ALL THE EUROVISION COUNTRIES: (14-16). More: tomorrow.

Caffè ☕️Lattè looks back on:

ALL THE

EUROVISION

COUNTRIES

The Eurovision Song Contest was first held in 1956. Back then, only 7 countries participated. In the decades since, dozens of other nations have joined the ESC family. As Europe changed, countries faded into history as new countries and new names emerged. Eurovision itself has expanded beyond the European continent; to Africa, the Middle East and the Southern Hemisphere.

Our spotlight looks back on every country that has competed – in chronological order. 

1961

The number of participating nations continued to grow and, in 1961, a record-breaking sixteen nations competed in Cannes, France. Among them was the last of the "Big 5" financial contributors to Eurovision to join the Contest.

XIV

SPAIN

By 1961, all of the “Big 5” countries had debuted at Eurovision, with the arrival of Spain. The country has participated 64 times. In 1968, the Spanish entry “La, La, La” by Massiel gave Spain its first win. The following year, the country won again (in a 4-way tie) with Salomé’s “Vivo Cantando”. This victory in 1969 remains the most recent win for Spain. Nebulossa will compete in the Grand Final this year with the song “Zorra”.  

 

XV

FINLAND

 

Finland had a long wait before finally taking home the big prize with Lordi’s “Hard Rock Hallelujah” in 2006. Prior to this victory, no Finnish entry had ever finished in the Top 5. Finland has participated 58 times. This year, the Finnish song will compete in semi-Final 1.

 

XVI

YUGOSLAVIA

 

Eurovision has reflected the changes within Europe. Yugoslavia no longer exists as a country today, but the nation took part at Eurovision 27 times before its final appearance in 1992. In 1989, Riva won the Contest with the Yugoslavian entry “Rock Me”.

Since the break up of Yugoslavia, various new nations emerged. Some have joined the Eurovision family in their own right: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.