Vatican City is eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest and family of events, holding full membership of the European Broadcasting Union.

Interest in Eurovision?

Vatican City is unlikely to ever participate in Eurovision events despite having one organisation that holds membership in the European Broadcasting Union, Vatican Radio. Vatican Radio broadcasts news and religious content.

The Vatican is known only once to have been involved in any discussions regarding the Eurovision Song Contest. In thebuild-up to the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Vatican released a statement following misreporting that the Holy See was attempting to intervene in the venue chosen for Eurovision 2017.

A statement from the Holy See said:

“No body of the Holy See officially or secretly intervened in the matter of the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, while being aware about this issue and sharing the concerns of the believers. Hence, these publications have no grounds.”

During the history of the Eurovision Song Contest and Eurovision family of events over fifty countries have competed, but there are more countries eligible or interested in participating. Find out more here.

Image: Andres Putting/ Thomas Hanses (EBU)