Eurovision – 🇫🇷 France

France has a long history with Eurovision having been among the original seven participants in the Song Contest, they have also hosted numerous editions of its wider family of events.

France in Eurovision

France debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and was among its most successful countries during the early years of the contest. Having last won in 1977, France has seen a resurgence in the contest in recent years. France has competed in every edition of the contest excluding 1974 and 1982.

• 1956 – Mathé Altéry – “Le Temps perdu“
• 1956 – Dany Dauberson – “Il est là“
• 1957 – Paule Desjardins – “La Belle Amour” – 2nd – 17 points
• 1958 – André Claveau – “Dors mon amour” – 1st – 27 points
• 1959 – Jean Philippe – “Oui oui oui oui” – 3rd – 15 points
• 1960 – Jacqueline Boyer – “Tom Pillibi” – 1st – 32 points
• 1961 – Jean -Paul Mauric – “Printemps (avril carillonne)” – 4th – 13 points
• 1962 – Isabelle Aubret – “Un premier amour” – 1st – 26 points
• 1963 – Alain Barrière – “Elle était si jolie” – 5th – 25 points
• 1964 – Rachel – “Le Chant de Mallory” – 4th – 14 points
• 1965 – Guy Mardel – “N’avous jamais” – 3rd – 22 points
• 1966 – Dominique Walter – “Chez Nous” – 16th – 1 points
• 1967 – Noëlle Cordier – “Il doit faire beau là-bas” – 3rd – 20 points
• 1968 – Isabelle Aubret – “La Source” – 3rd – 20 points
• 1969 – Frida Boccara – “Un jour, un enfant” – 1st – 18 points
• 1970 – Guy Bonnet – “Marie-Blanche” – 4th – 8 points
• 1971 – Serge Lama – “Un jardin sur la terre” – 10th – 82 points
• 1972 – Betty Mars – “Comé-comédie” – 11th – 81 points
• 1973 – Martine Clémenceau – “Sans toi” – 15th – 65 points
• 1974 – Dani – “La Vie à vingt-cinq ans” – Withdraw due to the death of the French president Georges Pompidou
• 1975 – Nicole – “Et bonjour à toi l’artiste” – 4th – 91 points
• 1976 – Catherine Ferry – “Un, deux, trois” – 2nd – 147 points
• 1977 – Marie Myriam – “L’Ouiseau et l’Enfant” – 1st – 136 points
• 1978 – Joël Prévost – “Il y aura toujours des violons” – 3rd – 119 points
• 1979 – Anne-Marie David – “Je suis l’enfant soleil” – 3rd – 106 points
• 1980 – Profil – “Hé, hé m’sieurs dames” – 11th – 45 points
• 1981 – Jean Gabilou – “Humanahum” – 3rd – 125 points
• 1983 – Guy Bonnet – “Vivre” – 8th – 56 points
• 1984 – Annick Thoumazeau – “Autant d’amoureux que d’étoiles” – 8th – 61 points
• 1985 – Roger Bens – “Femme dans ses rêves aussi” – 10th – 56 points
• 1986 – Cocktail Chic – “Européennes” – 17th – 13 points
• 1987 – Christine Minier – “Les mots d’amour n’ont pas de dimanche” – 14th – 44 points
• 1988 – Gérard Lenorman – “Chanteur de charme” – 10th – 64 points
• 1989 – Nathalie Pâque – “J’ai volé la vie” – 8th – 60 points
• 1990 – Joëlle Ursull – “White and Black Blues” – 2nd – 132 points
• 1991 – Amina – “C’est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison” – 2nd – 146 points
• 1992 – Kali – “Monté la riviè” – 8th – 73 points
• 1993 – Patrick Fiori – “Mama Corsica” – 4th – 121 points
• 1994 – Nina Morato – “Je suis un vrai garçon” – 7th – 74 points
• 1995 – Nathalie Santamaria – “Il me donne rendez-vous” – 4th – 94 points
• 1996 – Dan Ar Braz and l’Héritage des Celtes – “Diwanit bugale” – 19th – 18 points
• 1997 – Fanny – “Sentiments songes” – 7th – 95 points
• 1998 – Marie Line – “Où aller” – 24th – 3 points
• 1999 – Nayah – “Je veux donner ma voix” – 19th – 14 points
• 2000 – Sofia Mestari –  “On aura le ciel” – 23rd –  points
• 2001 – Natasha St-Pier – “Je n’ai que mon âme” – 4th – 142 points
• 2002 – Sandrine François – “Il faut du temps” – 5th – 104 points
• 2003 – Louisa Baïleche – “Monts et merveilles” – 18th – 19 points
• 2004 – Jonatan Cerrada – “À chaque pas” – 15th – 40 points
• 2005 – Ortal – “Chacun pense à soi” – 23rd – 11 points
• 2006 – Virginie Pouchain – “Il était temps” – 22nd – 5 points
• 2007 – Les Fatals Picards – “L’Amour à la française” – 22nd – 19 points
• 2008 – Sébastien Tellier – “Divine” – 19th – 47 points
• 2009 – Patricia Kaas – “Et s’il fallait le faire” – 8th – 107 points
• 2010 – Jessy Matador – “Allez Ola Olé” – 12th – 82 points
• 2011 – Amaury Vassili – “Sognu” – 15th – 82 points
• 2012 – Anggun – “Echo (You and I)” – 22nd – 21 points
• 2013 – Amandine Bourgeois – “L’Enfer et moi” – 23rd – 14 points
• 2014 – Twin Twin – “Moustache” – 26th – 2 points
• 2015 – Lisa Angell – “N’oubliez pas” – 25th – 4 points
• 2016 – Amir – “J’ai cherché” – 6th – 257 points
• 2017 – Alma – “Requiem” – 12th – 135 points
• 2018 – Madame Monsieur – “Mercy” – 13th – 173 points
• 2019 – Bilal Hassani – “Roi” – 16th – 105 points
• 2020 – Tom Leeb – “Mon alliée (The Best in Me)” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
• 2021 – Barbara Pravi – “Voilà” – 2nd – 499 points
• 2022 – Alvan and Ahez – “Fulenn” – 24th – 17 points
• 2023 – La Zarra – “Évidemment” – 16th – 104 points
• 2024 – Slimane – “Mon amour” – 4th – 445 points
• 2025 – Louane – “maman” – 7th – 230 points
• 2026 – Monroe – “Regarde !” – 11th – 158 points

France and other Eurovision family events

France has participated and host many of Eurovision’s wider family of events from Eurovision Young Dancers to the Junior Eurovison Song Contest.

Eurovision Choir

France first broadcast Eurovision Choir in 2017, when the inaugural contest was held in Riga, Latvia. ARTE Concert aired the contest online for viewers in France. In 2019, France was due to make their debut, however withdrew due to logistical issues in selecting their choir.

Europe Sings

Europe Sings held in 2015 in Vienna. The live event took place in Vienna at the Rathausplatz. Each choir performed a piece which had a national flavour to it, and then stay on stage to perform together popular choral songs. La Maîtrise de Paris represented France at the non-competitive event.

Eurovision Magic Circus Show

France 3 participated in all three editions of the Eurovision Magic Circus Show in 2012. The event was held between 2010 and 2012 featuring children aged between 6 and 15 years old. The competition was hosted by the Swiss broadcaster RTS and took place in a circus tent of Circus Pajazzo in Chêne-Bougeries.

• 2010 – Baptiste – Unicycle
• 2010 – Laurane & Margot – Rhythmic gymnastics
• 2010 – Constance – Acrobatics
• 2011 – Léo – Acrobatics
• 2011 – Duo Momocycle – Aerial acrobatics
• 2011 – Le Train – Acrobatics
• 2012 – Antonie – Gymnastics
• 2012 – Tommy & Vincent – Pole dancing

Eurovision Young Dancers

France made their debut in Eurovision Young Musicians in 1985 at the inaugural edition of the contest. France Télévisions hosted the contest twice; in Paris in 1989 and in Lyon in 1999.

• 1985 – Christine Landault and Stephane Elizabe
• 1987 – Marie-Soizic Cabié
• 1989 – Agnès Letestu – 1st
• 1991 – Emmanuel Thibault – 2nd
• 1993 – Raphaëlle Delaunay-Belleville – 3rd
• 1995 – Karl Paquette
• 1999 – Emmanuel Eggermont and Juliette Roudet

Despite not participating France Télévisions also broadcast the 1997 and 2001 contests.

Eurovision Young Musicians

France was one of the founding countries in Eurovision Young Musicians in 1982, and took their only victory to date in 1986. The contest was held in 2022 by Radio France in Montpellier.

• 1982 – Paul Meyer (Clarinet) – 2nd
• 1984 – Sabine Toutain (Viola)
• 1986 – Sandrine Lazarides (Piano) – 1st
• 1988 – Henri Demarquette (Cello) – Did not qualify for the final
• 1990 – Anne Gastinel (Cello)
• 1992 – Vanessa Wagner (Piano)
• 1994 – Nicolas Delclaud (Violin)
• 1996 – Fanny Clamagirand (Violin)
• 2000 – David Guerrier (Trumpet)
• 2022 (Host) – Maxime Grizard (Cello)
• 2024 – Pierre-Emmanuel Hurpeau (Piano)

France Télévision also aired the 1998 final on delay but did not compete in the contest.

 Jeux sans frontières

Jeux sans frontières was organised by the European Broadcasting Union between 1965 and 1999, with thirty editions of the show held. The show saw broadcasters send teams to compete in a series of games, each broadcaster hosted one episode. France participated in twenty-five editions of the show, making it the country with the second highest number of appearances.

Junior Eurovision Song Contest

France is one of the contests most successful countries and achieved the first back to back victory in the contest. France made its debut in 2004 and withdrew after one edition. They returned to the contest in 2018 in Minsk, Belarus and have gone on to host the 2021 and 2023 editions.

• 2004 – Thomas Pontier – “Si on voulait bien” – 6th – 78 points
• 2018 – Angélina – “Jamais sans toi” – 2nd – 203 points
• 2019 – Carla – “Bim bam toi” – 5th – 169 points
• 2020 – Valentina – “J’imagine” – 1st – 200 points
• 2021 – Enzo – “Tic Tac” – 3rd – 187 points
• 2022 – Lissandro – “Oh Maman!” – 1st – 203 points
• 2023 – Zoé Clauzure – “Cœur” – 1st – 228 points
• 2024 – Titouan – “Comme ci comme ça” – 4th – 177 points
• 2025 – Lou Deleuze – “Ce monde” – 1st – 248 points

Other Programs

The following shows were also broadcast in France:

• Songs of Europe – 1981
• Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits – 2015
• Eurovision Europe Shine a Light – 2020

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During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.

Image Source: EBU/ Alma Bengtsson