My My! It is 50 years since ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest at Brighton Dome

On 6th April 1974 the United Kingdom hosted the Eurovision Song Contest at the stunning Brighton Dome. This particular edition of the song contest was one that was destined to be remembered and celebrated for many decades to come. It was notable for many reasons - the amazing host city (not that we're biased!), the UK's entry was sung by the fabulous Olivia Newton-John, the interval act was The Wombles but of course the main reason for the 1974 Eurovison Song Contest enterting the history books is because it launched the career of one of the best-sellng and best-loved acts in pop history - ABBA. 

Eurovision Memories

Were you in Brighton in 1974? If you have memories or photos of ABBA winning the Eurovision we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at: media@visitbrighton.com

Celebrating 50 Years 

2024 is the 50th anniversary of this momentous song contest and there will be a variety of events taking place to celebrate. Brighton Dome was the host venue back in 1974 and this year they will mark this momentous occassion with Gold a Eurovision spectactular featuring the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus along with former Eurovision winners including Charlotte Perrelli, Nikky French and Katrina from Katrina & the Waves. 

This will be a weekend of city-wide celebrations with Brighton Centre welcoming Arrival from Sweden for a night of ABBA music and Brighton Museum's exhibition ABBA: One Week in Brighton will give visitors the chance to relive the excitement of that iconic week through personal stories of people who were there. 

See below for itinerary suggestions for the anniversary weekend and ways to celebrate throughout the year. 

Thank You for the Music

For those people who were lucky enough to be in the audience of Brighton Dome on 6th April 1974 they were able to see ABBA before they starting topping the charts and breaking records. And in some ways nothing has changed as the city is still home to an eclectic range of grassroots music venues giving visitors the chance to catch the next big thing. Make some time to experience the live music scene today and perhaps in 50 years time you'll be looking back to this year and saying 'I was there'. Even if you don't discover the next ABBA (or the next Wombles!) we do know you'll have an amazing night out immersing in live music in an intimate venue.