Overview of the role of France in the Eurovision Song Contest
For the most recent participation, see France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. For the upcoming participation, see France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
France in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participating broadcaster
France Télévisions (1993–present)
Former members
Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF; 1956–1964)
Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF; 1965–74)
TF1 (1975–1981)
Antenne 2 (1983–1992)
Participation summary
Appearances
65
First appearance
1956
Highest placement
1st: 1958, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1977
Host
1959, 1961, 1978
Participation history
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
External links
France 2 page
France's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
France has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 65 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the first contest, and has been absent from only two contests in its history, missing the 1974 and 1982 contests. Along with Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, France is one of the "Big Five" countries that are automatically prequalified for the final, due to being the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). France has won the contest five times.
France first won the contest in 1958 with "Dors, mon amour" performed by André Claveau. Three more victories followed in the 1960s, with "Tom Pillibi" performed by Jacqueline Boyer in 1960, "Un premier amour" performed by Isabelle Aubret in 1962 and "Un jour, un enfant" performed by Frida Boccara, who won in 1969 in a four-way tie with the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. France's fifth victory came in 1977, when Marie Myriam won with the song "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant". During its successful run in the 20th century, France has also finished second four times, with Paule Desjardins (1957), Catherine Ferry (1976), Joëlle Ursull (1990) and Amina (1991), who lost out to Sweden's Carola in a tie-break.
After reaching the top five in 24 contests in the 20th century, France has had less success in the 21st century, only making the top five three times, with Natasha St-Pier fourth (2001), Sandrine François fifth (2002) and Barbara Pravi second (2021). France's other top 10 results in the century are Patricia Kaas's eighth place in 2009 and Amir's sixth place in 2016. France finished last for the first time in 2014, when Twin Twin received only two points.
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Global Information
For the most recent participation see