page_title: Eurovision Song Contest 1996
section_title: Location
hierarchical_section_title: Eurovision Song Contest 1996 / Location
caption_attribution_description: English: Oslo Spektrum, seen from Sonja Henies plass
context_page_description: The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the 41st edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Oslo, Norway, following Secret Garden's win at the 1995 contest in Dublin, Ireland with the song "Nocturne".
  It was held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum. The presenters were Morten Harket and Ingvild Bryn. Harket, lead singer of a-ha, opened the show with a performance of his single "Heaven's Not for Saints", which was a hit in Norway at the time. Twenty-three countries participated in the contest, with Eimear Quinn of Ireland crowned the winner after the final voting, with the song, "The Voice". The song was written by Brendan Graham, who also composed the 1994 winner "Rock 'n' Roll Kids". It was also a record seventh – and the most recent – win for Ireland.
  A non-televised audio-only pre-qualification round was organised by the European Broadcasting Union, in order to shortlist the number of participating nations that would compete in the televised final from twenty-nine, to a more manageable twenty-three. Germany, Israel, Denmark, Hungary, Russia, Macedonia, and Romania all failed to qualify. Macedonia eventually went on to make their debut in 1998.
context_section_description: Oslo is the capital and the most populous city in Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. For the first time, the Norwegian capital hosted the contest. This was the second time the event was staged in Norway, after the 1986 contest in Bergen. Oslo Spektrum, a multi-purpose indoor arena, was chosen as the host venue. Opened in December 1990, it is primarily known for hosting major events such as the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert and concerts by artists of national and international fame
caption: Oslo Spektrum, Oslo – host venue of the 1996 contest.
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