This year marks Greece’s 44th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. In the previous edition, singer Victor Veronicos fell short of reaching the Grand Final in Liverpool, finishing 13th in the semi-final.

Since its debut in 1974, Greece was not initially considered a top contender in Eurovision. However, with the advent of televoting in the early 2000s, Greece has enjoyed consistent success, frequently securing high rankings on the scoreboard. This includes numerous top 10 positions and a notable victory by Helena Paparizou with her song “My Number One” in 2005.

Indeed, the recent success of Greek entries in the Eurovision Song Contest can partly be attributed to the sizable Greek diaspora spread across Europe. These individuals often show strong support for their home country by actively participating in the voting process, contributing to the success of Greek entries. This trend is not unique to Greece; similar patterns can be observed in other countries with large diaspora populations, where expatriates enthusiastically rally behind their respective nations during Eurovision.

Since the introduction of Semi-Finals, Greece has demonstrated a strong track record of qualifying for the Grand Finals in the majority of their Eurovision Song Contest appearances, with only two exceptions in Stockholm 2016 and Lisbon 2018. Particularly noteworthy is Greece’s remarkable achievement of eight Top 10 rankings between 2004 and 2011.

Over their 44 years of participation, Greece has secured a Top 10 position an impressive 20 times, translating to a 45% probability of achieving a favourable ranking. Furthermore, with a qualification success rate of 91%, Greece is widely regarded as a dependable contender, consistently advancing to the Grand Finals with high reliability.

The Greek people had long held a fervent desire to clinch victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, a dream that finally materialized in 2005 when the Greek-Swedish sensation Helena Paparizou delivered an electrifying performance of “My Number One” in Kiev. This triumph sparked an immense wave of celebration not only in Greece but also across Europe, catapulting Helena to superstardom in both her home country and Sweden, where she was born. The victory was truly well-deserved, especially considering the underwhelming rankings Greece had received in previous years, which many felt were unjustified.

The following year, the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest held in Athens marked a historic milestone as Greece had the honour of hosting the event for the first and only time to date. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and hospitality, and the Greek television network ERT orchestrated a dazzling production. Despite the pressure of representing the host country, superstar Anna Vissi delivered a strong performance with her entry “Everything,” securing a respectable 9th place in the Grand Final.

In past editions of the Eurovision Song Contest, the juries assessing Greek entries have often been known for their discerning judgments. However, there exists one notable exception to this pattern: the Cyprus jury, which has steadfastly demonstrated loyalty to Greece by consistently awarding them the coveted 12 points. This tradition has fostered a strong bond between the two nations and has safeguarded Greece from ever receiving zero points.

Over the years, Greek entries have undergone an evolution, blending traditional folkloric elements with contemporary melodies. This fusion has resulted in many Greek Eurovision songs becoming summertime hits across the Mediterranean region.