On May 16th, the Eurovision contest celebrated its 70th anniversary in Vienna, Austria, in front of tens of millions of viewers (166 million in 2025). Officially apolitical, explicitly popular, and primarily entertaining, this event is the largest live music television program in the world. It is subject to multiple geopolitical strategies, sometimes complex and aggressive. The battle for control of the media space complements the battle for geographical supremacy.
Throughout its history, Eurovision has reflected the aspirations of people for peace, the ambitions of state supremacy, and their desires for prosperity. Let’s delve into its social, economic, and geopolitical history. These are milestones in the collective history of Europeans. Eurovision is the soundtrack of the post-war continent’s “great film.”
Like the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, 1951) and the European Economic Community (EEC, 1957), Eurovision was born out of the rejection of the horrors of World War II. The contest was created in 1956 by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), a Swiss professional association founded in 1950, which brings together Western European broadcasting groups to form a broadcasting area accessible to its members.
Context: Eurovision is a popular international music competition that has a long history dating back to 1956.
Fact Check: The Eurovision Song Contest celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025 in Vienna, Austria.
