Lecture series on the Eurovision Song Contest phenomenon

From Nicole, who sang about world peace with a gentle voice, to Guildo Horn, who sent nut corners flying, to Lena Meyer-Landrut, who landed her "Satellite" in first place: Germany has a history with the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) that is as colorful as it is emotional. First held in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956, the "Grand prix" has developed into a colorful music and media event that regularly gives rise to discussions about social norms. The lectures of the interdisciplinary lecture series "Boom Bang-a-Bang ESC! The Eurovision Song Contest as a musical-media event", hosted by the Center for Popular Culture and Music (ZPKM) at the University campus Freiburg and the College of Music Freiburg. From October 24, 2025 to January 30, 2026, academics from Germany, Austria and Switzerland will shed light on the ESC phenomenon. They will explain how music becomes effective as a cultural practice - between mainstream and subversion, emotion and staging, entertainment and identity politics. In doing so, they not only address the accusation of kitsch, but also religious references, fan cultures, politics, sexism and diversity. The lecture is aimed at students and culturally interested urban society.

When: October 24, 2025 to January 30, 2026, every Friday from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.

• 24 October 2025: "Cultural and media-historical aspects of the Eurovision Song Contest", Prof. Dr. Dr. Michael Fischer (Freiburg)
• October 31, 2025: "Cultural studies research perspectives on a popular competition", Dr. Johannes Müske (Freiburg)
• November 7, 2025: "'Shine'. Glitter, shine, sparkle, radiate - The network of meanings of performative effect aesthetics on this side and beyond the ESC", Prof. Dr. Eberhard Wolff (Basel)
• November 14, 2025: "'Merci, Chérie' - is it (still) kitsch or can it go away?", Andreas Baumgartner MA (Basel/Freiburg)
• November 21, 2025: "'Hard Rock Hallelujah!' Religion and religious criticism at the ESC", Janik Hollaender (Freiburg)
• November 28, 2025: "'There are always miracles'. Katja Epstein's participation in the ESC from the perspective of the magazine Musikmarkt", PD Dr. Knut Holtsträter (Freiburg)
• December 5, 2025: "'Diggiloo, diggiley, alla tittar på mig'. The ESC and the small languages", Prof. Dr. Joachim Grage (Freiburg)
• December 12, 2025: "Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät: Freakshow or Inclusion? - Act!", Dr. Christine Löbbert (Freiburg)
• December 19, 2025: "'What do you think of the tango?' The Intervision Song Contest (1977-1980) and the Cold War", Antonia Kunze MA (Freiburg)
• January 9, 2026: "The German Fräuleinwunder. How Nicole and Lena won the ESC", Prof. Dr. Barbara Hornberger (Wuppertal)
• January 16, 2026: "'A little peace' - or a little more? Politics in the mirror of the ESC", Prof. Dr. Felix Thiesen (Hanover)
• January 23, 2026: "From butter stomping to queer divas: sexism at the ESC in the 21st century", Miriam Lisa Ljubijankic MA (Salzburg / Austria)
• January 30, 2026: "Queerfeminist fan cultures around the ESC in social media", Prof. Dr. Christine Lötscher (Zurich)