# Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest

Cyprus has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 40 times since making its debut in 1981. The Cypriot participant broadcaster in the contest is the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC). Its first entry was "Monika" performed by the group Island, who finished sixth. The country's best result is a second-place finish with "Fuego" by Eleni Foureira in 2018. Cyprus holds the record for most editions competing in the contest without a single win to date.
Between 2006 and 2013, Cyprus failed to qualify from the semi-final round six times, before withdrawing in 2014. On 14 July 2014, CyBC officially confirmed its return to the contest for 2015, with the country then qualifying for the final every year since, a streak that lasted until its non-qualification in 2022. Cyprus once again returned to the final in 2023.

## History

The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. It has participated in the contest representing Cyprus since its 26th edition in 1981.
Since its first entry, CyBC has participated every year except for 1988, 2001, and 2014. In 1988, CyBC withdrew its entry after it determined that the intended entry was ineligible; the song had been presented to jurors (but not selected) in the 1984 internal selection process, which was a violation of their selection rules. In 2001, the country did not qualify for the contest due to insufficiently high average scores in previous contests, according to the qualification process at the time. In 2014, the broadcaster decided to not participate in the contest and cited public indifference, public opinion regarding the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis, and related budget restrictions as factors for not taking part. On 14 July 2014, CyBC officially confirmed their return to the contest in 2015. Cyprus hosted the Eurovision Song Project, which included 2 semi-finals, 1 second chance round and a final.
Since its return in 2015, Cyprus has only failed to qualify once, and even reached its best result with "Fuego" by Eleni Foureira coming second in 2018. Cyprus holds the record for most editions competing in the contest without a single win to date. Most of the Cypriot entries have been sung in Greek or English; the exceptions are in 2000, in which the song "Nomiza" included both Greek and Italian, and in 2007, in which "Comme ci, comme ça" by Evridiki was entirely in French. Additionally, in both 2018 and 2021, the songs had some phrases in Spanish.

### Voting

Cyprus' exchange of the maximum 12 points with Greece has occurred regularly in the contest, which is often met with derision from the audience. In the 31 instances (1981–2024) of Cyprus being able to vote for Greece in a final, it has voted Greece as having the best song on 26 of them (the exceptions being 1981, 1985, 1990, 1991, 2015 and 2024). Since the introduction of televoting in 1998, the two countries have consistently given each other the maximum 12 points except in 2015, when neither country gave their 12 points to the other, but both gave their maximum points to Italy.
Cyprus and Turkey never exchanged votes until 2003, a taboo attributed to the Cyprus dispute.

### Popularity of the contest

Since its first entry in 1981, Cyprus has had a mixture of varied results. The best result achieved so far is a second place, reached by Eleni Foureira at the 2018 contest.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Cyprus managed to reach the top 10 a number of times, something which made the Contest popular with the Cypriot public. Since 2004, Cyprus' performance has dropped notably. From 2006 to 2009 and again in 2011 and 2013, the country failed to reach the final.
At the same time when Cyprus' performance in the contest dropped vertically, Greece's performance improved very fast by one win and seven top ten results in one decade. This created a shift of interest, with the Cypriot public being more interested in the success of the Greek entry. This is probably because Greece, since 2004, seems to send very popular singers that have a well established fan-club in Cyprus, while Cyprus usually elects their contestants through an open talent contest, which often results in somewhat unknown artists representing the country.

## Participation overview

Table key :
| 2 | Second place |
| ◁ | Last place |
| X | Entry selected but did not compete |
| † | Upcoming event |
| Year | Entrant | Song | Language | Final | Points | Semi | Points |
| 1981 | Island | "Monika" (Μόνικα) | Greek | 6 | 69 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1982 | Anna Vissi | "Mono i agapi" (Μόνο η αγάπη) | Greek | 5 | 85 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1983 | Stavros and Constantina | "I agapi akoma zi" (Η αγάπη ακόμα ζει) | Greek | 16 | 26 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1984 | Andy Paul | "Anna Mari-Elena" (Άννα Μαρί-Έλενα) | Greek | 15 | 31 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1985 | Lia Vissi | "To katalava arga" (Το κατάλαβα αργά) | Greek | 16 | 15 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1986 | Elpida | "Tora zo" (Τώρα ζω) | Greek | 20 ◁ | 4 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1987 | Alexia | "Aspro mavro" (Άσπρο μαύρο) | Greek | 7 | 80 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1988 | Yiannis Dimitrou | "Thimame" (Θυμάμαι) | Greek | Withdrawn X | Withdrawn X | | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1989 | Fanny Polymeri and Yiannis Savvidakis | "Apopse as vrethoume" (Απόψε ας βρεθούμε) | Greek | 11 | 51 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1990 | Anastazio | "Milas poli" (Μιλάς πολύ) | Greek | 14 | 36 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1991 | Elena Patroklou | "S.O.S." | Greek | 9 | 60 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1992 | Evridiki | "Teriazoume" (Ταιριάζουμε) | Greek | 11 | 57 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1993 | Zymboulakis and Van Beke | "Mi stamatas" (Μη σταματάς) | Greek | 19 | 17 | Kvalifikacija za Millstreet | Kvalifikacija za Millstreet |
| 1994 | Evridiki | "Ime anthropos ki ego" (Είμαι άνθρωπος κι εγώ) | Greek | 11 | 51 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1995 | Alexandros Panayi | "Sti fotia" (Στη φωτιά) | Greek | 9 | 79 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1996 | Constantinos | "Mono gia mas" (Μόνο για μας) | Greek | 9 | 72 | 15 | 42 |
| 1997 | Hara and Andreas Konstantinou | "Mana mou" (Μάνα μου) | Greek | 5 | 98 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1998 | Michael Hajiyanni | "Genesis" (Γένεσις) | Greek | 11 | 37 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 1999 | Marlain | "Tha'ne erotas" (Θα'ναι έρωτας) | Greek | 22 | 2 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2000 | Voice | "Nomiza" (Νόμιζα) | Greek, Italian | 21 | 8 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2002 | One | "Gimme" | English | 6 | 85 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2003 | Stelios Constantas | "Feeling Alive" | English | 20 | 15 | No semi-finals | No semi-finals |
| 2004 | Lisa Andreas | "Stronger Every Minute" | English | 5 | 170 | 5 | 149 |
| 2005 | Constantinos Christoforou | "Ela Ela" | English | 18 | 46 | Top 12 in 2004 final | Top 12 in 2004 final |
| 2006 | Annet Artani | "Why Angels Cry" | English | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 15 | 57 |
| 2007 | Evridiki | "Comme ci, comme ça" | French | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 15 | 65 |
| 2008 | Evdokia Kadi | "Femme Fatale" | Greek | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 15 | 36 |
| 2009 | Christina Metaxa | "Firefly" | English | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 14 | 32 |
| 2010 | Jon Lilygreen and the Islanders | "Life Looks Better in Spring" | English | 21 | 27 | 10 | 67 |
| 2011 | Christos Mylordos | "San aggelos s'agapisa" (Σαν άγγελος σ'αγάπησα) | Greek | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 18 | 16 |
| 2012 | Ivi Adamou | "La La Love" | English | 16 | 65 | 7 | 91 |
| 2013 | Despina Olympiou | "An me thimasai" (Aν με θυμάσαι) | Greek | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 15 | 11 |
| 2015 | John Karayiannis | "One Thing I Should Have Done" | English | 22 | 11 | 6 | 87 |
| 2016 | Minus One | "Alter Ego" | English | 21 | 96 | 8 | 164 |
| 2017 | Hovig | "Gravity" | English | 21 | 68 | 5 | 164 |
| 2018 | Eleni Foureira | "Fuego" | English | 2 | 436 | 2 | 262 |
| 2019 | Tamta | "Replay" | English | 13 | 109 | 9 | 149 |
| 2020 | Sandro | "Running" | English | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X | Contest cancelled X |
| 2021 | Elena Tsagrinou | "El Diablo" | English | 16 | 94 | 6 | 170 |
| 2022 | Andromache | "Ela" (Έλα) | English, Greek | Failed to qualify | Failed to qualify | 12 | 63 |
| 2023 | Andrew Lambrou | "Break a Broken Heart" | English | 12 | 126 | 7 | 94 |
| 2024 | Silia Kapsis | "Liar" | English | 15 | 78 | 6 | 67 |
| 2025 | Theo Evan | "Shh" | English | Upcoming † | Upcoming † | Upcoming † | Upcoming † |

## Awards
### Marcel Bezençon Awards

| Year | Category | Song | Composer(s) lyrics (l) / music (m) | Performer | Final | Points | Host city | Ref. |
| 2004 | Composer Award | "Stronger Every Minute" | Mike Konnaris (m & l) | Lisa Andreas | 5 | 170 | Istanbul | |
| 2018 | Artistic Award | "Fuego" | Alex Papaconstantinou, Geraldo Sandell, Viktor Svensson, Anderz Wrethov Didrick | Eleni Foureira | 2 | 436 | Lisbon | |

## Related involvement
### Conductors

| Year | Conductor |
| 1981 | Michael Rozakis |
| 1982 | Martyn Ford |
| 1983 | Michael Rozakis |
| 1984 | Pierre Cao |
| 1985 | Charis Andreadis |
| 1986 | Martyn Ford |
| 1987 | Jo Carlier |
| 1988 | John Themis |
| 1989 | Charis Andreadis |
| 1990 | Stanko Selak |
| 1991 | Alexander Kirov Zografov |
| 1992 | George Theophanous |
| 1993 | George Theophanous |
| 1994 | George Theophanous |
| 1995 | George Theophanous |
| 1996 | Stavros Lantsias |
| 1997 | Stavros Lantsias |
| 1998 | Costas Cacogiannis |

### Heads of delegation

Each participating broadcaster in the Eurovision Song Contest assigns a head of delegation as the EBU's contact person and the leader of their delegation at the event. The delegation, whose size can greatly vary, includes a head of press, the contestants, songwriters, composers and backing vocalists, among others.
| Year | Head of delegation |
| 1999 | Marios Skordis |
| 2003 | Marios Skordis |
| 2005 | Tasos Trifonos |
| 2007–present | Evi Papamichael |

### Commentators and spokespersons

| Year | Television commentator | Radio commentator | Spokesperson |
| 1974 | Unknown | Unknown | Did not participate |
| 1975 – 1980 | No broadcast | No broadcast | Did not participate |
| 1981 | Fryni Papadopoulou | Neophytos Taliotis | Anna Partelidou |
| 1982 | Fryni Papadopoulou | Neophytos Taliotis | Anna Partelidou |
| 1983 | Fryni Papadopoulou | Neophytos Taliotis | Anna Partelidou |
| 1984 | Pavlos Pavlou | Neophytos Taliotis | Anna Partelidou |
| 1985 | Themis Themistokleous | Neophytos Taliotis | Anna Partelidou |
| 1986 | Themis Themistokleous | Fryni Papadopoulou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1987 | Themis Themistokleous | Fryni Papadopoulou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1988 | Daphne Bokota (for ERT and RIK) | No radio broadcast | Did not participate |
| 1989 | Neophytos Taliotis | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1990 | Neophytos Taliotis | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1991 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1992 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1993 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1994 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Anna Partelidou |
| 1995 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Andreas Iakovidis |
| 1996 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Marios Skordis |
| 1997 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Marios Skordis |
| 1998 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Marina Maleni |
| 1999 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Marina Maleni |
| 2000 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2001 | Evi Papamichael | No radio broadcast | Did not participate |
| 2002 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Melani Steliou |
| 2003 | Evi Papamichael | Pavlos Pavlou | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2004 | Evi Papamichael | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2005 | Evi Papamichael | No radio broadcast | Melani Steliou |
| 2006 | Evi Papamichael | No radio broadcast | Constantinos Christoforou |
| 2007 | Vaso Komninou | No radio broadcast | Giannis Haralambous |
| 2008 | Melina Karageorgiou | No radio broadcast | Hristina Marouhou |
| 2009 | Melina Karageorgiou | Nathan Morley | Sophia Paraskeva |
| 2010 | Melina Karageorgiou | Nathan Morley | Christina Metaxa |
| 2011 | Melina Karageorgiou | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2012 | Melina Karageorgiou | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2013 | Melina Karageorgiou | Melina Karageorgiou | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2014 | Melina Karageorgiou | No radio broadcast | Did not participate |
| 2015 | Melina Karageorgiou | Melina Karageorgiou | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2016 | Melina Karageorgiou | Melina Karageorgiou | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2017 | Tasos Tryfonos and Christiana Artemiou | Tasos Tryfonos and Christiana Artemiou | John Karayiannis |
| 2018 | Costas Constantinou and Vaso Komninou | No radio broadcast | Hovig |
| 2019 | Evridiki and Tasos Trifonos | No radio broadcast | Hovig |
| 2021 | Louis Patsalides | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2022 | Melina Karageorgiou and Alexandros Taramountas | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2023 | Melina Karageorgiou and Alexandros Taramountas | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
| 2024 | Melina Karageorgiou and Hovig | No radio broadcast | Loukas Hamatsos |
Stage directors
Year
Stage director
Ref.
2005
Fotis Nikolaou
2008
Fotis Nikolaou
2009
Fotis Nikolaou
2011
Fotis Nikolaou
2012
Apollon Papatheoharis
2013
Maria Liraraki
2016
Sacha Jean-Baptiste
2017
Charis Savva
2018
Sacha Jean-Baptiste
2019
Sacha Jean-Baptiste
2020
Marvin Dietmann
2021
Marvin Dietmann
2022
Marvin Dietmann and Dan Shipton
2023
Marvin Dietmann and Ross Nicholson
Costume designers
Year
Costume designers
Ref.
2005
Doukas Hatzidoukas
2006
Marios Savvidis
2013
Dionisis Kolpodinos
2016
Andreas Zannetidis
2018
Vrettos Vrettakos
2019
Alexandre Katsaiti
2021
Celia Kritharioti
2022
Stelios Koudounaris :

## Photo gallery

* Alex Panayi in Dublin (1995)
* Lisa Andreas in Istanbul (2004)
* Evridiki in Helsinki (2007)
* Evdokia Kadí in Belgrade (2008)
* Christina Metaxa in Moscow (2009)
* Jon Lilygreen and the Islanders in Oslo (2010)
* Despina Olympiou in Malmö (2013)
* Giannis Karagiannis in Vienna (2015)
* Minus One in Stockholm (2016)
* Hovig in Kyiv (2017)
* Eleni Foureira in Lisbon (2018)
* Tamta in Tel Aviv (2019)
* Elena Tsagrinou in Rotterdam (2021)
* Andromache in Turin (2022)
* Andrew Lambrou in Liverpool (2023)
* Silia Kapsis in Malmö (2024)