Eurovision Song Contest 1972

Eurovision Song Contest 1972
Date and venue
Final
  • 25 March 1972 (1972-03-25)
VenueUsher Hall
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Organisation
OrganiserEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU)
ScrutineerClifford Brown
Production
Host broadcasterBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
ProducerTerry Hughes
Executive producerBill Cotton
Musical directorMalcolm Lockyer
PresenterMoira Shearer
Participants
Number of entries18
Participation map
  •      Competing countries     Countries that participated in the past but not in 1972
Vote
Voting systemTwo-member juries from each country; each juror scored each song between one and five
Winning song Luxembourg
"Après toi"

The Eurovision Song Contest 1972 was the 17th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 25 March 1972 at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and presented by Moira Shearer. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), who staged the event after Télé Monte-Carlo (TMC), which had won the 1971 contest for Monaco, declined hosting responsibilities, citing the lack of a suitable venue, technical limitations, and related costs. As the Spanish and German broadcasters, which had placed second and third in 1971 respectively, also declined the offer to host, the BBC stepped in to stage the 1972 contest after no other offers were received. It was the first, and as of 2026 only, edition of the contest to take place in Scotland.

Broadcasters from a total of eighteen countries – the same line-up as had competed the previous year – participated.

The winner was Luxembourg, represented by the song "Après toi", composed by Klaus Munro and Leo Leandros under the pseudonym Mario Panas, written by Leandros and Yves Dessca, and performed by Vicky Leandros. It was Luxembourg's third contest victory, following wins in 1961 and 1965. The United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria rounded out the top five, with the United Kingdom achieving its record-extending eighth runner-up position and Germany placing third for the third year in succession. Portugal achieved its best result to date, with a seventh-place finish, while Malta placed last for the second year in a row.