Basel hosted this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in a particularly exciting and emotional event. Israel, with Yuval Raphael and the song “New Day Will Rise”, nearly clinched the trophy, finishing second thanks to overwhelming public support – an achievement that once again places the country in a prominent position in the competition.

Only seven years have passed since Israel’s previous victory with Netta Barzilai and “Toy” in 2018. But while Israel continues to lead the field, other countries are still waiting. At the top of this list is Spain, which finished at the bottom of the scoreboard this year and holds the dubious distinction of 56 years without a win, since “Vivo Cantando” brought its last victory in 1969.

Changing Times: Former Champions and Today’s Front-Runners

Comparing recent winners to those of the past, one cannot ignore the widening gap. While countries like Sweden, Italy, and Ukraine consistently achieve success, nations with storied Eurovision histories – such as France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom – are falling behind. It is notable that countries from the former Soviet bloc continue to vote for each other and sometimes manage to climb high, but this doesn’t tell the whole story. Israel, despite political and media challenges, managed to secure second place thanks to massive public backing – just as it did in 2018.

From Monaco to Estonia – Who Has Forgotten the Trophy Since Their Last Win?

Many forget that Monaco, which has not participated in Eurovision for many years, has been waiting for another win since 1971. Luxembourg, which returned to the contest last year after a long hiatus, has not won since 1983. Among active countries, Belgium hasn’t won since 1986, and Estonia since 2001. On the other hand, countries like Austria (2025), Switzerland (2024), and Sweden (2023) continue to set the pace with impressive victories in the past decade.

Full List: When Did Each Country Last Win Eurovision?

Country	Song Name	Performer(s)	Year of Win	Years Since Win
Spain	Vivo Cantando	Salomé	1969	56
Monaco	Un banc, un arbre, une rue	Séverine	1971	54
France	L’oiseau et l’enfant	Marie Myriam	1977	48
Luxembourg	Si la vie est cadeau	Corinne Hermès	1983	42
Belgium	J’aime la vie	Sandra Kim	1986	39
Ireland	The Voice	Eimear Quinn	1996	29
United Kingdom	Love Shine a Light	Katrina and the Waves	1997	28
Estonia	Everybody	Tanel Padar, Dave Benton, 2XL	2001	24
Latvia	I Wanna	Marie N	2002	23
Turkey	Everyway That I Can	Sertab Erener	2003	22
Greece	My Number One	Helena Paparizou	2005	20
Finland	Hard Rock Hallelujah	Lordi	2006	19
Serbia	Molitva	Marija Šerifović	2007	18
Russia	Believe	Dima Bilan	2008	17
Norway	Fairytale	Alexander Rybak	2009	16
Germany	Satellite	Lena	2010	15
Azerbaijan	Running Scared	Ell & Nikki	2011	14
Denmark	Only Teardrops	Emmelie de Forest	2013	12
Portugal	Amar pelos dois	Salvador Sobral	2017	8
Israel	Toy	Netta Barzilai	2018	7
The Netherlands	Arcade	Duncan Laurence	2019	6
Italy	Zitti e buoni	Måneskin	2021	4
Ukraine	Stefania	Kalush Orchestra	2022	3
Sweden	Tattoo	Loreen	2023	2
Switzerland	The Code	Nemo	2024	1
Austria	Wasted Love	JJ	2025	0

Déjà Vu on Stage – But What Does the Audience Really Want?

From my personal experience as a viewer of dozens of contests over the years, it’s hard to ignore the gap between jury and public voting. While juries tend to favor polished ballads, the audience is drawn to dynamic performances with modern arrangements and original staging. In conversations with fans from the EuroMix community, which attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually, many voiced frustration at countries that keep sending “more of the same” instead of innovating – especially when it comes to the United Kingdom and France.

A Glass Ceiling in Eurovision? Professional Analysis of Country Differences

Although conspiracy theories about “voting blocs” or “regional favoritism” always circulate, the data shows that quality and originality still win out. Portugal in 2017, Israel in 2018, and Ukraine in 2022 all managed to defy predictions. These are not countries with clear strategic backing, but they sent songs with strong identity, authentic performances, and unforgettable moments on stage. This proves that any country – even after decades of disappointment – can win if it creates such a moment.

The Audience Rewards Risk – While Unchanging Countries Fall Behind

Success at Eurovision 2025 is no longer measured solely in the studio. Digital presence, groundbreaking staging, youth engagement, and international collaborations are all crucial. When examining the recent failures of Spain, Belgium, or Ireland, it’s hard to ignore their pronounced conservatism. In contrast, countries like Austria, which this year chose a bold concept with JJ, demonstrated how far creativity can take you, even if the song itself is less traditional.

The Winning Formula Exists – But Not Everyone Is Ready to Embrace It

Eurovision 2025 once again demonstrated how difficult it is to win – even with a rich history or strong public support. Any country can, in theory, break its negative streak, but doing so requires deep change – not just in the song, but in the overall approach. As long as countries continue to project musical irrelevance, they will remain behind. It’s not a curse – it’s a call to action.

Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest took place in the city of Basel, Switzerland, on May 13th, 15th, and 17th. This was the third time Switzerland hosted the contest, with the previous occasion being in 1989 in Lausanne. The venue for the event was the St. Jakobshalle, which has a capacity of 12,400 seats. This marked the first time that Basel served as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest.