As we all know , Austria won the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song contest in Basel, with JJ and “Wasted Love”. Which means that next year, we will be travelling to somewhere in Austria for the 2026 edition of our beloved contest. JJ’s victory in Basel was the third victory for Austria at the contest , with previous wins being in 1966, with Udo Jurgens and “Mercie Cherie “and again in 2014 when Conchita Wurst took victory for the nation with “Rise like a Phoenix ” in Copenhagen, Denmark.

With this in mind, we at Eurovision Ireland, decided it would be interesting to create a series , looking back over the years at previous Austrian acts and how they fared in the contest , in the years that Austria have taken part . Today, we go all the way back to their first three appearances in 1957. 1958 and 1959

1957 Bob Martin “Wohin Kleines Pony”

Austria debuted at the 1957 contest in Frankfurt, Germany , when Bob Martin represented them with his song “Wohin Kleines Pony”.Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t a great start , when he came last with just 3 points.

1959 Liane Augustin “Die Ganze welt braucht liebe”

Liane Augustin represented Austria at the 1958 context in Hilversum, Netherlands with “Die Ganze welt braucht liebe ” ( The whole world needs love”. She finished 5th with 8 points. Liane passed away in 1978, in Vienna .

1959 Ferry Graf “Der K. und K .Kalypso aus Wien”

At the 1959 contest in Cannes, France, Ferry Graf was selected by Austrian Broadcaster ORF to represent the nation with “Der K.und K.Kalypso aus Wien.He came second to last in joint 9th place with just 4 points. Ferry Graf passed away in 2017 in Finland, where he had lived for many years.

In part two of our series on past Austrian participants, we will focus on the years 1960, 1961 and 1962. In the meantime , let us know what you think about Austria at Eurovision by either leaving us a comment in the comments box , or you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X .

Author: Sarah Rudman

Source: ORF , Wikipedia

Visual sources : You Tube, Wikipedia.