Longest running annual TV music competition (international)

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) has been staged annually (with the exception of 2020) since 1956, when the "Eurovision Grand Prix" featured seven European countries and was won by Switzerland's Lys Assia with the song "Refrain". The ESC celebrated its 66th anniversary on 14 May 2022, with 41 countries represented at the PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy.

The first ESC took place at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland, on 24 May 1956. The only year the competition did not run was 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are several annual music competitions that pre-date the ESC: Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy), 1949–present (held annually except 2002); ARD International Music Competition (Germany), 1952–present; Maria Canals International Music Competition (Spain), 1954–present (annual since 1956). However, none of these contests are broadcast on TV (live or highlights).

In terms of more recent contenders, the birth of reality TV has spawned series such as The X Factor (2004–present) and The Voice (2010–present), but their history is relatively short compared to the ESC. Also in the pop/rock field, two of the biggest and most established annual music contests are Live and Unsigned (UK, 2007–present) and Open Mic UK (UK, 2008–present), but neither are covered on TV.

The "Eurovision Grand Prix" adopted its current name, the Eurovision Song Contest, in 1968.

The ESC predominantly features member countries of the European Broadcasting Union or the Council of Europe, the exceptions being Israel (since 1973), Morocco (1980) and Australia (2015). Australia made a one-off appearance in 2015 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the ESC, when Guy Sebastian performed "Tonight Again".

Australia were the 52nd country to take part in the ESC since its inception in 1956. As of the 2022 edition, Germany (67 appearances), France (66), Belgium (65) and the UK (65) had taken part in the contest on the most occasions.