Fun facts to make YOU a Eurovision pro
Learn the facts and impress your friends this weekend
- Published
Eurovision 2025 is HERE.
The 2025 contest is being held in Basel, a city in Switzerland.
We have brought you all you need to know about the 2025 contest, but what about the history of the competition?
Here are some facts to make you seem like an expert while you're watching this weekend...
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When did Eurovision start?
The first Eurovision took place back in 1956.
Only seven countries took part in the contest on 24 May 1956.
Each country performed two songs. This is the only time this has happened!
Who has won Eurovision the most times?
Loreen won for Sweden in 2023
Ireland and Sweden hold the record for the most Eurovision wins.
They've both taken the trophy home seven times, with the most recent being Loreen who won for Sweden in 2023, her second title after landing the crown in 2012.
Ireland haven't won since 1996 but can boast a true Eurovision legend in Johnny Logan.
The singer won as a performer twice - in 1980 and 1987 - and also wrote the winning song in 1987 and 1992.
Ireland also have an amazing hat-trick of wins on the trot: in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
When did the UK first enter Eurovision?
Patricia Bredin was the UK's first ever Eurovision entry
The UK's first entry to Eurovision was in 1957, a year after the contest began.
Patricia Bredin represented the UK at the contest in Frankfurt and she sang a song called "All".
She came seventh in the contest, scoring six points.
Eurovision facts to make you sound like an expert:
Who is the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winner?
What do Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Waterloo have in common?
They are all big hits by legendary Swedish pop band Abba.
Abba won the contest in 1974 and the group has enjoyed phenomenal success ever since, despite officially splitting up in 1983.
Waterloo was actually their Eurovision-winning song!
Who is the youngest Eurovision winner?
At the 31st Eurovision Song Contest history was made.
Belgium contestant Sandra Kim won the contest in 1986, aged just 13.
In 1990, a rule change was brought in saying all competitors had to be at least 16 years old.
Which countries have NEVER won Eurovision?
There are loads of countries that have never won the contest despite competing in it multiple times.
For example, Australia, Iceland, Poland and Malta are all among the countries that have yet to take a win.
Malta first competed in 1971, making it the oldest participating country without a trophy.
Which Eurovision song got the most points?
People might have different ideas of what the best song is but we do know the highest-scoring Eurovision song.
Salvador Sobral represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine in 2017 with the song 'Amar pelos dois'.
The entry received thirty sets of twelve points (eighteen sets from the jury vote and twelve sets from the public vote).
And a total of 758 points! This makes his song the highest-scoring song in Eurovision history.
Who has finished last in Eurovision the most?
James Newman (right) was the last UK act to come last in Eurovision - getting zero points from the judges and from the public vote.
It's never nice coming last but two countries have tasted that the most.
Neighbours Finland and Norway have both come last ten times.
Germany have come last nice times and... what about the UK?
They've come last five times - the same number as they have won it!
What if there's a Eurovision tie?
There have only ever been two tie situations at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The first was in 1969 when there was a four-way tie between the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and France.
As there were no rules in place for a tie-break, all four countries were declared joint winners!
From that point on, a tie-break rule was introduced meaning there would only ever be one winner!
This meant when a tie happened in 1991 between France and Sweden, the rules meant that Sweden was declared the winner!