Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland
Member station	SRG SSR
National selection events	National Final Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow 2011–present Concours Eurovision 1956–1957 1959–1961 1963–1970 1972–1993 1998 2000 2002 2004 Internal Selection 1958 1962 1971 1994 1996–1997 2005–2010
Appearances
Appearances	57 (48 finals)
First appearance	1956
Best result	1st: 1956, 1988
Worst result	Last: 1964, 1967, 1974, 1998, 2004 SF, 2010 SF, 2011, 2015 SF, 2016 SF Nul points: 1964, 1967, 1998, 2004 SF
External links
SF page
Switzerland's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 57 times since making its debut at the first contest in 1956, missing only four contests, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Switzerland hosted the first contest in 1956, and won it themselves. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988.

Lys Assia won the very first contest in Lugano in 1956 with the song "Refrain". She returned to place second in 1958. Switzerland would go on to finish third in 1961 with Franca Di Rienzo and 1982 with Arlette Zola, and place second with Esther Ofarim in 1963 and Daniela Simons in 1986, before winning the contest for the second time in 1988 with Celine Dion and the song "Ne partez pas sans moi". In 1993, Annie Cotton gave the country its eighth top three result, when she placed third.

In the 21st century, Switzerland has only once reached the top ten, in 2005 with the girl band Vanilla Ninja finishing eighth. Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Switzerland has failed to qualify for the final nine times. At the 2014 contest, Sebalter gave the country its second best result of the century, finishing 13th.

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