The EBU calls on fans to help locate missing footage from the 1956 and 1964 Eurovision Song Contest for the 70th anniversary
Exactly 70 years ago, in 1956, representatives from seven countries gathered for the first time in Lugano, Switzerland, for the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest. The winner was the Swiss Lys Assia, but beyond that, little is known about that contest, as all the television footage broadcast across Europe did not survive the years. No trace of the competition remains except for a recording of the winning performance by Lys Assia with her song “Refrain“. Over the years, another contest fell victim to European archives: the 1964 competition held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the contest, the EBU is attempting to honor this lost heritage and is launching an operation to search everywhere where lost footage of those contests might be found.
The Mystery of the Lost Eurovisions
About a month ago, a first discovery in the world of lost Eurovision content was reported: the finding and restoration of the winning performance by Gigliola Cinquetti, the first Italian winner who won in 1964. Until recently, it remained the only winning Eurovision performance without a trace from the original broadcast. The fascinating story of how the footage reached the EBU began with an anonymous Eurovision fan who managed to locate the film in the warehouses of the Finnish national broadcaster YLE, and continued with obtaining the rights from the Danish national broadcaster, DR, which broadcast the contest. After extensive efforts, the footage was finally published on the official Eurovision YouTube channel, allowing fans to enjoy the winning performance after sixty years.
The discovery of the Italian song likely drew attention within the EBU, raising new hope for finding more segments and performances that were lost until now. A new post on the official Eurovision social media channels stated: “Help us find Lugano 1956 and Copenhagen 1964.”
On the official Eurovision website, it was written: “As we mark 70 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, we are turning to our greatest resource – the fans – to help solve one of the most fascinating mysteries in television history. We are launching a global search to uncover lost recordings of two of the earliest editions of the contest: Eurovision 1956 and Eurovision 1964. Despite decades of archiving work, full recordings of these shows do not exist in the archives of the original host national broadcasters: SRG SSR in Switzerland (1956) and DR in Denmark (1964). Now, the hunt is on to find them – wherever they may be hiding in the world.”
“We believe that copies – or snippets – of these shows may still exist. In private collections. In broadcaster vaults. On old film reels. Or even hidden in some attic, forgotten by all. The search is open to anything that can help reconstruct the missing pieces:
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Filmed materials (stills or film)
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Full recordings
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Home recordings
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Partial video footage
Even the smallest snippet can help breathe new life into these historic broadcasts.”
An Appeal to the Global Fanbase
Eurovision is attempting to appeal to the general public in the hope that the footage is held by private collectors or in home recordings across the continent. Contest Director Martin Green added regarding the importance of the operation: “As we celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, we look back on an amazing history – but we know there are chapters still missing. The thought that somewhere in the world there might be never-before-seen video clips from 1956 or 1964 is truly exciting. It’s a bit like a global treasure hunt. The Eurovision Song Contest has always been about connecting people, and this is an opportunity for fans to take part in preserving this shared history. We have already seen, thanks to the Finnish national broadcaster Yle, that lost moments can be found. Now we hope the Eurovision community will help us uncover even more – and maybe, just maybe, complete the story.”
Do you have details about the lost Eurovision footage? Contact the EBU at [email protected].
Eurovision 2026: the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Vienna, Austria, on May 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2026. The Wiener Stadthalle arena, which will host the event, is expected to accommodate around 16,000 spectators per show. The contest returns to Austria following the nation’s third historic win with the song “Wasted Love”, performed by JJ. It will be Austria’s third time hosting Eurovision, after previous editions held in the country in 1967 and 2015.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Aviad Berger – Israeli editor, reporter, and content creator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has been working with the EuroMix editorial team for about a year and a half. Since 2024, he has provided continuous Eurovision coverage from the host city, delivering live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Aviad is also a video editor and filmmaker active in the Israeli media industry.
