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Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest
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Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest
Greece has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 45 times since its debut in 1974, missing six contests in that time (1975, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1999, and 2000). The country won for the first and to date only time in 2005 with "My Number One" by Helena Paparizou. The Greek participating broadcaster in the contest is Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (ERT). Greece has never finished last in the contest.
Throughout the 20th century, Greece achieved only two top five results, finishing fifth with "Mathema solfege" by Paschalis, Marianna, Robert, and Bessy in 1977 and again fifth with "Olou tou kosmou i elpida" by Cleopatra in 1992. The start of the 21st century saw Greece become one of the most successful countries in the contest, with ten out of thirteen top-ten results between 2001 and 2013, including third-place finishes for "Die for You" by Antique in 2001 (with 2005 winner Paparizou as lead singer), "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas in 2004, and "Secret Combination" by Kalomira in 2008. Between 2014 and 2019, Greece has had less success, including two non-qualifications to the final (2016 and 2018), however revamped its position in the 2020s by placing in the top ten three times (2021, 2022 and 2025).
Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (ERT) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Greece. Of all the Greek entries in the contest, only three were not from ERT. The country's debut in the contest in its 19th edition in 1974 was by ERT's predecessor Ethniko Idryma Radiofonias Tileoraseos (EIRT), and the Greek participation in the 2014 and 2015 contest was by ERT's replacement during its closure Nea Elliniki Radiofonia, Internet kai Tileorasi (NERIT).
Before Greece entered the contest, some Greek singers represented other countries. These singers were Jimmy Makulis (1961) for Austria, Yovanna (1965) for Switzerland, and Nana Mouskouri (1963) and Vicky Leandros (1967 and 1972) for Luxembourg.
In 1974, during the Greek military junta, rock band Nostradamos won the first Eurovision participation contest ran by the state broadcaster EIRT to represent Greece at Eurovision, after broadcasting it since 1970. However, due to a scandal, the band was not allowed to compete at Eurovision, and Greek laiko singer Marinella was sent instead. Greece did not participate in 1975 for "unknown reasons" according to the EBU, but it was later discovered that it was in protest of Turkey's debut and its invasion of Cyprus in 1974. On 3 December 1975, EIRT was replaced by ERT. Three years after Greece's debut in the contest, the country achieved its first top-five result with the song "Mathima solfege" (Solfege Lesson) performed by Bessy, Paschalis, Marianna and Robert in 1977. The decade closed with Greece reaching eighth place twice in 1978 and 1979 with the songs "Charlie Chaplin" and "Socrati".
Greece was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 after it was revealed that Themis Adamantidis was to sing "Sarantapente kopelies", a previously released song. A known Greek folk song, it had been revised for the competition, but this violated the rules which stated that all songs had to be original in terms of songwriting and instrumentation and cannot be cover songs. Greece was forced to pay a fine and was allowed to return the following year. Had Adamantidis been allowed to perform, he would have appeared second at Harrogate. After returning in 1983, ERT stated that all of the possible songs were of "low quality" and decided not to participate in the 1984 contest.
Greece returned once more to the contest in 1985, and Polina was selected in the 1986 national selection to represent Greece at the 1986 contest in Bergen, Norway, but ERT pulled out of the contest unexpectedly. Polina stated that it was due to political troubles in Greece at the time, but she noted that a Eurovision website had learned that the real reason was that the contest was to be held the night before Orthodox Easter. Had she performed, she would have appeared eighteenth and she would have performed the song "Wagon-lit". Greece returned to the contest in 1987 with the band Bang reaching 10th place. Overall the country reached three times top-ten in the 80s, with the other two songs being "Feggari kalokerino" in 1981 and "To diko sou asteri" in 1989.
During the 1990s, Greece achieved two top-ten results with Cleopatra and Katy Garbi reaching fifth and ninth place in 1992 and 1993 respectively. The nation performed each year until the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, when it was relegated from participation. This was as its five-year points average had fallen under the limit for participation after Thalassa's 20th-place finish in 1998. The following year, ERT announced that it would not return at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 (even though it was eligible to, having broadcast the 1999 contest on television) due to financial reasons.
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Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest
Greece has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 45 times since its debut in 1974, missing six contests in that time (1975, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1999, and 2000). The country won for the first and to date only time in 2005 with "My Number One" by Helena Paparizou. The Greek participating broadcaster in the contest is Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (ERT). Greece has never finished last in the contest.
Throughout the 20th century, Greece achieved only two top five results, finishing fifth with "Mathema solfege" by Paschalis, Marianna, Robert, and Bessy in 1977 and again fifth with "Olou tou kosmou i elpida" by Cleopatra in 1992. The start of the 21st century saw Greece become one of the most successful countries in the contest, with ten out of thirteen top-ten results between 2001 and 2013, including third-place finishes for "Die for You" by Antique in 2001 (with 2005 winner Paparizou as lead singer), "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas in 2004, and "Secret Combination" by Kalomira in 2008. Between 2014 and 2019, Greece has had less success, including two non-qualifications to the final (2016 and 2018), however revamped its position in the 2020s by placing in the top ten three times (2021, 2022 and 2025).
Elliniki Radiofonia Tileorasi (ERT) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Greece. Of all the Greek entries in the contest, only three were not from ERT. The country's debut in the contest in its 19th edition in 1974 was by ERT's predecessor Ethniko Idryma Radiofonias Tileoraseos (EIRT), and the Greek participation in the 2014 and 2015 contest was by ERT's replacement during its closure Nea Elliniki Radiofonia, Internet kai Tileorasi (NERIT).
Before Greece entered the contest, some Greek singers represented other countries. These singers were Jimmy Makulis (1961) for Austria, Yovanna (1965) for Switzerland, and Nana Mouskouri (1963) and Vicky Leandros (1967 and 1972) for Luxembourg.
In 1974, during the Greek military junta, rock band Nostradamos won the first Eurovision participation contest ran by the state broadcaster EIRT to represent Greece at Eurovision, after broadcasting it since 1970. However, due to a scandal, the band was not allowed to compete at Eurovision, and Greek laiko singer Marinella was sent instead. Greece did not participate in 1975 for "unknown reasons" according to the EBU, but it was later discovered that it was in protest of Turkey's debut and its invasion of Cyprus in 1974. On 3 December 1975, EIRT was replaced by ERT. Three years after Greece's debut in the contest, the country achieved its first top-five result with the song "Mathima solfege" (Solfege Lesson) performed by Bessy, Paschalis, Marianna and Robert in 1977. The decade closed with Greece reaching eighth place twice in 1978 and 1979 with the songs "Charlie Chaplin" and "Socrati".
Greece was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 after it was revealed that Themis Adamantidis was to sing "Sarantapente kopelies", a previously released song. A known Greek folk song, it had been revised for the competition, but this violated the rules which stated that all songs had to be original in terms of songwriting and instrumentation and cannot be cover songs. Greece was forced to pay a fine and was allowed to return the following year. Had Adamantidis been allowed to perform, he would have appeared second at Harrogate. After returning in 1983, ERT stated that all of the possible songs were of "low quality" and decided not to participate in the 1984 contest.
Greece returned once more to the contest in 1985, and Polina was selected in the 1986 national selection to represent Greece at the 1986 contest in Bergen, Norway, but ERT pulled out of the contest unexpectedly. Polina stated that it was due to political troubles in Greece at the time, but she noted that a Eurovision website had learned that the real reason was that the contest was to be held the night before Orthodox Easter. Had she performed, she would have appeared eighteenth and she would have performed the song "Wagon-lit". Greece returned to the contest in 1987 with the band Bang reaching 10th place. Overall the country reached three times top-ten in the 80s, with the other two songs being "Feggari kalokerino" in 1981 and "To diko sou asteri" in 1989.
During the 1990s, Greece achieved two top-ten results with Cleopatra and Katy Garbi reaching fifth and ninth place in 1992 and 1993 respectively. The nation performed each year until the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, when it was relegated from participation. This was as its five-year points average had fallen under the limit for participation after Thalassa's 20th-place finish in 1998. The following year, ERT announced that it would not return at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 (even though it was eligible to, having broadcast the 1999 contest on television) due to financial reasons.
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