The Eurovision Song Contest, often simply called Eurovision, is an annual international song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. It features participants from EBU member broadcasters representing countries mainly in Europe, but also some beyond, such as Israel and Australia
. Each participating country submits an original song, performed live by a singer or group of up to six people, with the song lasting no more than three minutes. The contest consists of three live shows over one week: two semi- finals and a grand final. Countries compete in the semi-finals to qualify for the final, where the winner is decided by a combination of jury and public votes from the participating countries
. Eurovision is the longest-running international music competition on television and one of the world's largest live music events, with hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It is known for its diverse musical styles, extravagant performances, and often flamboyant costumes. The contest has launched the careers of famous artists like ABBA and Céline Dion
. The event is also seen as a cultural phenomenon that reflects contemporary Europe’s spirit, combining entertainment with occasional political and regional expressions. It is sometimes described as a "pop music Olympics" or a "World Cup" of singing
. In summary, Eurovision is a yearly televised song contest where countries from Europe and beyond compete with original songs, aiming to win the title of the best song in a festive and widely watched event
