Sat, May 16 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria, following JJ’s victory for the country in 2025. While it marks a major milestone for the longest-running annual international televised music competition, the 2026 event is defined by profound geopolitical crises, sweeping rule changes, and intense musical competition. Continue reading
May 17, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. It brings together participants representing primarily European countries, although nations from outside of Europe, such as Australia, have also been invited to compete. Continue reading
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.