Eurovision Song Contest 1996#Qualifying round

File:Oslo Spektrum, 2022.jpg|i=unset}}, Oslo – host venue of the 1996 contest]]

The 1996 contest took place in Oslo, Norway, following the country's victory at the {{escyr|1995||1995 contest}} with the song "{{lang|no|Nocturne|i=unset}}", performed by Secret Garden. It was the second time that Norway had hosted the contest, following the {{escyr|1986||1986 contest}} staged in Bergen.{{cite web |title=Norway – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/norway |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202300/https://eurovision.tv/country/norway |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}} The chosen venue was the {{lang|no|Oslo Spektrum|i=unset}}, an indoor arena opened in 1990 and located in the {{lang|no|Sentrum|i=unset}} district of the city, which has hosted music concerts, ice hockey matches, and the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert.{{cite web |title=Om oss – Oslo Spektrum Arena |trans-title=About us – Oslo Spektrum Arena |url=https://oslospektrum.no/om-oss/ |publisher=Oslo Spektrum Arena |access-date=17 July 2022 |language=no |archive-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717143835/https://oslospektrum.no/om-oss/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Overview {{!}} Nobel Peace Prize Concert |url=http://nobelpeaceprizeconcert.no/?cat=14 |publisher=Nobel Peace Prize Concert |access-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105072128/http://nobelpeaceprizeconcert.no/?cat=14 |archive-date=5 November 2011 |date=5 November 2011 }} Around 6,000 spectators were present in the venue during the contest.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}}

{{further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{interlanguage link info|section=yes}}

{{ESC 1996 participants}}

A total of thirty countries submitted entries for the 1996 contest, however per the rules of the event only twenty-three countries would be allowed to participate. Norway, by virtue of being the host country, was guaranteed a place, with all remaining countries competing in the qualifying round in order to gain a spot in the event. Initially broadcasters from thirty-three countries expressed an interest in participating, however planned entries from {{esccnty|Bulgaria}}, {{esccnty|Moldova}}, and {{esccnty|Ukraine}} failed to materialise; these nations would eventually make their contest debuts in the 2000s.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}}

Three representatives who had performed as lead artists in previous contests featured among the performers at this event. Marianna Efstratiou had represented {{esccnty|Greece|y=1989|t=Greece in 1989}}, while Elisabeth Andreassen made her fourth appearance, having competed for {{esccnty|Sweden|y=1982|t=Sweden in 1982}} as a member of the band Chips, as well as representing Norway twice, winning the contest in {{esccnty|Norway|y=1985|t=1985}} as a member of Bobbysocks! and performing with Jan Werner Danielsen in {{esccnty|Norway|y=1994|t=1994}}.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=263–273}} Additionally, Georgina Abela, who had represented {{esccnty|Malta|y=1991|t=Malta in 1991}} with Paul Giordimaina, returned as a backing singer for the Maltese entrant Miriam Christine.{{cite web |last1=Zammit |first1=Nicole |title=Tagħlaq Żmienha L-Kantanta Popolari Georgina Abela |trans-title=Popular Singer Georgina Abela Ends Her Time |url=https://www.gwida.mt/mt/tag-laq-mienha-il-kantanta-popolari-georgina-abela |publisher=Gwida |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028161356/https://www.gwida.mt/mt/tag-laq-mienha-il-kantanta-popolari-georgina-abela |archive-date=28 October 2023 |language=mt |date=23 April 2023 |url-status=live}}

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File:I12 096e Oslo, Rathaus.jpg, location of the welcome reception]]

File:Morten Harket FFM13 001.jpg (pictured in 2013) also performed as the show's opening act.]]

The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was produced by the Norwegian public broadcaster {{lang|no|Norsk rikskringkasting|i=unset}} (NRK). Odd Arvid Strømstad served as executive producer, Pål Veiglum served as director, Bjarte Ulfstein served as designer, and Frode Thingnæs served as musical director, leading the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.{{cite web |title=Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414125016/https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|p=277}} A separate musical director could be nominated by each country to lead the orchestra during their performance, with the host musical director also available to conduct for those countries which did not nominate their own conductor.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=263–273}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=217}} On behalf of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the event was overseen by Christine Marchal-Ortiz as scrutineer.{{cite web |title=The Organisers behind the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925231140/https://eurovision.tv/about/organisers |archive-date=25 September 2024 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |last2=Smulders |first2=Stijn |title=Christine Marchal-Ortiz: 'I feel so nostalgic about Eurovision' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scene-with-christine-marshal-ortiz |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=31 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513201017/https://eurovision.tv/story/behind-the-scene-with-christine-marshal-ortiz |archive-date=13 May 2018 |date=10 October 2017 |url-status=live}}{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=210}}

The show was presented by the Norwegian journalist and television presenter Ingvild Bryn and the Norwegian singer Morten Harket, lead vocalist of the Norwegian band a-ha.{{cite web |title=Recalling Ireland's record seventh win in 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-ireland-s-record-seventh-win-in-1996 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922075802/https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-ireland-s-record-seventh-win-in-1996 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live}}{{cite press release |title=Programlederne i Euro Song 96: Ingvild Bryn og Morten Harket |trans-title=The presenters of Euro Song 96: Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket |url=http://www.nrk.no/eurosong/ |url-status=dead |publisher=NRK |language=no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990203055315/http://www.nrk.no/eurosong/ |archive-date=February 3, 1999 |access-date=February 14, 2024}} The contest underwent a re-brand for this edition, as NRK set out to improve the image of the competition and broaden its audience appeal.{{cite magazine |last=Marlowe |first=Chris |date=11 May 1996 |title=Norway Shapes a New-style Eurovision |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-05-11.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |volume=13 |issue=19 |location=Amsterdam, Netherlands |issn=1385-612X |page=10 |access-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817005018/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-05-11.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2020 |url-status=live}} The event was referred to by the hosts and through on-screen captions as Eurosong '96, the only occasion in which this contraction was officially used to refer to the event.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}}

Rehearsals in the contest venue for the competing acts began on 13 May 1996. Each country had two technical rehearsals in the week approaching the contest, with countries rehearsing in the order in which they would perform. The first rehearsals took place on 13 and 14 May, with each country allowed 40 minutes total on stage, followed by 20 minutes to review recordings with producers and to consult on suggested changes, and then a 20-minute press conference. Each country's second rehearsals took place on 15 and 16 May, with 30 minutes total on stage followed by another 20 minute press conference. A full technical rehearsal with all artists took place on the afternoon of 17 May, followed by two dress rehearsals with an audience on the evening of 17 May and the following afternoon.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}} The competing delegations were invited to a welcome reception during the week in the build-up to the event, hosted by the Mayor of Oslo at Oslo City Hall on the evening of 13 May, as well as to events during the rehearsal week including a sailing trip on the Oslofjord and a trip to the {{lang|no|Norsk Folkemuseum|i=unset}} in Bygdøy where a special Eurovision-themed exhibition had been installed.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}}{{cite news |last1=Isberg |first1=Gry |title=EuroSong skal skaffe solid Norges-reklame |trans-title=Eurovision will provide solid Norwegian advertising |url=https://www.nb.no/items/e8d6bfa66077fdd7c1b5df9a38fda2dd?page=13 |access-date=16 November 2022 |work=Moss Avis |date=14 May 1996 |location=Moss, Norway |page=14 |language=no |via=National Library of Norway |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116164315/https://www.nb.no/items/e8d6bfa66077fdd7c1b5df9a38fda2dd?page=13 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Grand Prix-sirkus på museum |trans-title=Grand Prix circus at the museum |url=https://www.nb.no/items/96c38b8135941f99f1c7ea4a62de7a23?page=9 |access-date=16 November 2022 |work=Østlands-Posten |date=23 March 1996 |location=Larvik, Norway |page=10 |language=no |via=National Library of Norway |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116164321/https://www.nb.no/items/96c38b8135941f99f1c7ea4a62de7a23?page=9 |url-status=live }}

NRK introduced visual effects to the contest for the first time.{{cite web |title=EuroSong '96 |url=http://www.nrk.no/info/publik/presenta/engelsk.htm |publisher=NRK |access-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970222190650/http://www.nrk.no/info/publik/presenta/engelsk.htm |archive-date=February 22, 1997 }} Computer-generated imagery (CGI) was featured as overlays during the broadcast of the competing entries, and the voting segment was conducted via chroma key technology built by Silicon Graphics; during this segment host Ingvild Bryn was situated in the "blue room", a special area to the side of the stage with a blue-coloured background, which allowed the contest scoreboard to be rendered virtually using CGI.{{cite news|last=Fox|first=David|date=May 12, 1996|title=Network: The scores on the virtual doors|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/network-the-scores-on-the-virtual-doors-1347102.html|work=The Independent|access-date=February 14, 2024|archive-date=14 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214131456/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/network-the-scores-on-the-virtual-doors-1347102.html|url-status=live}} The chroma key virtual display also included live footage of the artists in the green room backstage, as well as the video feeds of each country's spokespersons as they delivered their country's points.{{cite journal |last=Hughes |first=David |title=Virtual studio technology – The 1996 Eurovision Song Contest |journal=EBU Technical Review |year=1996 |url=https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_268-hughes.pdf |access-date=8 October 2022 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |archive-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119194231/https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_268-hughes.pdf |url-status=live }}

Each participating broadcaster submitted one song, which was required to be no longer than three minutes in duration and performed in the language, or one of the languages, of the country which it represented.{{cite web |title=How it works |date=18 May 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531032850/https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |archive-date=31 May 2022 |language=en-gb |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Jerusalem 1999 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202249/https://eurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}} A maximum of six performers were allowed on stage during each country's performance, and all participants were required to have reached the age of 16 in the year of the contest.{{cite web |title=The Rules of the Contest |date=31 October 2018 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004011300/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules |archive-date=4 October 2022 |url-status=live}} Each entry could utilise all or part of the live orchestra and could use instrumental-only backing tracks, however any backing tracks used could only include the sound of instruments featured on stage being mimed by the performers.{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=#EurovisionAgain travels back to Dublin 1997 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain-dublin-1997 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523190024/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovisionagain-dublin-1997 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |date=18 April 2020 |url-status=live}}

In 1996, a trial qualification process replaced the relegation system used from 1993 to 1995, whereby the lowest-ranked countries in each final were eliminated from the following year's contest. Under the new procedure, an audio preselection was organised for all participating countries, apart from the host country Norway, which received an automatic right to compete in the final, to be joined by an additional 22 countries. National juries in all competing countries, including Norway, listened to the submitted entries on audio tape, with juries required to listen to all songs three times before voting. Each of the eight members on each country's jury awarded their favourite song twelve points, their second-favourite ten points, their third-favourite eight points, with subsequent points being awarded consecutively down to each juror's tenth-favourite song being awarded one point, with the points awarded by all jurors being totalled to determine each country's top ten songs which were awarded points in the same manner. Jury members who voted in the qualifying round were not allowed to sit on the jury for the final.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}}

The EBU required all entries to be submitted by 20{{nbsp}}March 1996.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}} Jury voting was held on 20 and 21 March, with the qualifying countries publicly revealed on 22 March, at the same time as the running order draw for the final was conducted.{{cite news |title=Israel og Tyskland ute av Grand Prix |trans-title=Israel and Germany out of Eurovision |url=https://www.nb.no/items/f84c2d453aedaf9b5fc6348cb02bc742?page=8 |access-date=16 November 2022 |work=Haugesunds Avis |date=23 March 1996 |location=Haugesund, Norway |language=no |page=9 |via=National Library of Norway |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106132321/https://www.nb.no/items/f84c2d453aedaf9b5fc6348cb02bc742?page=8 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Suomen Jasmine mukaan euroviisuihin |trans-title=Finland's Jasmine joins the Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000003518286.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=23 May 1996 |language=fi |archive-date=14 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114121853/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000003518286.html |url-status=live }} The full results of how individual juries had voted was not intended to be revealed publicly, but the full breakdown has since become available.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}}

{{further|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}

The results of the 1996 contest were determined using the scoring system introduced in {{escyr|1975}}: each country awarded twelve points to its favourite entry, followed by ten points to its second favourite, and then awarded points in decreasing value from eight to one for the remaining songs which featured in the country's top ten, with countries unable to vote for their own entry.{{cite web |title=In a Nutshell |url=https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626052301/https://eurovision.tv/history/in-a-nutshell |archive-date=26 June 2022 |date=31 March 2017 }} The points awarded by each country were determined by an assembled jury of sixteen individuals, which was required to be split evenly between members of the public and music professionals, between men and women, and by age. Each jury member voted in secret and awarded between one and ten votes to each participating song, excluding that from their own country and with no abstentions permitted. The votes of each member were collected following the country's performance and then tallied by the non-voting jury chairperson to determine the points to be awarded. In any cases where two or more songs in the top ten received the same number of votes, a show of hands by all jury members was used to determine the final placing.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=273–276}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|p=73}} This was the last occasion that juries alone decided the result of the contest, as five nations introduced public televoting as a trial in {{escyr|1997||1997}}, and almost all other countries followed suit the {{escyr|1998||next year}}.

The "postcards" were 70-second video introductions shown on television whilst the stage is being prepared for the next contestant to perform their entry; the postcards for each country at the 1996 contest was made up of three segments. In the first segment the participating country was highlighted geographically on a map of Europe, followed by video footage of that country's competing artist or artists in their home country during their day-to-day lives, which also featured each artist packing a branded backpack with important items which they would take with them to Oslo. The second segment featured footage of nature scenes in Norway as well as Norwegian people in everyday life, often accompanied by music from Norwegian electronic group Subgud. The final segment consisted of a pre-recorded good luck message from a representative of each respective country in the language of that country.{{sfn|Hatlestad|2011|pp=80–86}} The seniority of these figures varied between the different countries; among the contributors were then-President of Turkey Süleyman Demirel, who survived an assassination attempt on the day of the contest, and then-Prime Minister of Portugal António Guterres, who would later become the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2017.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}}{{cite news |title=Demirel'e suikast girişiminde bulunan eczacı öldü |trans-title=Pharmacist who attempted to assassinate Demirel dies |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/demirele-suikast-girisiminde-bulunan-eczaci-oldu-24782367 |work=Hürriyet |date=25 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715182838/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/demirele-suikast-girisiminde-bulunan-eczaci-oldu-24782367 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |language=tr |url-status=live}}{{sfn|Vuletic|2018|p=201|loc=Conclusion: Bridges, Diamonds and Fires}} The individuals who provided messages for each country are shown below, alongside the position which they held at the time of the contest and the language in which they provided their message.

{{div col start}}

• {{flagu|Turkey}}{{snd}}Süleyman Demirel, President of Turkey (Turkish)
• {{flagu|United Kingdom}}{{snd}}Virginia Bottomley, Secretary of State for National Heritage (English)
• {{flagu|Spain}}{{snd}}Alberto Escudero Claramunt, Spanish Ambassador to Norway (Spanish)
• {{flagu|Portugal}}{{snd}}António Guterres, Prime Minister of Portugal (Portuguese)
• {{flagu|Cyprus|1960}}{{snd}}Glafcos Clerides, President of Cyprus (Greek)
• {{flagu|Malta}}{{snd}}Edoardo Fenech Adami, Prime Minister of Malta (Maltese)
• {{flagu|Croatia}}{{snd}}Zlatko Mateša, Prime Minister of Croatia (Croatian)
• {{flagu|Austria}}{{snd}}Elisabeth Gehrer, Federal Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs (German)
• {{flagu|Switzerland}}{{snd}}Michel Coquoz, Swiss chargé d'affaires in Norway (French)
• {{flagu|Greece}}{{snd}}Caterína Dimaki, Greek chargé d'affaires in Norway (Greek)
• {{flagu|Estonia}}{{snd}}Tiit Vähi, Prime Minister of Estonia (Estonian)
• {{flagu|Norway}}{{snd}}Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway (Norwegian)
• {{flagu|France}}{{snd}}Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Culture (French)
• {{flagu|Slovenia}}{{snd}}Milan Kučan, President of Slovenia (Slovene)
• {{flagu|Netherlands}}{{snd}}Aad Nuis, State Secretary of Education, Culture and Science (Dutch)
• {{flagu|Belgium}}{{snd}}Luc Van den Brande, Minister-President of Flanders (Dutch)
• {{flagu|Ireland}}{{snd}}John Bruton, Taoiseach (English)
• {{flagu|Finland}}{{snd}}Riitta Uosukainen, Speaker of the Parliament of Finland (Finnish)
• {{flagu|Iceland}}{{snd}}Davíð Oddsson, Prime Minister of Iceland (Icelandic)
• {{flagu|Poland}}{{snd}}Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of Poland (Polish)
• {{flagu|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}}{{snd}}Alija Izetbegović, President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnian)
• {{flagu|Slovakia}}{{snd}}Vladimír Mečiar, Prime Minister of Slovakia (Slovak)
• {{flagu|Sweden}}{{snd}}Göran Persson, Prime Minister of Sweden (Swedish)

{{div col end}}

The qualifying round took place on 20 and 21 March 1996, and the results were announced on 22 March. The table below outlines the participating countries, the order in which the juries listened to the entries, the competing artists and songs, and the results of the voting. Countries were ordered alphabetically by ISO two-letter country code.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}}

The entries from {{Esccnty|Denmark}}, {{Esccnty|Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Hungary}}, {{Esccnty|Israel}}, {{Esccnty|North Macedonia|t=Macedonia}}, {{Esccnty|Romania}}, and {{Esccnty|Russia}} were eliminated following the qualifying round.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=144–147}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}} This marked the first time that Germany was absent from the contest and remains the only occasion to date where the nation has not participated in the contest final.{{cite web |title=Germany – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/germany |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921190255/https://eurovision.tv/country/germany |archive-date=21 September 2022 |url-status=live}} Additionally Macedonia's first attempt to compete in the contest is not considered a debut entry by the EBU, with the nation eventually going on to make their official televised debut in {{Escyr|1998}}.{{cite web |title=North Macedonia – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/fyr-macedonia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922035113/https://eurovision.tv/country/fyr-macedonia |archive-date=22 September 2022 |url-status=live}}

Hungary and {{Esccnty|Finland}} tied on the same score for the final qualification place, however Finland qualified for the contest due to them having received the highest individual score (8 points) compared to Hungary (7 points).{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=255–260}}

File:Eimear Quinn tijdens Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2019.jpg, the winning artist of the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest]]

The contest took place on 18 May 1996 at 21:00 (CEST) and lasted 3 hours and 7 minutes.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=263–273}} In addition to his role as host, Harket also performed the song "Heaven's Not for Saints" as the show's opening act.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=261–263}} The interval act, entitled "{{lang|no|Vardebrenning|i=unset}}" or "Beacon Burning", was created by Petter Skavlan. The act featured a film montage created by Nils Gaup which combined stev, jazz, and Norwegian folk music as part of a musical tour of Norway, followed by a dance number performed live in the {{lang|no|Oslo Spektrum|i=unset}} by the Oslo Danse Ensemble, composed by Egil Monn-Iversen and choreographed by Runar Borge. The film section featured performances by Torbjørg Aamlid Paus, Bukkene Bruse, Bendik Hofseth, Håvard Gimse, Helge Kjekshus, the Brazz Brothers, Mari Boine and Terje Rypdal.{{cite AV media |date=18 May 1996 |title=Eurosong Oslo '96: Eurovision Song Contest 1996 |type=Television programme |language=en, fr, no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher={{lang|no|Norsk rikskringkasting|i=unset}} (NRK)}}{{sfn|Hatlestad|2011|pp=96–102}}

The winner was {{esccnty|Ireland|y=1996}}, represented by the song "The Voice", written by Brendan Graham and performed by Eimear Quinn.{{cite web |title=Oslo 1996 – Eimear Quinn |url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/eimear-quinn |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512233231/https://eurovision.tv/participant/eimear-quinn |archive-date=12 May 2018 |url-status=live}} This was Ireland's seventh contest win, extending their record achieved in 1994, as well as their fourth contest win in five years following their victories in the {{escyr|1992}}, {{escyr|1993}} and 1994 contests.{{cite web |title=Ireland – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/ireland |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202349/https://eurovision.tv/country/ireland |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}} Graham recorded his second contest win in three years as a songwriter, having written the winning song of the 1994 contest "Rock 'n' Roll Kids", and thus became one of five individuals to have won the contest more than once as an artist or songwriter up to that point in time, alongside Willy van Hemert, Yves Dessca, Johnny Logan and Rolf Løvland.{{cite news |title=Wouter Hardy met Zwitserland op weg naar nieuw songfestivalsucces |trans-title=Wouter Hardy on the way to new Eurovision success with Switzerland |url=https://www.ditjesendatjes.nl/wouter-hardy-met-zwitserland-op-weg-naar-nieuw-songfestivalsucces/ |access-date=25 October 2022 |work=Ditjes en Datjes |date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025110024/https://www.ditjesendatjes.nl/wouter-hardy-met-zwitserland-op-weg-naar-nieuw-songfestivalsucces/ |archive-date=25 October 2022 |language=nl |url-status=live}} {{esccnty|Croatia}}, {{esccnty|Estonia}} and {{esccnty|Portugal}} achieved their highest placings to date by finishing fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, while {{esccnty|Finland}} finished in last place for the eighth time.{{cite web |title=Croatia – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/croatia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202310/https://eurovision.tv/country/croatia |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Estonia – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/estonia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202240/https://eurovision.tv/country/estonia |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Portugal – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/portugal |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202327/https://eurovision.tv/country/portugal |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Finland – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/finland |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202218/https://eurovision.tv/country/finland |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-status=live}}

During the announcement of the Spanish votes, the Spanish spokesperson Belén Fernández de Henestrosa referred to the Netherlands as "Holland", which was misheard by Ingvild Bryn as "Poland" and which resulted in the Spanish six points being incorrectly attributed to the latter country. The results of the contest were amended after the event to correct this error, and the tables in this article present the corrected results as published by the EBU.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=273–275}}

File:Ragnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft.jpeg, the Norwegian spokesperson]]

Each participating broadcaster appointed a spokesperson who was responsible for announcing, in English or French, the votes for its respective country. As had been the case since the {{escyr|1994||1994 contest}}, the spokespersons were connected via satellite and appeared in vision during the broadcast, with the exception of the Norwegian spokesperson, Ragnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft, who appeared in person in the {{lang|no|Oslo Spektrum|i=unset}}.{{cite web |title=Dublin 1994 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530101326/https://eurovision.tv/event/dublin-1994 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |url-status=live}} Spokespersons at the 1996 contest are listed below.

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

1. {{flagu|Turkey}}{{snd}}{{ill|Ömer Önder|tr}}
2. {{flagu|United Kingdom}}{{snd}}Colin Berry{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=273–275}}
3. {{flagu|Spain}}{{snd}}Belén Fernández de Henestrosa{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=273–275}}
4. {{flagu|Portugal}}{{snd}}Cristina Rocha
5. {{flagu|Cyprus|1960}}{{snd}}Marios Skordis
6. {{flagu|Malta}}{{snd}}Ruth Amaira
7. {{flagu|Croatia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Daniela Trbović|hr}}
8. {{flagu|Austria}}{{snd}}{{ill|Martina Rupp|de}}
9. {{flagu|Switzerland}}{{snd}}Yves Ménestrier
10. {{flagu|Greece}}{{snd}}Niki Venega
11. {{flagu|Estonia}}{{snd}}Annika Talvik{{cite web |title=Eesti žürii punktid edastab Eurovisioonil Tanel Padar |trans-title=The points of the Estonian jury will be announced by Tanel Padar at Eurovision |url=https://muusikaplaneet.ee/2022/05/14/eurovisioon22-20/ |publisher=Muusika Planeet |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519134430/https://muusikaplaneet.ee/2022/05/14/eurovisioon22-20/ |archive-date=19 May 2022 |language=et |date=14 May 2022 |url-status=live}}
12. {{flagu|Norway}}{{snd}}Ragnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft
13. {{flagu|France}}{{snd}}Laurent Broomhead
14. {{flagu|Slovenia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Mario Galunič|sl}}
15. {{flagu|Netherlands}}{{snd}}Marcha
16. {{flagu|Belgium}}{{snd}}An Ploegaerts
17. {{flagu|Ireland}}{{snd}}Eileen Dunne{{cite web |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Mikie |title=RTE Eileen Dunne's marriage to soap star Macdara O'Fatharta, their wedding day and grown up son Cormac |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/rte-eileen-dunnes-marriage-soap-24277308 |work=RSVP Live |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608223329/https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/rte-eileen-dunnes-marriage-soap-24277308 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live}}
18. {{flagu|Finland}}{{snd}}Solveig Herlin{{sfn|Murtomäki|2007|pp=180–183}}
19. {{flagu|Iceland}}{{snd}}Svanhildur Konráðsdóttir
20. {{flagu|Poland}}{{snd}}{{ill|Jan Chojnacki (journalist)|pl|Jan Chojnacki (dziennikarz)|lt=Jan Chojnacki}}
21. {{flagu|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}}{{snd}}Segmedina Srna
22. {{flagu|Slovakia}}{{snd}}{{ill|Alena Heribanová|sk}}
23. {{flagu|Sweden}}{{snd}}Ulla Rundqvist{{sfn|Thorsson|Verhage|2006|pp=254–255}}

{{div col end}}

Jury voting was used to determine the points awarded by all countries.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|pp=273–275}} The announcement of the results from each country was conducted in the order in which they performed, with the spokespersons announcing their country's points in English or French in ascending order. The detailed breakdown of the points awarded by each country is listed in the tables below.

The below table summarises how the maximum 12 points were awarded from one country to another in the qualifying round.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2020|p=259}}

The below table summarises how the maximum 12 points were awarded from one country to another in the final. The winning country is shown in bold.

Each participating broadcaster was required to relay the contest via its networks. Non-participating EBU member broadcasters were also able to relay the contest as "passive participants". Broadcasters were able to send commentators to provide coverage of the contest in their own native language and to relay information about the artists and songs to their television viewers. These commentators were typically sent to the venue to report on the event, and were able to provide commentary from small booths constructed at the back of the venue.{{cite web |title=Commentator's guide to the commentators |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112181824/https://eurovision.tv/story/commentator-s-guide-to-the-commentators |archive-date=12 November 2018 |date=15 May 2011 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=Commentators: The national hosts of Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516182452/https://eurovision.tv/story/commentators-sweden-mans-zelmerlow-edward-af-sillen |archive-date=16 May 2017 |date=14 May 2017 |url-status=live}} Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators are shown in the tables below.

{{sticky header}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Televisioon |trans-title=Television |url=https://dea.digar.ee/?a=d&d=postrahvatoelinehaal19960518.1.8 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Post |date=18 May 1996 |location=Tallinn, Estonia |page=8 |language=et |via={{ill|DIGAR|et}}}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Finland}}

| rowspan="2" | YLE

| TV1

| Erkki Pohjanheimo, Sanna Kojo and Minna Pentti

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Televisio & Radio |trans-title=Television & Radio |url=https://nakoislehti.hs.fi/0ad12eb0-8f73-4f50-abf4-467dc76b61d5/62 |access-date=23 December 2022 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |location=Helsinki, Finland |date=18 May 1996 |pages=D15–D16 |language=fi |url-access=subscription |archive-date=4 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104163801/https://nakoislehti.hs.fi/0ad12eb0-8f73-4f50-abf4-467dc76b61d5/62 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Width |first1=Terhi |title=Norjalaiset haluavat euroviisuille uutta ilmettä Euroviisuissa tutut suosikit: Iso-Britannia, Irlanti ja Ruotsi |trans-title=Norwegians want a new look for Eurovision, the familiar favorites in Eurovision: Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000003531773.html |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=18 May 1996 |language=fi |url-access=subscription |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708164125/https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000003531773.html |url-status=live}}

|-

| {{lang|fi|Radio Suomi|i=unset}}

| Iris Mattila and Pasi Hiihtola

| style="text-align:center" |

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|France}}

| {{lang|fr|France Télévision|i=unset}}

| France 2

| Olivier Minne

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=les programmes TV |trans-title=TV programmes |url=https://archives-aube.fr/ark:42751/1eddddb6e9e168468f4b0050568bc001.fiche=arko_fiche_61d6ad69906e6.moteur=arko_default_63d288b4cdd38 |access-date=23 September 2024 |work={{ill|L'Est éclair|fr}} |date=18 May 1996 |location=Saint-André-les-Vergers, France |page=27 |language=fr |via=Aube en Champagne}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Iceland}}

| RÚV

| {{lang|is|Sjónvarpið|i=unset}}, {{lang|is|Rás 2|i=unset}}

| Jakob Frímann Magnússon

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Útvarp/Sjónvarp |trans-title=Radio/Television |url=https://timarit.is/page/1854107#page/n57/mode/2up |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Morgunblaðið |date=18 May 1996 |location=Reykjavík, Iceland |language=is |page=58 |via=Timarit.is}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Ireland}}

| rowspan="2" | RTÉ

| RTÉ One

| Pat Kenny

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Saturday: Television and Radio |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1996/0518/Pg040.html |access-date=19 December 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times Weekend |location=Dublin, Ireland |date=18 May 1996 |page=6 |url-access=subscription}}

|-

| RTÉ Radio 1

| Larry Gogan

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |last1=Sweeney |first1=Ken |title=Larry Gogan loses his Eurovision ticket |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-gogan-loses-his-eurovision-ticket-26844188.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623083933/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-gogan-loses-his-eurovision-ticket-26844188.html |archive-date=23 June 2022 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Malta}}

| PBS

| TVM

| Charles Saliba

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=1996 Eurovision Song Contest |work=Times of Malta |location=Birkirkara, Malta |date=18 May 1996 |page=29}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Netherlands}}

| rowspan="2" | NOS

| TV2

| Willem van Beusekom

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio & Televisie Zaterdag |trans-title=Radio & Television Saturday |url=https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1996-05-18/edition/0/page/8 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Leidsch Dagblad |location=Leiden, Netherlands |language=nl |date=18 May 1996 |page=8 |via=Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117151342/https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1996-05-18/edition/0/page/8 |url-status=live}}

|-

| Radio 2

| Hijlco Span

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Songfestival na jaren op radio |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest on radio after years |url=https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1996-05-18/edition/0/page/7 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=Leidsch Dagblad |location=Leiden, Netherlands |language=nl |agency=Geassocieerde Pers Diensten (GPD) |date=18 May 1996 |page=7 |via=Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Norway}}

| rowspan="2" | NRK

| {{lang|no|NRK Fjernsynet|i=unset}}

| Jostein Pedersen

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio- og TV-Programmene – Lørdag 18. mai 1996 |trans-title=Radio and TV Programs – Saturday 18 May 1996 |url=https://www.nb.no/items/eb4d5504c518426401a7cde6d727ec74?page=37 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Moss Dagblad |date=18 May 1996 |location=Moss, Norway |language=no |pages=38–39 |via=National Library of Norway |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122630/https://www.nb.no/items/eb4d5504c518426401a7cde6d727ec74?page=37 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Grand Prix-los fra nord |trans-title=Eurovision pilots from the north |url=https://www.nb.no/items/a46adfb3109bfb59b5fb60eee93b1b7b?page=41 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Nordlys |language=no |date=18 May 1996 |location=Tromsø, Norway |pages=42–43 |via=National Library of Norway |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122628/https://www.nb.no/items/a46adfb3109bfb59b5fb60eee93b1b7b?page=41 |url-status=live}}

|-

| NRK P1

| {{ill|Stein Dag Jensen|no}} and Anita Skorgan

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite web |title=Norgeskanalen NRK P1 – Kjøreplan lørdag 18. mai 1996 |trans-title=The Norwegian channel NRK P1 – Schedule Saturday 18 May 1996 |url=https://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/97f9fa4736275588247185f15e07cad7 |publisher=NRK |access-date=8 July 2022 |pages=14–15 |language=no |date=18 May 1996 |via=National Library of Norway}} {{subscription or libraries}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Poland}}

| TVP

| TVP1

| Dorota Osman

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Program |url=http://sbc.wbp.kielce.pl/dlibra/publication/44260/edition/43695/content |access-date=8 November 2024 |work=Weekend Echo Dnia |date=18–19 May 1996 |location=Kielce, Poland |page=11 |language=pl |via={{ill|Świętokrzyska Digital Library|pl|Świętokrzyska Biblioteka Cyfrowa}}}}{{cite web |title=Artur Orzech – Eurowizja, żona, dzieci, wiek, wzrost, komentarze |trans-title=Artur Orzech – Eurovision, wife, children, age, height, comments |url=https://www.eska.pl/news/artur-orzech-eurowizja-zona-dzieci-wiek-wzrost-komentarze-aa-ZTAx-o4SH-yU1E.html |publisher=Radio Eska |access-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617194356/https://www.eska.pl/news/artur-orzech-eurowizja-zona-dzieci-wiek-wzrost-komentarze-aa-ZTAx-o4SH-yU1E.html |archive-date=17 June 2021 |language=pl |date=18 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Portugal}}

| RTP

| RTP1{{efn|Additional live broadcast on {{lang|pt|RTP Internacional|i=unset}}{{cite magazine |title=Samedi 18 mai |trans-title=Saturday 18 May |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/321664/view?page=12&p=verso&tool=info |access-date=8 July 2022 |magazine=TV8 |volume=74 |issue=20 |date=16 May 1996 |location=Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland |pages=22–27 |language=fr |via=Scriptorium}}}}

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Programa da televisão |trans-title=Television programme |url=https://www.acomarcadearganil.cm-arganil.pt/a-comarca-de-arganil-10422/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |work=A Comarca de Arganil |date=16 May 1996 |location=Arganil, Portugal |page=8 |language=pt |archive-date=29 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220529012038/https://www.acomarcadearganil.cm-arganil.pt/a-comarca-de-arganil-10422/ |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Slovakia}}

| STV

| STV2

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Mi? Hol? Mikor? – szombat |trans-title=What? Where? When? – Saturday |url=https://library.hungaricana.hu/hu/view/UjSzo_1996_05/?pg=155 |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=Új Szó |location=Bratislava, Slovakia |date=18 May 1996 |page=8 |language=hu |via={{ill|Hungaricana|hu}}}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Slovenia}}

| rowspan="2" | RTVSLO

| {{ill|TV SLO 1|sl|lt=SLO 1}}

| Miša Molk

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Panorama – sobota, 18. maja 1996 |trans-title=Panorama – Saturday 18 May 1996 |url=https://arhiv.gorenjskiglas.si/digitar/16298754_1996_39_L.pdf |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=Gorenjski Glas |date=17 May 1996 |location=Kranj, Slovenia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723105731/https://arhiv.gorenjskiglas.si/digitar/16298754_1996_39_L.pdf |archive-date=23 July 2022 |page=20 |language=sl |url-status=live}}

|-

| Val 202

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Televizija+Radio |trans-title=Television+Radio |url=https://www.dlib.si/listalnik/URN_NBN_SI_doc-L71Z15F5/26/index.html |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=Delo |date=18 May 1996 |location=Ljubljana, Slovenia |page=26 |language=sl |via=Digital Library of Slovenia}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Spain}}

| TVE

| {{lang|es|La Primera|i=unset}}

| José Luis Uribarri

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=⬩Ràdio i televisió⬩|trans-title=⬩Radio and television⬩ |url=https://pandora.girona.cat/viewer.vm?id=0001141916&page=70 |access-date=13 February 2025 |work=Avui |date=18 May 1996 |page=70 |location=Barcelona, Spain |language=es |via={{ill|Ayuntamiento de Gerona|es}}}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Sweden}}

| SVT

| SVT2

| Björn Kjellman

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=TV–programmen |trans-title=TV programmes |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=18 May 1996 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |page=25 |language=sv}}

|-

| SR

| SR P3

| Claes-Johan Larsson and Lisa Syrén

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radioprogrammen |trans-title=Radio programmes |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=18 May 1996 |location=Stockholm, Sweden |page=25 |language=sv}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | {{Flagu|Switzerland}}

| rowspan="2" | SRG SSR

| {{lang|de|Schweiz 4|i=unset}}

| Sandra Studer

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio / TV Samstag |trans-title=Radio / TV Saturday |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=FZG19960518-01.1.10 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work={{ill|Freiburger Nachrichten|de}} |page=10 |date=18 May 1996 |location=Fribourg, Switzerland |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

|-

| TSR

| Pierre Grandjean

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=La télé aujourd'hui |trans-title=TV today |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/86088/view?page=27&p=separate&tool=info |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=Le Matin |date=18 May 1996 |location=Lausanne, Switzerland |page=27 |language=fr |via=Scriptorium}}

|-

| colspan="2" | {{ill|Radio Z|de}}

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Radio |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NZZ19960518-01.1.92 |access-date=29 October 2024 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |page=92 |date=18–19 May 1996 |location=Zurich, Switzerland |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Turkey}}

| TRT

| TRT 1

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=TV Programları |trans-title=TV programmes |url=https://egazete.cumhuriyet.com.tr/Archive/CUMHURIYET/GAZETE_ARSIVI/1996/5/18/607AF6EE-27C2-4E92-9B12-010A995CC52B_3212819_16.jpeg |access-date=21 December 2022 |work=Cumhuriyet |location=Istanbul, Turkey |date=18 May 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221091220/https://egazete.cumhuriyet.com.tr/Archive/CUMHURIYET/GAZETE_ARSIVI/1996/5/18/607AF6EE-27C2-4E92-9B12-010A995CC52B_3212819_16.jpeg |archive-date=21 December 2022 |page=16 |language=tr |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|United Kingdom}}

| rowspan="2" | BBC

| BBC1{{efn|Additional live broadcast on BBC Prime}}

| Terry Wogan

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=Eurovision Song Contest – BBC One |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/87a1c5d01f964eca8a139a3ef1512b82 |access-date=8 July 2022 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=16 May 1996 |via=BBC Genome Project |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204112845/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/87a1c5d01f964eca8a139a3ef1512b82 |url-status=live}}

|-

| BBC Radio 2

| Ken Bruce

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=Eurovision Song Contest – BBC Radio 2 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2d376756ed8244dd826631fad417189a |access-date=8 July 2022 |magazine=Radio Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=16 May 1996 |via=BBC Genome Project |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122624/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2d376756ed8244dd826631fad417189a |url-status=live}}

|}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Midweek television guide |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/31591708 |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Hills & Valley Messenger |date=15 May 1996 |location=Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |page=16 |language=fr |via=Trove |archive-date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217185606/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/31591708 |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Denmark}}

| rowspan="2" | DR

| DR TV

| Jørgen de Mylius

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | {{cite web |title=Alle tiders programoversigter – Lørdag den 18. maj 1996 |trans-title=All-time programme overviews – Saturday 18 May 1996 |url=https://www.dr.dk/alletidersprogramoversigter/?date=1996-05-18 |publisher=DR |access-date=2 April 2024 |archive-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409192056/https://www.dr.dk/alletidersprogramoversigter/?date=1996-05-18 |url-status=live }}

|-

| DR P3

| Katrine Nyland Sørensen, Martin Loft and Marianne Dinesen

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Faroe Islands}}

| colspan="2" | SvF

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Sjónvarp |trans-title=Television |url=https://epaper.infomedia.dk/wxn/19960517?s=1&p=12 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Oyggjatíðindi |date=17 May 1996 |location=Hoyvík, Faroe Islands |language=fo, da |page=13 |via={{ill|Infomedia|dk}}}}

|-

! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="4" | {{Flagu|Germany}}

| MDR

| MDR Fernsehen{{efn|The contest was broadcast live on select {{ill|Drittes Fernsehprogramm|de|lt=Third Program}} channels of Germany's ARD, with a deferred broadcast on Das Erste at 00:35 (CEST).|name="Germany"}}

| rowspan="4" | {{ill|Ulf Ansorge|de}}

| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |date=15 May 1996 |title=Samstag 18. Mai {{!}} Samedi 18 mai |trans-title=Saturday 18 May |url=https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/3vdkxbvxwd/pages/98 |access-date=14 June 2024 |magazine={{lang|fr|Télé-Revue|i=unset}} |volume=52 |issue=20 |location=Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |pages=10–15 |language=de, fr, lb |via=National Library of Luxembourg}}{{cite news |title=1996 bringt ESC-Neuanfang für Deutschland |trans-title=1996 brought a new Eurovision beginning for Germany |url=https://www.eurovision.de/feddersens_kommentar/1996-bringt-ESC-Neuanfang-fuer-Deutschland,rueckblick354.html |access-date=1 May 2023 |work=NDR |date=4 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805231123/http://www.eurovision.de/feddersens_kommentar/1996-bringt-ESC-Neuanfang-fuer-Deutschland,rueckblick354.html |archive-date=5 August 2016 |language=de |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=18 May 1996 |title=Nur ein Österreicher singt auf deutsch |trans-title=Only an Austrian sings in German |url=https://www.ecgermany.de/archiv/bilder/1996%20Fotos/Presse%2096%202.jpg |access-date=16 November 2024 |newspaper={{ill|Bocholter-Borkener Volksblatt|de}} |language=de}}

|-

| NDR/RB

| N3{{efn|name="Germany"}}

|-

| SFB

| B1{{efn|name="Germany"}}

|-

| WDR

| WDR Fernsehen{{efn|name="Germany"}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Greenland}}

| KNR

| KNR{{efn|Deferred broadcast at 21:45 (WGST)}}

| Jørgen de Mylius

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=KNR Aallakaatitassat/Programmer |trans-title=KNR Programmes |url=https://timarit.is/page/3843839#page/n11/mode/2up |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Atuagagdliutit |date=16 May 1996 |location=Nuuk, Greenland |language=kl, da |page=13 |via=Timarit.is}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Hungary}}

| MTV

| MTV 2

| István Vágó

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite magazine |title=Szombat május 18. {{!}} Televízió |trans-title=Saturday 18 May {{!}} Televízió |url=https://nemzetiarchivum.hu/news_archive/item/NEWS-RWtiZ042NG5TU0ZwRVBGRC9oNnlKUlM0ZDlGM3kzSXh0REtZckppSXpjZz0 |access-date=23 July 2022 |magazine=Rádió és TeleVízió újság |location=Budapest, Hungary |volume=42 |issue=20 |date=13 May 1996 |pages=42–45 |language=hu |via=Nemzeti Archívum}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Israel}}

| IBA

| Channel 1

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=السبت: ١٨\٥\٩٦ |trans-title=Saturday: 18/05/96 |url=https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/?a=d&d=alittihad19960517-01.1.7 |access-date=22 May 2023 |work=Al-Ittihad |date=17 May 1996 |location=Haifa, Israel |language=ar |page=7 |via=National Library of Israel}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Jordan}}

| JRTV

| JTV2

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Jordan Times Daily Guide and Calendar |url=https://archive.org/details/JordanTimes1996JordanEnglish/May%2018%201996%2C%20Jordan%20Times%2C%20%236223%2C%20Jordan%20%28en%29/page/n1/mode/2up |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=The Jordan Times |date=18 May 1996 |location=Amman, Jordan |page=2 |via=Internet Archive}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Lithuania|1988}}

| LRT

| LTV

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Sobota, 18 maja |trans-title=Saturday 18 May |url=http://www.pbc.uw.edu.pl/14829/1/96%20%2812879%29%20Kurier%20Wile%C5%84ski.%20Dziennik%20Niezale%C5%BCny%20sobota%2018%20maja%201996.pdf |access-date=28 October 2022 |work=Kurier Wileński |date=18 May 1996 |location=Vilnius, Lithuania |page=7 |language=pl |via=Polonijna Biblioteka Cyfrowa |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028160855/http://www.pbc.uw.edu.pl/14829/1/96%20(12879)%20Kurier%20Wile%C5%84ski.%20Dziennik%20Niezale%C5%BCny%20sobota%2018%20maja%201996.pdf |url-status=live}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Romania}}

| TVR

| TVR 1

| Doina Caramzulescu and Costin Grigore

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=Programe TV |trans-title=TV Programmes |url=https://digital.bibliotecaarad.ro/files/original/9663aa2c73f6ab0e792151fc59bdada436c7916c.pdf |access-date=26 October 2024 |work={{ill|Adevărul de Arad|ro}} |date=18 May 1996 |location=Arad, Romania |language=ro |page=6 |via={{ill|Biblioteca Județeană "Alexandru D. Xenopol" Arad|ro|Biblioteca Județeană „A.D. Xenopol” din Arad}}}}{{cite magazine |title=Televiziune – sâmbătă 18 mai 1996 |trans-title=Television – Saturday 18 May 1996 |magazine=Panoramic Radio-TV |page=20 |language=ro}}

|-

! scope="row" | {{flagdeco|FR Yugoslavia}} Yugoslavia

| RTS

| RTS 2

| {{N/A|}}

| style="text-align:center" | {{cite news |title=ТВ Субота |trans-title=TV Saturday |url=https://istorijskenovine.unilib.rs/view/index.html#panel:pp{{!}}issue:UB_00064_19960518{{!}}page:31 |access-date=25 May 2024 |work=Borba |date=18–19 May 1996 |location=Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia |page=31 |language=sr-cyrl |via=Belgrade University Library}}

|}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite thesis |last=Hatlestad |first=Silje Marie |degree=Masters |title=Good evening Europe, this is Norway: ei innhaldsanalyse av dei tre internasjonale Eurovision Song Contestfinalane arrangert i Noreg |trans-title=Good evening Europe, this is Norway: a content analysis of the three international Eurovision Song Contest finals held in Norway |date=June 2011 |url=https://bora.uib.no/bora-xmlui/bitstream/handle/1956/4994/84868500.pdf |access-date=8 October 2022 |publisher=University of Bergen |location=Bergen, Norway |language=nn |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008111845/https://bora.uib.no/bora-xmlui/bitstream/handle/1956/4994/84868500.pdf |url-status=live }}
• {{cite book |last=Murtomäki |first=Asko |title=Finland 12 points! Suomen Euroviisut |date=2007 |publisher=Teos |location=Helsinki, Finland |isbn=951-851-106-3 |language=fi}}
• {{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=Carlton Books |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd}}
• {{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84583-163-9 |volume=Four: The 1990s}}
• {{cite book |last1=Thorsson |first1=Leif |last2=Verhage |first2=Martin |title=Melodifestivalen genom tiderna: de svenska uttagningarna och internationella finalerna |trans-title=Melodifestivalen through the ages: the Swedish selections and international finals |date=2006 |publisher=Premium Publishing |location=Stockholm, Sweden |isbn=91-89136-29-2 |language=sv}}
• {{cite book |last1=Vuletic |first1=Dean |title=Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2018 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-4742-7626-9}}

{{commons category|Eurovision Song Contest 1996}}

• {{Official website|http://www.eurovision.tv/|name=Eurovision Song Contest official website}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1996}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest}}

1996

Category:1996 in music

Category:1996 in Norwegian music

Category:May 1996 in Europe

Category:1996 in Norway

Category:1990s in Oslo

Category:1996 in Norwegian television

Category:Events in Oslo

Category:Festivals in Oslo

Category:Music in Oslo

Category:Music festivals in Norway