The Eurovision stars wish you a Merry Christmas!

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest was a spectacular, award-winning event in Stockholm. 42 countries came together in the spirit of friendly competition and for those evenings, they set aside any differences they may have had in order to take to the stage. Check out the messages from some of the 2016 participants below!

Christmas holidays are often a time for family and friends to get together, but they are also a time for reflection. 2016 has posed many challenges for world and these challenges have been felt acutely in Europe. In a speech earlier this year, ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus recognised the contribution of the Eurovision Song Contest in helping us to handle such challenges:

For me the Eurovision Song Contest is a powerful symbol and I would say, even a weapon in that fight against the dark forces that want to drag us back to the middle ages again. It is more relevant than ever. I feel that during those hours, those bright, uplifting hours when the Eurovision final is on the air, that’s one of the few times nowadays when Europe gets a sense of what it’s like to be unified. To live in harmony.

On behalf of the entire Eurovision Song Contest family, we would like to wish all of you a happy and safe time over the holidays and we look forward to bringing you the latest from the world of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017!