increased steadily. In 1961, three countries debuted, Finland, Spain, and Yugoslavia, joining the thirteen already included. Yugoslavia would become the only socialist country to participate in the following three decades. In 1970, a Nordic-led boycott of the contest reduced the number of countries entering to twelve.[24] By the late 1980s, over twenty countries had become standard.

In 1993, the collapse of the USSR in Eastern Europe and the subsequent merger of EBU and the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT) gave numerous broadcasters from new countries the opportunity to compete. Three countries—Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of them former Yugoslav republics—went through a pre-qualifier round to compete. After the 1993 event, a relegation system was introduced, allowing more Eastern European countries to compete, with seven more making their debut in 1994.

In 2003, broadcasters from four countries applied to make their debut: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. In addition, Serbia and Montenegro, who had not competed since 1992 when they competed as Yugoslavia, applied to debut. The EBU, having originally accepted the five countries' applications, later rejected all but Ukraine; allowing five further countries to compete would have meant relegating too many countries.[25][26] The semi-final was introduced in 2004 in an attempt to prevent situations like this. The EBU set a limit of forty countries,[27] but by 2005, thirty-nine were competing. In 2007, the EBU lifted the limit, allowing forty-two countries to compete. Two semi-finals were held for the first time in 2008.[8]

Table key
#
DebutantThe country made its debut during the decade.
1
WinnerThe country won the contest.
2
Second placeThe country was ranked second.
3
Third placeThe country was ranked third.
X
Remaining placesThe country placed from fourth to second last in the final.
◁
Last placeThe country was ranked last in the final.
W/D
Withdrawn/disqualified before the contestThe country was to participate in the contest but either withdrew or got disqualified before the contest took place.
Ð
Disqualified during the contestThe country had already participated in at least one show but was disqualified before the completion of the contest.
†
Non-qualified for the finalThe country did not qualify for the final (2004–present).
‡
Non-qualified for the contestThe country did not qualify from the pre-qualifying round (1993, 1996).
?
UnknownThe country's placing in the contest is unknown (1956).
R
RelegatedThe country was relegated from the contest due to poor results in the previous years (1994–1995; 1997–2003).
C
CancelledThe contest was cancelled after the deadline for submitting songs had passed (2020).
U
UpcomingThe country has confirmed participation for the next contest, however, the contest has yet to take place.
No entryThe country did not enter the contest.

1956–1959

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1960–1969

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1970–1979

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1980–1989

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1990–1999

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2000–2009

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2010–2019

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2020–2024

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Other countries and territories

A number of broadcasters in non-participating countries and territories have in the past indicated an interest in participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. For broadcasters to participate, they must be a member of the EBU and register their intention to compete before the deadline specified in the rules of that year's event. Each participating broadcaster pays a fee towards the organisation of the contest. Should a country withdraw from the contest after the deadline, they will still need to pay these fees, and may also incur a fine or temporary ban.[28]

China

China aired the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 and then Chinese provincial television channel Hunan Television had confirmed its interest in participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The EBU had responded saying "we are open and are always looking for new elements in each Eurovision Song Contest".[29] However, on 3 June 2015, the EBU denied that China would participate as a guest or full participant in 2016.[30]

During the Chinese broadcast of the 2018 contest's first semi-final on Mango TV, both Albania and Ireland were edited out of the show, along with their snippets in the recap of all nineteen entries.[31] Albania was skipped due to a ban that took effect in January 2018 prohibiting showing on television performers with tattoos[32] while Ireland was censored due to its representation of a homosexual couple on-stage.[33] In addition, the LGBT flag and tattoos on other performers were also blurred out from the broadcast.[34] As a result, the EBU terminated its partnership with Mango TV, citing that censorship "is not in line with the EBU's values of universality and inclusivity and its proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music," which led to a ban on televising the second semi-final and the final in the country.[35] A spokesperson for the broadcaster's parent company Hunan TV said they "weren't aware" of the edits made to the programme.[36]

Faroe Islands

See also: Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest

Since 2010, the Faroese national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya (KVF) has been attempting to gain EBU membership and thus participate independently in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, KVF has so far been denied EBU membership due to the islands being a constituent part of the Danish Realm.[37]

In late 2018, KVF showed renewed interest in joining the EBU and participating in the contest. According to the broadcaster, it was not excluded by the rule that only independent nations can join, and as a result, the Faroese broadcaster started internal discussions on applying for EBU membership and participating in the contest, and additionally organising a national final similar to Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.[38]

The first Faroese artist to compete in the contest was Reiley, who represented Denmark in 2023.[39] Contextually to his participation, KVF, backed by Minister of Social Affairs and Culture Sirið Stenberg, resumed its attempts to gain full EBU membership.[40] In May 2023, KVF announced that it would apply for EBU membership before the summer, with the initial aim of obtaining the status of an associate member.[41] In mid-February 2024, ahead of Faroese singer Janus Wiberg's participation in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2024, KVF stated that a five-year plan was being deployed in order to gain EBU membership.[42][43]

Gibraltar

Since 2006, Gibraltarian broadcaster Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has been attempting to gain EBU membership and thus participate independently in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, GBC cannot obtain EBU membership due to the British Overseas Territory not being independent from the United Kingdom.[44] The final of the contest was broadcast in Gibraltar between 2006 and 2008.[44][45]

Kazakhstan

See also: Kazakhstan in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Kazakhstan has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. K-1 is negotiating to join the European Broadcasting Union. It has been hoping for pending or approved EBU membership since 2008. If this happens, they may be eligible to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.[46] Nevertheless, they have broadcast the Eurovision Song Contests from 2010 onwards. However, according to the EBU, no Kazakh broadcaster has ever formally applied to join the EBU.[47]

On 18 December 2015, it was announced that Khabar Agency, a major media outlet in Kazakhstan, had been accepted into the EBU as an associate member,[48] but were still not eligible to take part in the contest under the current rules.[49] Only countries which are part of the European Broadcasting Area are eligible to participate, with Australia being the only exception after its broadcaster being an associate member for over thirty years.

On 22 December 2017, Channel 31 announced that they planned to debut in the 2019 contest, due to their new EBU membership.[50]

Kazakhstan made its debut at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 alongside Wales, placing sixth.[51] On 30 July 2018, the EBU stated that the decision to invite Kazakhstan was made solely by the Junior Eurovision Steering Group, and there were no current plans to invite associate members other than Australia.[52]

On 22 November 2018, the then executive supervisor of the contest, Jon Ola Sand, stated in a press conference that "we need to discuss if we can invite our associate member Kazakhstan to take part in the adult ESC in the future, but this is part of a broader discussion in the EBU and I hope we can get back to you on this issue later."[53] However, Sand later clarified that Kazakhstan would not have an entry in the 2019 edition.[54]

Khabar Agency has not broadcast the contest since 2022 due to low viewership and the time zone difference.[55]

Kosovo

See also: Kosovo in the Eurovision Young Dancers

Kosovo has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest on its own, but the contest has had a long history within the country, which has broadcast it since 1961. After the start of Kosovo's UN administration, the Kosovan public broadcaster RTK was independently licensed by the EBU to broadcast all three shows. Despite not having participated in the song contest, Kosovo did participate in the Eurovision Young Dancers 2011 and the Turkvision Song Contest.

As Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations and RTK not a member of the International Telecommunication Union, RTK cannot apply to become a full member of the EBU.[56]

Jugovizija was the national pre-selection of Yugoslavia organised by the Yugoslav broadcaster Yugoslav Radio Television (JRT) since 1961 and it featured entries submitted by the subnational public broadcasting centres based in the capitals of each of the constituent republics and autonomous provinces. Each broadcasting centre had its own regional jury. SAP Kosovo was represented by RTV Priština, but their entry never won. Jugovizija 1986 was organised by RTV Priština. Before the Kosovo declaration of independence in 2008, Viktorija, a singer from Vučitrn, represented Yugoslavia as part of Aska in 1982; and Nevena Božović, who is from Mitrovica, represented Serbia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, numerous Kosovo Albanian singers have participated at the Festivali i Këngës, the Albanian national selection for Eurovision organised by RTSH. The most notable participants to date are Rona Nishliu, Lindita, and Albina Kelmendi and her family, who represented Albania in 2012, 2017 and 2023, respectively. Numerous Kosovo Serb singers have participated in Serbian national selections organised by RTS. Nevena Božović also represented Serbia as a member of Moje 3 in 2013 and as a solo artist in 2019.

After Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, RTK applied for EBU membership, and wished to enter Kosovo into the 2009 contest.[57][58] There is a signed co-operation agreement between the EBU and RTK; and the EBU supports the membership of RTK. Since 2013, RTK has had observer status within the EBU, and did participate in the Eurovision Young Dancers 2011.[59][60] According to the Kosovan newspaper Koha Ditore, a possible entry would have been selected via a national final called Akordet e Kosovës, a former pop show that had been taken off the air some years ago.[61][62][63]

In February 2023, RTK announced that it was developing a format bearing the same title of Festivali i Këngës, with the long-term aim of using it as the Kosovan national final for the contest, similarly to its Albanian counterpart.[64][65] Later that year, the broadcaster confirmed that it would continue its efforts to obtain EBU membership,[66] and opened a submission period for the first edition of the event, which was held between 26 and 28 October 2023.[67] Shortly before the launch, the festival's director, Adi Krasta, reported that people at EBU had expressed their enthusiasm about the event,[68] with director-general of the EBU Noel Curran making a remote appearance during the first night of the festival to express his congratulations.[69] Following the first edition, the CEO of RTK, Besnik Boletini, reaffirmed the country's continued efforts in order to be included in the contest as early as 2025.[70]

RTK was first present as an observer at the EBU general assembly in December 2023.[71] A vote on the draft of Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe took place on 16 April 2024, which was approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was set to decide on Kosovo's membership in May 2024,[72] but was removed from the agenda following Kosovo's rejection of French and German prerequisites for membership.[73] Membership in the council would enable Kosovo to join the EBU as a full member and compete in the contest by 2025.[74][75] In May 2024, RTK announced that it would submit an application for EBU membership "soon",[76] and by mid-June, it submitted a formal request of invitation to the contest, despite still lacking full EBU membership;[77] this was rejected in July.[78]

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest: the principality has been prevented from competing due to the lack of a national broadcaster which is a member of the EBU.[79] Attempts were made in the 1970s by the Liechtenstein government for the nation to participate, with a two-song national final held in November 1975 choosing "My Little Cowboy" sung by Biggi Bachmann and written by Mike Tuttlies and Horst Hornung as the winner over "Tu étais mon clown" by Anne Frommelt.[80] The song was supposed to be the country's debut entry for the 1976 contest; however due to a misunderstanding by Liechtenstein's government of the rules of participation, the entry was rejected due to a lack of national broadcaster with which to participate.[81]

On 15 August 2008, 1 FL TV, licensed by the country's government, became the first broadcaster based in Liechtenstein. This would allow the country to begin competing at the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, should they decide to join the EBU, a pre-requisite for entering the contest.[82][83] Shortly after its foundation however, the broadcaster announced that they were not interested in joining the EBU or Eurovision at that time because they had no budget for membership.[84]

In July 2009, the broadcaster officially announced its intention to apply to join the EBU by the end of July, with the intention to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo.[85] Peter Kölbel, managing director of 1FLTV, officially confirmed the broadcaster's interest, revealing that they had plans to develop a national final similar to Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of the Idol series.[86] In November 2009, 1FLTV decided to postpone EBU and Eurovision plans, for financial reasons, and began to search for other options for funding EBU membership in the future.[87][88]

1FLTV submitted its application for EBU membership on 29 July 2010. If accepted, 1FLTV would have gained full EBU membership and would have been able to send an entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.[89] However, Liechtenstein did not appear on the official list of participants for Eurovision 2011. In late 2012, Peter Kölbel, director of 1FLTV, stated that Liechtenstein would not be able to take part until 2013 at the earliest. The broadcaster had been trying to get government subsidies since 2010 to enable participation, and participation was likely if the Government approved funding by April 2012.

On 10 September 2013, 1FLTV confirmed that Liechtenstein would not be participating at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark.[90] The broadcaster has no plans to join the EBU at the moment. This was confirmed again on 28 July 2014 in the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Austria. 1FLTV did however state their interest in participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, but said that they would have to evaluate the costs of EBU membership, a necessary prelude to participation.[91] Once again in 2016, the nation did not compete, due to lack of funds to join the EBU.[92] On 21 September 2016, 1FLTV announced that they would not be able to debut to the contest in 2017, but that they would set their eyes on a future participation once they overcome their financial hurdles.[93] Yet again, on 1 September 2017 they also announced they would not debut at the 2018 contest in Lisbon.[94]

On 4 November 2017, the broadcaster stated that it was planning to debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 and would organise a national selection to select both the singer and the song.[95] However, on 20 July 2018, the EBU stated that 1 FL TV had not applied for membership.[96] The broadcaster later halted its plans to apply for EBU membership when its director, Peter Kölbel, unexpectedly died. It would also need the backing of the Liechtenstein government to be able to carry the cost of becoming an EBU member and paying the participation fee for the contest.

On 9 August 2022, 1 FL TV's managing director Sandra Woldt confirmed that the broadcaster would not be aiming to apply for EBU membership, thereby indefinitely ruling out a debut in the Eurovision Song Contest.[97] The broadcaster's intentions were reiterated the following year.[98] On 15 May 2024, Liechtensteiner Vaterland reported that a different broadcaster, Radio Liechtenstein, was in the process of applying for EBU membership with the aim of participating in the contest.[99][100]

Qatar

Qatar Radio (QR) first revealed on 12 May 2009 that they were interested in becoming active members of the union, which would allow Qatar to compete in the contest. The nation first became involved in the contest at that year's edition, where the broadcaster sent a delegation to the contest and broadcast a weekly radio show called 12pointsqatar dedicated to Eurovision, which received favourable responses. Qatar Radio said that they hoped to join Eurovision by 2011 and that they would be happy to join all other competitors in the contest, including Israel, if the country received a membership.[2] The broadcaster appeared as an associate member of the EBU in 2009, but was removed sometime later.[101]

Qatar is required to have a TV broadcaster which has at least associate membership of the EBU in order to have a chance to take part, as Qatar Radio is only a radio station and Qatar lies outside the European Broadcasting Area and cannot apply for Council of Europe membership, with Australia being the only exception after being an associate member for over 30 years. The broadcaster would most likely be Qatar Television (QTV), which is also owned by the Qatar General Broadcasting and Television Corporation (QGBTC). If Qatar Radio gets reaccepted, it would be able to air the contest alongside the television broadcast.[2]

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest prior to its dissolution in 1991, however several of the post-Soviet states which emerged or re-emerged following this process went on to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. All former republics of the Soviet Union which were geographically situated in Europe (except for Kazakhstan) went on to make their debut appearances in the contest during the 1990s and 2000s: Estonia, Lithuania and Russia in 1994;[102][103][104] Latvia in 2000;[105] Ukraine in 2003;[106] Belarus in 2004;[107] Moldova in 2005;[108] Armenia in 2006;[109] Georgia in 2007;[110] and Azerbaijan in 2008.[111]

Of the ten former Soviet republics to have taken part, five have gone on to win the contest. Estonia became the first to win in 2001, followed by Latvia in 2002, Ukraine in 2004, Russia in 2008, and Azerbaijan in 2011.[102][112] Ukraine is the only former Soviet country to have won the contest more than once, having secured three wins in 2004, 2016 and 2022.[113]

The contest was reportedly first broadcast on television in the Soviet Union in 1965, and for many years the contest was intermittently broadcast on Soviet Central Television who received it via the OIRT's Intervision network.[114][115][116] The contest was also broadcast on Eesti Televisioon within the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1986.[116]

More information Year, Channel ...
Known broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest within the Soviet Union
Year Channel Commentator(s) Ref.
Soviet Union-wide Estonian SSR
1986 Programme One ETV Unknown [117][118]
1987 [119][120]
1988 [121][122]
1989 [123][124]
1990 [125][126]
1991 [127][128]
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Broadcast in non-participating countries

The contest has been broadcast in several countries that do not compete, such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and China. Since 2000, it has been broadcast online via the Eurovision website.[129] It was also broadcast in several countries East of the Iron Curtain that have since dissolved, such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and the Soviet Union.[citation needed]

More information Country, Broadcaster(s) ...
Country Broadcaster(s) Year(s)
 Afghanistan Un­known 1971[130]
 Algeria Radiodiffusion Télévision Algérienne (RTA) 1974, 1976–1978[131]
 Argentina Canal 13 1970[132]
Un­known 1971[133]
 Aruba Voz di Aruba 1974[134]
TeleAruba 1977,[135] 1979–1981
 Brazil Rede Tupi (RTTV) 1969–1972[136]
Zapping [es] 2024[137]
 Canada Radio-Canada 1988[138]
TV5 Québec Canada 1989,[139] 2000,[140] 2002[141]
Un­known 1990, 1998[142]
OutTV 2014–2015[143]
OMNI Television 2019–2021[144]
 Chile Canal 9 1969[145]
Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN) 1970[146]
Canal 13 2023[147]
Zapping [es] 2024[148]
 China Un­known 1990
China Central Television (CCTV) 2011–2013[149] (finals only, edited)
Hunan TV 2015–2017
Mango TV 2018 (first semi-final only)[aj]
 Costa Rica Telecentro Canal 6 1969[150]
Telenac Canal 2
 Curaçao TeleCuraçao 1964,[151] 1973,[152] 1977,[153] 1979,[154] 1981,[155] 1984,[156] 1995[157]
 Egypt Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) 1981[158]
 Ethiopia Ethiopian Television Service 1971[133]
 Faroe Islands Kringvarp Føroya (KvF) 1983–2002, 2011, 2014, 2023[159]
 Gibraltar Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) 2006–2007 (all shows), 2008 (final)
 Greenland Unknown 1977[160]
Nuuk TV 1981[161]
Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (KNR) 1983–1999, 2011, 2017
 Hong Kong Unknown 1971–1972,[136] 1975–1976,[145][162]
Rediffusion Television (RTV) 1977–1978[163][164]
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) 1977–1981
 India Un­known [165]
 Jamaica Un­known 1971[133]
 Japan Unknown 1972-1973,[136] 1975, 1978, 1989–1990
Fuji Television 1974[166]
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) 2000[145][167]
 Jordan Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) 1974–1978,[168] 1980–1984, 1986–1988, 1995–1997
 Kazakhstan Khabar Agency 2013–2021
 Kenya Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) 1971[133]
 Kosovo Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) 2016–2024[169]
 Malaysia TV3 1985[170]
 Mauritania Radio Nationale 1971[133]
 Mauritius MBC 1971[133]
 Mexico Un­known 1969,[171] 1976[162]
 New Zealand Television New Zealand (TVNZ) 1992[172]
Triangle Stratos 2009–2011[173]
BBC UKTV 2014–2016[173]
 Panama Un­known 1969[174]
 Peru Zapping [es] 2024[175]
 Philippines ABS-CBN 1972[136]
 Puerto Rico WKAQ 1968[176]
Un­known 1969[171]
MSN (online) 2003–2004[177]
 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Television (SLTV) 1971[133]
 South Africa South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) 1983[178]
 South Korea Unknown 1974, 1981,[179] 1990, 1992, 1998[142]
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) 1975,[180][145] 1991[181]
 Suriname Algemene Televisie Verzorging (ATV) 2021[182]
 Taiwan Taiwan Television (TTV) 1972[136]
 Thailand Channel 4 Bang Khun Phrom (HS1-TV) 1971–1972[136]
 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) 1971[133]
 Tunisia RTT 1968–1971,[171] 1974, 1976–1978[131]
 Uganda Uganda Television (UTV) 1971[133]
 United Arab Emirates Dubai Radio & Color Television Service 1978,[168] 1981[179]
 United States PBS 1971[183]
Israeli Network 2003–2004[177][184]
Logo TV 2016–2018[185][186]
WJFD-FM 2018–2019,[187][188] 2023–2024[189][190]
Netflix 2019[191]
Peacock 2021–2024[192]
 Zaire Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC) 1972[193]
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See also

Notes

  1. Namely France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom (the initial "Big Four"); with Italy joining them when it returned to the contest in 2011.
  2. Since 2004; not counting the pre-qualifiation rounds of 1993 and 1996.
  3. Lastest year in which the country obtained this position.
  4. Flemish broadcaster and Walloon broadcaster alternate participation in the contest representing Belgium, with both broadcasters sharing the broadcasting rights.
  5. Since 1978; previously represented by Institut national belge de radiodiffusion (INR; 1956–1960) and Radio-Télévision Belge (RTB; 1961–1977).
  6. Since 1998; previously represented by Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR; 1956–1960), Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT; 1961–1990), and Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen (BRTN; 1991–1997).
  7. Since 2005; previously represented by Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTVBiH; 1993–2000) and the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PBSBiH; 2001–2004).
  8. Participated as Czech Republic until 2022.
  9. Since 2008; previously represented by Eesti Televisioon (ETV) between 1993 and 2007.
  10. Since 2001; previously represented by Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF; 1956–1964), Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF; 1965–1974), Télévision Française 1 (TF1; 1975–1981), Antenne 2 (1983–1992), and France Télévision (1993–2000).
  11. Member of the "Big Five".
  12. Responsibility for organising ARD's entry rests with one of its member broadcasters, and has changed hands over the years. Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) is currently representing Germany since 1996.[13] See Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest § Organisation for full history of German participant broadcasters.
  13. Represented by the National Radio Television Foundation (EIRT) in 1974 and the New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) in 2014 and 2015.
  14. Since 2011; previous represented by Magyar Televízió between 1993 and 2010
  15. Since 2010; previously represented by Radio Éireann (RÉ) in 1965 and 1966, and Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) between 1967 and 2009.
  16. Since 2018; previously represented by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) between 1973 and 2017.
  17. Since 2024; previously represented by the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) between 1956 and 1993.
  18. Since 1991; previously represented by the Maltese Broadcasting Authority (MBA) between 1971 and 1975.
  19. Between 1959 and 2006. TVMonaco (TVM) is the current EBU member in the country since 2024, thus eligible to participate in the contest.
  20. Represented by Radiodiffusion-Télévision Marocaine (RTM) in 1980. Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (SNRT) is the current EBU member in the country, thus eligible to participate in the contest.
  21. Since 2014; previously represented by Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS; 1956–1969), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS; 1970–2009), and Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting (TROS; 2010–2013).
  22. The 2024 entry qualified for the final, but was removed from the competition following a backstage incident during the semi-final. The Netherlands retained the right to vote in the final.
  23. Participated as F.Y.R. Macedonia until 2019.
  24. Since 2004; previously represented by Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP; 1964–2003).
  25. RTR and C1R alternated responsibilities for the contest.
  26. In 2011 and 2012; previously represented by Slovenská televízia (STV) between 1994 and 2010. Slovenská televízia a rozhlas (STVR) is the current EBU member in the country since 2024, thus eligible to participate in the contest.
  27. Since 2007; previously represented by Televisión Española (TVE) between 1961 and 2006.
  28. Since 1980; previously represented by Sveriges Radio (SR) between 1958 and 1979.
  29. Since 2017; previously represented by the National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU) between 2003 and 2016.
  30. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia competed as "Yugoslavia" in 1992.
  31. Succeeded by Česká televize (ČT) of the Czech Republic and Slovenská televízia (STV) of Slovakia.
  32. Each country was represented by two songs in the 1956 contest; Switzerland's win in this contest was with one of their two songs.
  33. Serbia and Montenegro kept their voting rights after they withdrew.
  34. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  35. The Netherlands kept their voting rights in the final after they were disqualified.
  36. Broadcasting rights were revoked after the first semi final due to their censorship of the Irish performance, in which 2 male dancers were representing a same sex couple.

References

Bibliography

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