The Eurovision Song Contest: Seven Decades of Musical History

In 1956, a modest gathering of seven European nations convened in Lugano, Switzerland, with a simple but revolutionary idea: to unite a continent recovering from the ravages of war through the universal language of music. That first Eurovision Song Contest — won by Switzerland's Lys Assia performing "Refrain" — could scarcely have hinted at the global phenomenon it would become. Today, Eurovision Song Contest history spans nearly seven decades, hundreds of competing nations, and a legacy woven into the cultural fabric of societies from Reykjavík to Tashkent.

From those inaugural seven participants — Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland — the contest has grown into one of the most-watched non-sporting television events on the planet, regularly drawing audiences of 160 to 200 million viewers worldwide. The Eurovision participants database now encompasses thousands of artists and songs, each one a time capsule of its era, its country's musical identity, and the spirit of friendly competition that has always defined the ESC.

Memorable Eras and Cultural Milestones

The contest's evolution is best understood through its defining eras. The early decades were marked by orchestral grandeur and the controversial language rule, which at various points required Eurovision artists to perform exclusively in their nation's official language. This rule profoundly shaped national selections and produced some of the most iconic entries in ESC history, forcing countries to craft artistic identities rooted in their own linguistic heritage.

The 1970s brought the contest's most famous watershed moment. In 1974, four young Swedes took the stage in Brighton, England, and performed a song called "Waterloo." ABBA's victory that night did not merely win a song contest — it launched one of the most successful pop careers in history and permanently cemented Eurovision's place in the global cultural imagination. For many, ABBA remains the definitive answer when discussing past Eurovision winners who transcended the contest itself.

The 1990s and early 2000s ushered in dramatic expansion as the fall of the Iron Curtain opened the stage to a wave of Eastern European and Baltic nations, each bringing vibrant new musical traditions. Ireland's unprecedented run of four victories in five years, Dana International's groundbreaking triumph in 1998, and the rise of choreography-driven spectacle transformed expectations of what a Eurovision entry could be.

The introduction of semi-finals in 2004 was a direct response to this growth — a structural innovation that remains central to the modern contest. By requiring most countries to qualify through competitive heats, the format ensured quality while accommodating an ever-growing family of participating nations. Recent years have seen the contest embrace an extraordinary range of artistic expression: haunting folk ballads, theatrical avant-garde spectacles, driving electronic anthems, and tender acoustic confessions have all shared the Grand Final stage. Eurovision trivia enthusiasts know that no two editions are alike — and that history can turn on a single note.

Your Gateway to the EscTrivia Participant Encyclopedia

This database is your definitive guide to the Eurovision artists and songs that have shaped the contest across the decades. Whether you are a devoted fan who has watched every final live, a newcomer captivated by a recent viral performance, or a competitive player preparing to tackle the EscTrivia quiz platform, the encyclopedia curated here offers something at every level of knowledge.

Browse by year, by country, or by artist to discover in-depth profiles covering song meanings, lyrical themes, performance history, and behind-the-scenes stories. Each entry is crafted to help you understand not just who performed, but why their entry mattered — in the context of their country's national narrative, the contest's evolving rules, and the broader sweep of ESC history.

Whether you are chasing a perfect score on a round dedicated to past Eurovision winners or simply looking to deepen your appreciation of music's most colourful international stage, this Eurovision participants database is where your journey begins. Dive in, explore, and let seven decades of musical heritage surprise you.