ALL THE EUROVISION COUNTRIES: (26-28). 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.

1993

The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest were changed in order to allow a record 25 countries to compete. By now, Yugoslavia had faded into the history books but regions from within that old country would participate in their own right. Such was the desire to compete, that a preliminary heat was staged before the actual Contest. At that precursor to the present-day’s Semi Finals, seven new countries vied to join the ESC fold. The previous year’s 22 countries (with the exception of Yugoslavia) automatically progressed to the Contest in 1993. The nations that ended at the bottom would be culled from the 1994 Contest. 

XXVI

SLOVENIA

Seven countries competed in a preliminary heat to join the Contest in 1993, from which three were admitted. All 3 had previously been a part of Yugoslavia. Slovenia has since participated 30 times.

To date, the best Slovenian result has been finishing in seventh place twice: in 1995 and 2001. In 2024, Slovenia will be competing in Semi-Final 1. Its entry “Veronika” will be performed by Raiven.

 

XXVII

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

 

As Yugoslavia splintered into new nations in 1993, some debuted at Eurovision. Bosnia-Herzegovina joined that year and participated 19 times. Its best result thus far is 2006, finishing third with “Lejla” performed by Hari Mata Hari.

Despite achieving other impressive results, Bosnia-Herzegovina last competed at Eurovision in 2016. It can make its comeback in a future Contest, but it will continue to

be absent in 2024.

 

XXVIII

CROATIA

 

In 1993, Croatia became the third of the new countries to join the Eurovision family in its own right, after previously competing as part of Yugoslavia. This year's Contest will feature the 30th Croatian entry.

The 1989 winner Riva was a group from Croatia when the region was competing as Yugoslavia, bringing the Contest to the Croatian capital Zagreb. As Croatia, the country’s best result thus far has been fourth place, achieved twice: in 1996 and 1999. In May 2024, the Croatian entry will be performing during the first Semi-Final.