Germany was one of seven countries to take part in the first Eurovision Song Contest, they have gone on to host multiple Eurovision contests across its various formats.
Germany in Eurovision
Germany is the country with the most appearances in the Eurovision Song Contest, having only once missed out on a contest. In 1996, Leon with “Planet of Blue” did not qualify from the Qualifying Round. This non-qualification lead in 1999 to the creation of the Big Four/Five to ensure the largest financial contributors were pre-qualified for the final every year.
Germany’s results are as follows:
- 1956 – Walter Andreas Schwarz – “Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück“
- 1956 – Freddy Quinn – “So geht das jede Nacht“
- 1957 (Host) – Margot Hielscher – “Telefon, Telefon” – 4th – 8 points
- 1958 – Hargot Hielscher – “Für zwei Groschen Musik” – 7th – 5 points
- 1959 – Alice and Ellen Kessler – “Heut’ woll’n wir tanzen geh’n” – 8th – 5 points
- 1960 – Wyn Hoop – “Bonne nuit ma chérie” – 4th – 11 points
- 1961 – Lale Andersen – “Einmal sehen wir uns wieder” – 13th – 3 points
- 1962 – Conny Froboess – “Zwei kleine Italiener” – 6th – 9 points
- 1963 – Heidi Brühl – “Marcel” – 9th – 5 points
- 1964 – Nora Nova – “Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne” – 13th – 0 points
- 1965 – Ulla Wiesner – “Paradies, wo bist du?” – 15th – 0 points
- 1966 – Margot Eskens – “Die Zeiger der Uhr” – 10th – 7 points
- 1967 – Inge Brück – “Anouschka” – 8th – 7 points
- 1968 – Wencke Myhre – “Ein Hoch der Liebe” – 6th – 11 points
- 1969 – Siw Malmkvist – “Primaballerina” – 9th – 8 points
- 1970 – Katja Ebstein – “Wunder gibt es immer wieder” – 3rd – 12 points
- 1971 – Katja Ebstein – “Diese Welt” – 3rd – 100 points
- 1972 – Mary Roos – “Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben” – 3rd – 107 points
- 1973 – Gitte – “Junger Tag” – 8th – 85 points
- 1974 – Cindy and Bert – “Die Sommermelodie” – 14th – 3 points
- 1975 – Joy Flemming – “Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein” – 17th – 15 points
- 1976 – Les Humphries Singers – “Sing, Sang, Song” – 15th – 12 points
- 1977 – Silver Connection – “Telegram” – 8th – 55 points
- 1978 – Ireen Sheer – “Feuer” – 6th – 84 points
- 1979 – Dschinghis Khan – “Dschinghis Khan” – 4th – 86 points
- 1980 – Katja Bestein – “Theater” – 2nd – 128 points
- 1981 – Lena Valaitis – “Johnny Blue” – 2nd – 132 points
- 1982 – Nicole – “Ein bißchen Frieden” – 1st – 161 points
- 1983 (Host) – Hoffman and Hoffman – “Rücksicht” – 5th – 94 points
- 1984 – Mary Roos – “Aufrecht geh’n” – 13th – 34 points
- 1985 – Wind – “Für alle” – 2nd – 105 points
- 1986 – Ingrid Peters – “Über die Brücke geh’n” – 8th – 62 points
- 1987 – Wind – “Laß die Sonne in dein Herz” – 2nd – 141 points
- 1988 – Maxi and Chris Garden – “Lied für einen Freund” – 14th – 48 points
- 1989 – Nino de Angelo – “Flieger” – 14th – 46 points
- 1990 – Chris Kempers and Daniel Kovac – “Frei zu leben” – 9th – 60 points
- 1991 – Atlantis 2000 – “Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben” – 18th – 10 points
- 1992 – Wind – “Träume sind für alle da” – 16th – 27 points
- 1993 – Münchener Freiheit – “Viel zu weit” – 18th – 18 points
- 1994 – Mekado – “Wir geben ‘ne Party” – 3rd – 128 points
- 1995 – Stone and Stone – “Verliebt in Dich” – 23rd – 1 point
- 1996 – Leon – “Planet of Blue” – 24th in the Qualifying Round – 24 points
- 1997 – Bianca Shomburg – “Zeit” – 18th – 22 points
- 1998 – Guildo Horn – “Guildo hat euch lieb” – 7th – 86 points
- 1999 – Sürpriz – “Journey to Jerusalem – Kudüs’e Seyahat” – 3rd – 140 points
- 2000 – Stefan Raab – “Wadde hadde dudde da?” – 5th – 96 points
- 2001 – Michelle – “Wer Liebe lebt” – 8th – 66 points
- 2002 – Corinna May – “I Can’t Live Without Music” – 21st – 17 points
- 2003 – Lou – “Let’s Get Happy” – 11th – 53 points
- 2004 – Max Mutzke – “Can’t Wait Until Tonight” – 8th – 93 points
- 2005 – Gracia – “Run & Hide” – 24th – 4 points
- 2006 – Texas Lightning – “No No Never” – 14th – 36 points
- 2007 – Roger Cicero – “Frauen regier’n die Welt” – 19th – 49 points
- 2008 – No Angels – “Disappear” – 23rd – 14 points
- 2009 – Alex Swings Oscar Sings! – “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang” – 20th – 35 points
- 2010 – Lena – “Satellite” – 1st – 246 points
- 2011 (Host) – Lena – “Taken by a Stranger” – 10th – 107 points
- 2012 – Roman Lob – “Standing Still” – 8th – 110 points
- 2013 – Cascada – “Glorious” – 21st – 18 points
- 2014 – Elaiza – “Is It Right” – 18th – 39 points
- 2015 – Ann Sophia – “Black Smoke” – 27th – 0 points
- 2016 – Jamie-Lee – “Ghost” – 26th – 11 points
- 2017 – Levina – “Perfect Life” – 25th – 6 points
- 2018 – Michael Schulter – “You Let Me Walk Alone” – 4th – 340 points
- 2019 – S!sters – “Sister” – 25th – 24 points
- 2020 – Ben Dolic – “Violent Thing” – Contest cancelled due to COVID-19
- 2021 – Jendrik – “I Don’t Feel Hate” – 25th – 3 points
- 2022 – Malik Harris – “Rockstars” – 25th – 6 points
- 2023 – Lord of the Lost – “Blood & Glitter” – 26th – 18 points
- 2024 – Isaak – “Always on the Run” – 12th – 117 points
- 2025 – Abor & Tynna – “Baller” – 15th – 151 points
- 2026 – Sarah Engels – “Fire” – 23rd – 12 points
Germany and other Eurovision family events
Germany has participated in various Eurovision family events from Eurovision Choir through to Jeux sans frontières. Germany has hosted a number of the contests most recently in Cologne in 2016.
Eurovision Choir
Germany has participated in both editions of Eurovision Choir. WDR internally selected the choirs that represented Germany in the competition. Germany’s results are:
- 2017 – Jazzchor Freiburg – “African Call” / “Palettes“
- 2019 – BonnVoice – “O Täler weit” / “Die Gedanken sind frei“
Eurovision Dance Contest
Germany participated once in the Eurovision Dance Contest in 2007. Wolke Hegenbarth and Oliver Seefeldt were selected by WDR to represent Germany in London, United Kingdom. The pairing placed 8th scoring 59 points. Germany withdrew from the 2008 contest due to low viewer interest.
Eurovision Young Dancers
Germany debuted in Eurovision Young Dancers in 1985 and hosted the 1987 edition in Schwetzingen. German participation was organised by ZDF between 1985 and 2001, WDR took over from 2011 to 2017.
- 1985 – Stefanie Eckhof
- 1987 (Host) – Stefanie Arndt – 3rd
- 1989 – Patrick Becker
- 1991 – Celia Volk
- 1993 – Jens Weber and Franziska Koch
- 1995 – Irina Schlaht – Did not qualify for the final
- 1997 – Valentina Scaglia – Did not qualify
- 1999 – Katja Wünsche and Stegli Yohan – 1st
- 2011 – Joy Jammin
- 2013 – Felix Berning – 2nd
- 2015 – Thomas Rohe
- 2017 – Danila Kapustin
The 2003 contest was broadcast in Germany despite not participating in the contest.
Eurovision Young Musicians
Germany was one of six countries to participate in the first edition of Eurovision Young Musicians in 1982, where Germany also took victory. Germany has hosted the contest three times: 2002 in Berlin and 2014 and 2016 in Cologne.
- 1982 – Markus Pawlik (Piano) – 1st
- 1984 – Andreas Bach (Piano)
- 1986 – Martin Menking (Cello) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1988 – Nikolai Schneider (Cello)
- 1990 – Koh Gabriel Kameda (Violin) – 2nd
- 1992 – Florence Sitruk (Harp) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1994 – Luise Wiedemann (Bassoon) – Did not qualify for the final
- 1996 – Julia Fischer (Violin) – 1st
- 1998 – Korbinian Altenberger (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2000 – Martin Helmchen (Piano) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2002 (Host) – Alina Pogostkin (Violin)
- 2004 – Koryun Asatryan (Saxophone) – 2nd
- 2008 – Kathy Kang (Violin) – Did not qualify for the final
- 2010 – Hayrapet Arakelyan (Saxophone)
- 2012 – Dominic Chamot (Piano)
- 2014 (Host) – Judith Stapf (Violin)
- 2016 (Host) – Raul Maria Dignola (Horn)
- 2018 – Mira Foron (Violin) – Finalist
- 2022 – Philipp Schupelius (Cello) – 2nd
- 2024 – Fabian Egger (Flute) – 3rd
- 2026 – Moë Dierstein (Violin)
ZDF organised German participation between 1982 and 2004, WDR took over from 2008 onwards.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Germany was signed up to compete in the 2003 and 2004 editions of the contest but withdrew before each show took place. A delegation from Germany attended several contests in the mid-2010s before making their debut in 2020. KiKa withdrew from Junior Eurovision in 2025 after NDR was replaced by SWR as the broadcaster in charge of Eurovision participation in Germany.
- 2020 – Susan – “Stronger With You” – 12th – 66 points
- 2021 – Pauline – “Imagine Us” – 17th – 61 points
- 2023 – Fia – “Ohne Worte” – 9th – 107 points
- 2024 – Bjarne – “Save the Best for Us” – 11th – 71 points
Kika broadcast the 2003 and 2022 editions of Junior Eurovision, Germany did not participate in 2022 due to travel warnings issued by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Other Programs
The following shows were also broadcast in Germany:
- Songs of Europe – 1981
- Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest – 2005
- Eurovision Song Contest’s Greatest Hits – 2015
- Eurovision Europe Shine a Light – 2020
Germany & Other European Broadcasting Union Competitions
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. Vox Bona represented Germany at the non-competitive event.
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. Germany participated from 1965 to 1980.
Let the Peoples Sing
The contest was first held in 1961 by the BBC as an annual choral contest for choirs in the United Kingdom, since 1966 it has been a choral competition for choirs across Europe. Since the late 1970s, the European Broadcasting Union has organised the event with choirs allowed to compete from across the globe.
Germany’s history in the contest:
- 1979 (West Germany) – Marktoberdorf Large Chamber Choir – Winner
- 1983 (Host – Cologne) – Mädchenchor Hannover
- 1984 (Host – Cologne | West Germany) – Frankfurt Chamber Chorus – Winner
- 1985 (Host – Cologne)
- 1986 (Host – Cologne) – Monteverdi Choir – Best male choir
- 1987 (East Germany) – Chamber Chorus of the Franz Liszt Music Academy, Weimar – Winner. Show also aired by SFB.
- 1988 (Host – Cologne | West Germany) – Konzertchor Darmstadt – 1st International Choir Category
- 1990 (Host – Cologne | West Germany) – Konzertchor Darmstadt – Winner
- 1991 – Renner Ensemble Regensburg – Finalist
- 1992 (Host – Cologne)
- 1993 – Bonn Chamber Choir – Finalist
- 1995 – Cantabile Limburg – Finalist
- 1995 – Hallenser Madrigalisten – Finalist
- 1999 – Jugendkammerchor Ingolstadt – Finalist
- 2003 – Saarbrucken Chamber Choir – Adult Category Finalist
- 2005 (Host – Cologne) – Mädchenchor Hannover – Youth Category Finalist
- 2007 (Host – Wuppertal) – Kammerchor Michaelstein – Semi-Finalist
- 2007 (Host – Wuppertal) – Junges Vokalensemble Hannover – Adult Category Finalist
- 2009 – Camerata Musica Limburg – Adult Category Finalist
- 2011 – Consono Chamber Choir – Finalist
- 2013 – Bayerischer Landesjugendchor – Finalist of the Childrens / Youth Category
- 2013 – VoicesInTime – Winners of the Open Category
- 2015 (Host – Munich) – Madrigalchor der Hochschule fûr Musik und Theater München – Adult Category Winner
- 2024 – hr2-kultur and WDR3 aired the contest with no participants from Germany
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