Switzerland in The Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland In The Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest every year since it began, except 1995, 1999, 2001, and 2003. Switzerland hosted the first contest in 1956, and won it themselves. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988. A third victory in 1963 could have been possibly had Katie Boyle not recalled the Norwegian for their votes again.

Although most of the Swiss representatives are national acts not known outside of the country, many internationally successful artists have represented the country. In 1988 Céline Dion won the contest for Switzerland, in 1993 Annie Cotton finished third, and in 2005 the girl band Vanilla Ninja finished 8th. Esther Ofarim's 1963 second-place finish helped establish her as an international success.

Despite a fourth consecutive semi-final failure, as well as increasing pressure to withdraw from the Contest SRG SSR has confirmed that they have no current plans to withdraw from the contest, claiming that "the Eurovision Song Contest costs the broadcaster less than some entertainment shows". However, the country eventually qualified again for the final in the 2011 contest, with only one more point than Malta and Armenia.