ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with “Waterloo.”
The Swedish group performed the song at the contest in Brighton, England, on 6 April 1974. Their energetic performance, distinctive costumes, and memorable melody helped them win with 24 points, ahead of Italy and the Netherlands. The victory marked Sweden’s first Eurovision win.
“Waterloo” became an international hit and helped launch ABBA’s global career. The group’s name was formed from the first letters of its members’ first names: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. A common mix-up is to identify “Dancing Queen” as their Eurovision-winning song; that track was released later, in 1976.
ABBA went on to become one of the best-selling music acts in history. Sweden has since won Eurovision several more times, including with Loreen’s “Euphoria” in 2012 and “Tattoo” in 2023.