May 11, 2024 /Entertainment/ — Eurovision has a strong cultural element, bringing together countries from across Europe (and beyond!) through music. While it’s not explicitly billed as a peace festival, it does foster a sense of community and understanding between nations that have historically been at odds.
Matt Weaver, University of Portsmouth
In 1956, seven European countries – Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and West Germany – gathered in Lugano, Switzerland for the first ever Eurovision Song Contest. The competition was only broadcast in select countries, meaning only a small number of viewers watched Swiss entry Lys Assia win the grand prize with the song Refrain.