Eurovision Song Contest 1966

Eurovision Song Contest 1966
Date and venue
Final
  • 5 March 1966
VenueVilla Louvigny
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Organisation
OrganiserEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU)
ScrutineerClifford Brown
Production
Host broadcasterCompagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT)
Directors
  • Jos Pauly
  • René Steichen
Musical directorJean Roderès
PresenterJosiane Shen
Participants
Number of entries18
Participation map
  •      Participating countries
Vote
Voting systemEach country awarded 5, 3 and 1 points (or combinations thereof) to their three favourite songs
Winning song Austria
"Merci, Chérie"

The Eurovision Song Contest 1966, originally known as the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne 1966 (English: Eurovision Song Contest Grand Prix 1966), was the 11th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 5 March 1966 at Villa Louvigny in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and presented by Josiane Shen. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT), who staged the event after winning the 1965 contest for Luxembourg with the song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" by France Gall.

Broadcasters from eighteen countries participated in the contest, the same countries that had competed the previous year.

The winner was Austria with the song "Merci, Chérie", performed and composed by Udo Jürgens, and written by Jürgens and Thomas Hörbiger. This was Udo Jürgens third consecutive entry in the contest, finally managing to score a victory for his native country. This was also the first winning song to be performed in German. Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Ireland rounded out the top five, with all achieving their best results up to that point.