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List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest

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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
Each country's number of Eurovision wins as of 2025
Line graph showing the number of countries participating in each Eurovision Song Contest.

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.

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, Cyprus, and Armenia, in Western Asia, since 1973, 1981, 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, since 2008. Two countries that have previously sought to enter the competition, Lebanon and Tunisia, in Western Asia and North Africa respectively, are also outside of Europe. 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.[2] After the 1993 contest, a relegation rule was introduced: the six lowest-placed countries in the contest would not compete in the following year.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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

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The following table lists the countries with a broadcaster that have participated in the contest at least once, up to 2025. 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] Two countries have made failed attempts to participate in the contest, but in both cases withdrew their planned appearances at a late stage: Tunisia in 1977; and Lebanon in 2005.[11] A planned entry from Liechtenstein in 1976 was prevented, due to a lack of an EBU member broadcaster from the country with which to compete.[12][13]

Entering the contest has also been a source of interest among broadcasters in other countries, either within the European continent or outside. Among the countries which have been in the conversation as potential new entrants are Canada,[14] China,[15] the Faroe Islands,[16] Kazakhstan,[17][18] Kosovo,[19] New Zealand,[20][21] and Qatar.[22]

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
Withdrawn – countries which attempted to enter the contest but withdrew their planned entry before the event
Statistics (As of 2025)
Country Broadcaster(s)[23] Debut year Latest entry Entries Finals Qualifying[b] Latest final Best placement Wins
Amount Rate Pos Latest[c]
 Albania RTSH 2004 2025 21 12 11/20 55% 2025 5th 2012 0
 Andorra RTVA 2004 2009 6 0 0/6 0% N/A 12th (SF) 2007 0
 Armenia AMPTV 2006 2025 17 14 13/16 81% 2025 4th 2014 0
 Australia SBS 2015 2025 10 7 6/9 67% 2023 2nd 2016 0
 Austria ORF 1957 2025 57 50 8/15 53% 2025 1st 2025 3
 Azerbaijan İTV 2008 2025 17 13 12/16 75% 2022 1st 2011 1
 Belarus BTRC 2004 2019 16 6 6/16 38% 2019 6th 2007 0
 Belgium[d] RTBF[f] / VRT[g] 1956 2025 66 54 8/20 40% 2023 1st 1986 1
 Bosnia and Herzegovina BHRT[h] 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 2025 30 20 8/18 44% 2024 2nd 2024 0
 Cyprus CyBC 1981 2025 41 33 11/19 58% 2024 2nd 2018 0
 Czechia[i] ČT 2007 2025 13 5 5/13 38% 2023 6th 2018 0
 Denmark DR 1957 2025 53 45 11/19 58% 2025 1st 2013 3
 Estonia ERR[j] 1994 2025 30 19 11/21 52% 2025 1st 2001 1
 Finland Yle 1961 2025 58 50 12/20 60% 2025 1st 2006 1
 France France Télévisions[k] 1956 2025 66 66 Permanent finalist[l] 2025 1st 1977 5
 Georgia GPB 2007 2025 17 8 8/17 47% 2024 9th 2011 0
 Germany ARD (NDR)[m] 1956 2025 67 67 Permanent finalist[l] 2025 1st 2010 2
 Greece ERT[n] 1974 2025 45 42 15/18 83% 2025 1st 2005 1
 Hungary MTVA[o] 1994 2019 17 14 10/13 77% 2018 4th 1994 0
 Iceland RÚV 1986 2025 37 28 11/20 55% 2025 2nd 2009 0
 Ireland RTÉ[p] 1965 2025 58 46 7/19 37% 2024 1st 1996 7
 Israel IPBC[q] 1973 2025 47 40 12/19 63% 2025 1st 2018 4
 Italy RAI 1956 2025 49 49 Permanent finalist[l] 2025 1st 2021 3
 Latvia LSM[r] 2000 2025 25 12 7/20 35% 2025 1st 2002 1
 Lebanon TL N/A[s] N/A 0 N/A
 Lithuania LRT 1994 2025 25 18 13/20 65% 2025 6th 2006 0
 Luxembourg RTL[t] 1956 2025 39 39 2/2 100% 2025 1st 1983 5
 Malta PBS[u] 1971 2025 37 27 9/19 47% 2025 2nd 2005 0
 Moldova TRM 2005 2024 19 13 12/18 67% 2023 3rd 2017 0
 Monaco TMC[v] 1959 2006 24 21 0/3 0% 1979 1st 1971 1
 Montenegro RTCG 2007 2025 13 2 2/13 15% 2015 13th 2015 0
 Morocco RTM[w] 1980 1 1 N/A 1980 18th 1980 0
 Netherlands AVROTROS[x] 1956 2025 65 54[y] 9/20[y] 45% 2025 1st 2019 5
 North Macedonia[z] MRT 1998 2022 21 9 6/18 33% 2019 7th 2019 0
 Norway NRK 1960 2025 63 60 15/18 83% 2025 1st 2009 3
 Poland TVP 1994 2025 27 17 8/18 44% 2025 2nd 1994 0
 Portugal RTP[aa] 1964 2025 56 47 9/18 50% 2025 1st 2017 1
 Romania TVR 1994 2023 23 19 11/15 73% 2022 3rd 2010 0
 Russia RTR / C1R[ab] 1994 2021 23 22 11/12 92% 2021 1st 2008 1
 San Marino SMRTV 2008 2025 15 4 4/15 27% 2025 19th 2019 0
 Serbia RTS 2007 2025 17 13 12/16 75% 2024 1st 2007 1
 Serbia and Montenegro UJRT 2004 2005 2 2 1/1 100% 2005 2nd 2004 0
 Slovakia RTVS[ac] 1994 2012 7 3 0/4 0% 1998 18th 1996 0
 Slovenia RTVSLO 1993 2025 30 17 8/21 38% 2024 7th 2001 0
 Spain RTVE[ad] 1961 2025 63 63 Permanent finalist[l] 2025 1st 1969 2
 Sweden SVT[ae] 1958 2025 64 63 14/15 93% 2025 1st 2023 7
  Switzerland SRG SSR 1956 2025 64 53 9/20 45% 2025 1st 2024 3
 Tunisia △ RTT[af] N/A[ag] N/A 0 N/A
 Turkey TRT 1975 2012 34 33 6/7 86% 2012 1st 2003 1
 Ukraine Suspilne[ah] 2003 2025 20 20 15/15 100% 2025 1st 2022 3
 United Kingdom BBC 1957 2025 66 66 Permanent finalist[l] 2025 1st 1997 5
 Yugoslavia[ai] JRT 1961 1992 27 27 N/A 1992 1st 1989 1

Participating countries by decade

[edit]
Map of countries in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia, with Australia as an insert in the top-right corner, coloured to indicate the decade in which they first participated in the contest: 1950s in red, 1960s in orange, 1970s in yellow, 1980s in green; 1990s in sky blue; 2000s in blue; and 2010s in purple
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.[25] 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.[26][27] The semi-final was introduced in 2004 in an attempt to prevent situations like this. The EBU set a limit of forty countries,[28] 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.[7]

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

1956–1959

[edit]

1960–1969

[edit]

1970–1979

[edit]

1980–1989

[edit]

1990–1999

[edit]

2000–2009

[edit]

2010–2019

[edit]

2020–2025

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  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 or automatic qualifications.
  3. ^ Most recent 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. ^ a b Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR) and Institut national de radiodiffusion (INR) were the two official names of the single National Broadcasting Institute [fr; nl] (NIR/INR).
  6. ^ Since 1978; previously represented by Institut national de radiodiffusion (INR; 1956–1960),[e] and Radiodiffusion-télévision belge (RTB; 1961–1977).
  7. ^ Since 1998; previously represented by Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR; 1956–1960),[e] Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT; 1961–1990), and Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen (BRTN; 1991–1997).
  8. ^ Between 2005 and 2016; previously represented by Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTVBiH; 1993–2000) and the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PBSBiH; 2001–2004).
  9. ^ a b Participated as Czech Republic until 2022.
  10. ^ Since 2008; previously represented by Eesti Televisioon (ETV) between 1993 and 2007.
  11. ^ 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).
  12. ^ a b c d e Member of the "Big Five".
  13. ^ 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.[24] See Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest § Organisation for full history of German participating broadcasters.
  14. ^ Represented by the National Radio Television Foundation (EIRT) in 1974 and the New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television (NERIT) in 2014 and 2015.
  15. ^ Between 2011 and 2019; previous represented by Magyar Televízió between 1993 and 2010
  16. ^ Since 2010; previously represented by Radio Éireann (RÉ) in 1965 and 1966, and Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ) between 1967 and 2009.
  17. ^ Since 2018; previously represented by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) between 1973 and 2017.
  18. ^ Since 2025; previously represented by Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) between 2000 and 2024.
  19. ^ Attempted to take part in 2005 but withdrew before the contest was held
  20. ^ Since 2024; previously represented by the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) between 1956 and 1993.
  21. ^ Since 1991; previously represented by the Maltese Broadcasting Authority (MBA) between 1971 and 1975.
  22. ^ Between 1959 and 2006. TVMonaco (TVM) is the current EBU member in the country since 2024, thus eligible to participate in the contest.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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).
  25. ^ a b 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.
  26. ^ a b Participated as F.Y.R. Macedonia until 2019.
  27. ^ Since 2004; previously represented by Radiotelevisão Portuguesa (RTP; 1964–2003).
  28. ^ RTR and C1R alternated responsibilities for the contest.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ Since 2007; previously represented by Televisión Española (TVE) between 1961 and 2006.
  31. ^ Since 1980; previously represented by Sveriges Radio (SR) between 1958 and 1979.
  32. ^ Represented by Radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne (RTT) in 1977. Radio Tunisienne (RT) and Télévision Tunisienne (TT) are the current EBU members in the country, thus eligible to participate in the contest.
  33. ^ Attempted to take part in 1977 but withdrew before the contest was held
  34. ^ Since 2017; previously represented by the National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU) between 2003 and 2016.
  35. ^ The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia competed as "Yugoslavia" in 1992.
  36. ^ Each country was represented by two songs in the 1956 contest; Switzerland's win in this contest was with one of their two songs.
  37. ^ Serbia and Montenegro kept their voting rights after they withdrew.
  38. ^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  39. ^ The Netherlands kept their voting rights in the final after they were disqualified.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Admission". EBU. European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  2. ^ ESCtoday.com. Eurovision Song Contest 1993 Archived 12 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
  3. ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest 50 Years The Official History. London: Carlton Books Limited. ISBN 1-84442-586-X.
  4. ^ ESCtoday.com. Eurovision Song Contest 1996 Archived 23 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
  5. ^ Eurovision.tv. Eurovision Song Contest 1997 Archived 20 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
  6. ^ BBC News (12 May 2004). Eurovision finalists chosen Archived 4 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
  7. ^ a b European Broadcasting Union (1 October 2007). Two semi-finals Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Archived 1 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.
  8. ^ Ian Taylor (14 May 2007). From pariah state to kitsch victory: how a Balkan ballad showed Europe a new Serbia Archived 7 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
  9. ^ Farren, Niel (30 June 2024). "Belarus: BTRC Indefinitely Suspended From EBU". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  10. ^ "Європейська мовна спілка призупинила членство російських ЗМІ" [The European Broadcasting Union has suspended membership of the Russian media]. suspilne.media (Press release) (in Ukrainian). UA:PBC. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  11. ^ "Lebanon withdraws from Eurovision". BBC News. 18 March 2005. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  12. ^ Stober, Marcel (29 August 2020). "Biggi Bachmann: Wie Liechtenstein fast am ESC teilnahm". Eurovision.de. ARD. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  13. ^ "TV-Grand Prix ohne Biggi Bachmann" [TV Grand Prix without Biggi Bachmann]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). Schaan, Liechtenstein. 31 January 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-09-29 – via Liechtenstein State Library.
  14. ^ Friend, David (14 May 2025). "Eurovision 2025: 4 things for Canadians to know about this year's song contest". CBC. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
  15. ^ Muldoon, Padraig (3 June 2015). "Eurovision 2016: EBU denies Kosovo and China rumours". Wiwibloggs. wiwibloggs.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
  16. ^ "Faroes set sights on Eurovision membership". Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  17. ^ "Kazakhstan's Channel 31 claims: "We will participate in Eurovision 2019!"". ESCXTRA. 22 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  18. ^ Ignatiuk, Szymon (8 July 2025). "EBU rozważy potencjalny debiut Kazachstanu na Eurowizji 2026!" [EBU to consider Kazakhstan's potential debut at Eurovision 2026!]. ESCSpot (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  19. ^ Stephenson, James (13 June 2024). "Kosovo: RTK Requests Invitation to Eurovision 2025". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  20. ^ "No reason New Zealand can't be part of Eurovision, EU ambassador says". Radio New Zealand. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  21. ^ Glover, Patrick (11 May 2023). "New Zealand launches campaign to join Eurovision Song Contest in 2024". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  22. ^ Repo, Juha (12 May 2009). "Gulf nation wants to join Eurovision". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  23. ^ "History by country". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  24. ^ "Alle deutschen ESC-Acts und ihre Titel". www.eurovision.de (in German). ARD. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  25. ^ Eurovision.tv. Eurovision Song Contest 1970 Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 9 February 2008.
  26. ^ ESCtoday.com (27 November 2002). No new countries at next Eurovision Song Contest Archived 18 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.
  27. ^ ESCtoday.com (27 November 2002). EBU released list of participants for 2003 Archived 25 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.
  28. ^ Eurovision.tv (27 October 2006). Georgia set on 2007 Archived 18 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 11 February 2008.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest 50 Years The Official History. London: Carlton Books Limited. ISBN 1-84442-586-X.