France has participated in the
Eurovision Song Contest 58 times since its debut at the very first contest in
1956. France is one of only seven countries to be present at the first contest, and has only been absent from two contests in its history, missing the
1974 and
1982 contests. France has won the contest five times, and along with Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom is one of the "Big Five" who are automatically allowed to participate in the final because they are the five biggest financial contributors to the
European Broadcasting Union (EBU).