First Eurovision Song Contest

Date: May 24, 1956 • Location: Lugano, Switzerland

The Eurovision Song Contest 1956, originally titled the Gran premio Eurovisione 1956 della canzone europea, was the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 24 May 1956 at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland, and presented by Lohengrin Filipello. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radio svizzera italiana (RSI) on behalf of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. It is the only time that the contest has been hosted by a solo male presenter.