Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 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 in Lugano, and won it. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988, with the 1989 contest being held in Lausanne.

Switzerland
Member stationSRG SSR
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances60 (49 finals)
First appearance1956
Best result1st: 1956, 1988
Nul points1964, 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 2020

Lys Assia won the first contest in 1956 with the song "Refrain". She returned to place second in 1958. Switzerland would go on to finish second with Esther Ofarim (1963) and Daniela Simmons (1986) and third with Franca Di Rienzo (1961) and Arlette Zola (1982), before winning the contest for the second time in 1988 with Celine Dion and the song "Ne partez pas sans moi". Annie Cotton gave the country its 15th top five result in 1993, when she placed third.

Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Switzerland have failed to reach the final in 11 of 16 contests. Switzerland returned to the top five for the first time in 26 years when Luca Hänni gave the country its 16th top five result by finishing fourth in 2019. The country's only other top 10 result of the 21st century is Estonian girl group Vanilla Ninja's eighth-place in 2005.

Absences

Switzerland had been absent from Eurovision four times since their participation began in the first contest. These absences, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 were caused by poor results in previous contests that relegated Switzerland from the contest.[1][2][3][4]

Contestants

Switzerland has four official languages, French, German, Italian, and Romansh. For decades, the song requirements stated that the song had to be performed in a national language, which gave Switzerland leeway as they could perform in any of the four languages. Out of their 60 appearances in the Contest, Switzerland has sent 61 songs, 23 of which were in French, 12 in German, 15 in English, 10 in Italian and 1 in Romansh. Both of Switzerland's winning songs have been sung in French.

Table key
1
 Winner
2
 Second place
3
 Third place
◁
 Last place
X
 Entry selected but did not compete
Year Artist Language Title Final Points Semi Points
1956
 Lys Assia German "Das alte Karussell" 2[lower-alpha 1] N/A No semi-finals
Lys Assia French "Refrain" 1
1957
 Lys Assia French "L'enfant que j'étais" 8 5
1958
 Lys Assia German, Italian "Giorgio" 2 24
1959
 Christa Williams German "Irgendwoher" 4 14
1960
 Anita Traversi Italian "Cielo e terra" 8 5
1961
 Franca Di Rienzo French "Nous aurons demain" 3 16
1962
 Jean Philippe French "Le retour" 10 2
1963
 Esther Ofarim French "T'en va pas" 2 40
1964
 Anita Traversi Italian "I miei pensieri" 13 ◁ 0
1965
 Yovanna French "Non, à jamais sans toi" 8 8
1966
 Madeleine Pascal French "Ne vois-tu pas?" 6 12
1967
 Géraldine French "Quel cœur vas-tu briser?" 17 ◁ 0
1968
 Gianni Mascolo Italian "Guardando il sole" 13 2
1969
 Paola del Medico German, French "Bonjour, Bonjour" 5 13
1970
 Henri Dès French "Retour" 4 8
1971
 Peter, Sue and Marc French "Les illusions de nos vingt ans" 12 78
1972
 Véronique Müller French "C'est la chanson de mon amour" 8 88
1973
 Patrick Juvet French "Je vais me marier, Marie" 12 79
1974
 Piera Martell German "Mein Ruf nach Dir" 14 ◁ 3
1975
 Simone Drexel German "Mikado" 6 77
1976
 Peter, Sue and Marc English "Djambo, Djambo" 4 91
1977
 Pepe Lienhard Band German "Swiss Lady" 6 71
1978
 Carole Vinci French "Vivre" 9 65
1979
 Peter, Sue and Marc + Pfuri, Gorps and Kniri German "Trödler und Co" 10 60
1980
 Paola French "Cinéma" 4 104
1981
 Peter, Sue and Marc Italian "Io senza te" 4 121
1982
 Arlette Zola French "Amour on t'aime" 3 97
1983
 Mariella Farré Italian "Io così non ci sto" 15 28
1984
 Rainy Day German "Welche Farbe hat der Sonnenschein?" 16 30
1985
 Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini German "Piano, piano" 12 39
1986
 Daniela Simmons French "Pas pour moi" 2 140
1987
 Carol Rich French "Moitié, moitié" 17 26
1988
 Céline Dion French "Ne partez pas sans moi" 1 137
1989
 Furbaz Romansh "Viver senza tei" 13 47
1990
 Egon Egemann German "Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus" 11 51
1991
 Sandra Simó Italian "Canzone per te" 5 118
1992
 Daisy Auvray French "Mister Music Man" 15 32
1993
 Annie Cotton French "Moi, tout simplement" 3 148 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
1994
 Duilio Italian "Sto pregando" 19 15 No semi-finals
1996
 Kathy Leander French "Mon cœur l'aime" 16 22 8 67
1997
 Barbara Berta Italian "Dentro di me" 22 5 No semi-finals
1998
 Gunvor German "Lass ihn" 25 ◁ 0
2000
 Jane Bogaert Italian "La vita cos'è?" 20 14
2002
 Francine Jordi French "Dans le jardin de mon âme" 22 15
2004
 Piero and the MusicStars English "Celebrate" Failed to qualify 22 ◁ 0
2005
 Vanilla Ninja English "Cool Vibes" 8 128 8 114
2006
 six4one English "If We All Give a Little" 16 30 Top 11 previous year[lower-alpha 2]
2007
 DJ BoBo English "Vampires Are Alive" Failed to qualify 20 40
2008
 Paolo Meneguzzi Italian "Era stupendo" 13 47
2009
 Lovebugs English "The Highest Heights" 14 15
2010
 Michael von der Heide French "Il pleut de l'or" 17 ◁ 2
2011
 Anna Rossinelli English "In Love for a While" 25 ◁ 19 10 55
2012
 Sinplus English "Unbreakable" Failed to qualify 11 45
2013
 Takasa English "You and Me" 13 41
2014
 Sebalter English "Hunter of Stars" 13 64 4 92
2015
 Mélanie René English "Time to Shine" Failed to qualify 17 ◁ 4
2016
 Rykka English "The Last of Our Kind" 18 ◁ 28
2017
 Timebelle English "Apollo" 12 97
2018
 ZiBBZ English "Stones" 13 86
2019
 Luca Hänni English "She Got Me" 4 364 4 232
2020
 Gjon's Tears French "Répondez-moi" Contest cancelled[lower-alpha 3] X
2021
 Gjon's Tears

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
Further information: Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest
Artist Language Title At Congratulations At Eurovision
Final Points Semi Points Year Place Points
Celine Dion French "Ne partez pas sans moi" Failed to qualify 10 98 1988 1 137

Hostings
Year Location Venue Presenter(s)
1956 Lugano Teatro Kursaal Lohengrin Filipello
1989 Lausanne Palais de Beaulieu Lolita Morena and Jacques Deschenaux

Commentators and spokespersons

Over the years Switzerland has broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest on three television stations, SRF (German language), RTS (French language) and RSI (Italian language).

Year Commentator Spokesperson Ref.
SRF RTS RSI
1956 No broadcastRobert BurnierNo broadcastNo spokesperson
1957 Commentary via RTF FranceMäni Weber
1958 Theodor Haller
1959 Boris Acquadro
1960
1961
1962 Commentary via RAI ItalyAlexandre Burger
1963 Georges Hardy
1964 Robert Burnier
1965 Jean Charles
1966 Georges HardyGiovanni Bertini
1967 Robert Burnier
1968 Georges Hardy
1969
1970
1971 No spokesperson
1972
1973
1974 Michel Stocker
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 Max Rüeger
1980 Theodor Haller
1981
1982
1983
1984 Bernard ThurnheerSerge MoissonEzio Guidi
1985
1986
1987 Wilma Gilardi
1988 Ezio Guidi
1989 Thierry MasselotGiovanni Bertini
1990 Emanuela Gaggini
1991 Lolita Morena
1992 Mariano TschuorIvan Frésard
1993 Jean-Marc Richard
1994 Wilma GilardiSandra Studer
1995 Heinz MargotJoanne HolderDid not participate
1996 Sandra StuderPierre GrandjeanYves Ménestrier
1997 Heinz Margot, Roman KilchspergerJonathan TedescoSandy Altermatt
1998 Jean-Marc RichardRegula Elsener
1999 Sandra StuderDid not participate
2000 Astrid Von Stockar
2001 Phil MundwillerDid not participate
2002 Jonathan Tedesco, Claudio LazzarinoDiana Jörg
2003 Roman KilchspergerJean-Marc Richard, Alain MorisodDaniele Rauseo, Claudio LazzarinoDid not participate
2004 Marco FritscheDaniela Tami, Claudio LazzarinoEmel Aykanat
2005 Sandra Studer Jean-Marc Richard, Marie-Thérèse PorchetCécile Bähler
2006 Jean-Marc Richard, Alain MorisodSandy Altermatt, Claudio LazzarinoJubaira Bachmann
2007 Bernard Thurnheer Jean-Marc Richard (all), Henri Dès (final),
Nicolas Tanner (semi-final)		Sven Epiney
2008 Sven Epiney Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner Sandy AltermattCécile Bähler
2009
2010 Christa Rigozzi
2011 Jonathan TedescoCécile Bähler
2012 Clarissa Tami, Paolo MeneguzziSara Hildebrand
2013 Alessandro BertoglioMélanie Freymond
2014 Sven Epiney, Peter Schneider, Gabriel Vetter Alessandro Bertoglio, Sandy AltermattKurt Aeschbacher
2015 Clarissa Tami, Paolo MeneguzziLaetitia Guarino
2016 Clarissa Tami, Michele CarobbioSebalter
2017 Sven Epiney (all); Stefan Büsser, Micky Beisenherz (final)Clarissa Tami (all); Sebalter (final)Luca Hänni
[5][6][7]
2018 Sven EpineyClarissa Tami, SebalterLetícia Carvalho
[8][9][10][11]
2019 Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner (all);
Bastian Baker (final)		Sinplus
[12][13][14][15]

See also

Notes
  1. The full results for the first contest in 1956 are unknown, as only the winner was announced. The official Eurovision site lists all other songs as being placed second.
  2. According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to the next year's grand final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
  3. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 1995". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 1999". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  3. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 2001". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  4. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 2003". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  5. "«ESC» 2017: Satirischer Kommentar mit Stefan Büsser und «Aeschbacher Spezial – aus Kiew»" [«ESC» 2017: Satirical commentary with Stefan Büsser and «Aeschbacher Special - from Kiev»]. SRF (in German). Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  6. "Eurovision Song Contest 2017". RSI (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. Davies, Megan (1 May 2017). "Switzerland: Luca Hänni Announced As Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. Granger, Anthony (16 April 2018). "Switzerland: Sven Epiney Returns to the Commentary Booth". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  9. "Eurosong - TV - Play RTS". RTS (in French). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. "Eurovision Song Contest 2018 - RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera". RSI (in Italian). 7 May 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  11. Granger, Anthony (19 April 2018). "Switzerland: Leticia Carvalho Revealed as Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  12. Granger, Anthony (16 April 2019). "Switzerland: Sven Epiney Confirmed as SRF's Eurovision Commentator". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. Brown, Alistair (3 May 2019). "Switzerland: Bastian Baker Announced As Commentator For Grand Final". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. "Dal 3 giugno addio al Digitale Terrestre in Svizzera, niente più Eurovision sulla RSI per gli italiani" [Farewell to DTT in Switzerland from 3 June, no more Eurovision on CSR for Italians]. eurofestivalnews.com (in Italian). 6 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  15. Herbert, Emily (24 April 2019). "Switzerland: Sinplus Revealed as Eurovision 2019 Spokespersons". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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