<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> Eurovision Song Contest </Li> <Li> 1957 → </Li> </Ul> <Li> Eurovision Song Contest </Li> <P> The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on Thursday 24 May . </P> <P> Organised by the European Broadcasting Union, the pan-European music competition was inspired by the Italian Sanremo Music Festival . Lohengrin Filipello hosted the first contest which lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes . Seven countries participated, with each of them performing two songs . Two jury members from all participating countries cast their votes in secret, based on which song was their favourite . </P>

When was the first eurovision song contest held