Eurovision Song Contest 1999

Eurovision Song Contest 1999
Dates
Final29 May 1999 (1999-05-29)
Host
VenueInternational Convention Centre
Jerusalem, Israel
Presenter(s)
Directed byHagai Mautner
Executive supervisorChristine Marchal-Ortiz
Executive producerAmnon Barkai
Host broadcasterIsrael Broadcasting Authority (IBA)
Websiteeurovision.tv/event/jerusalem-1999 Edit this at Wikidata
Participants
Number of entries23
Debuting countriesNone
Returning countries
Non-returning countries
  • A coloured map of the countries of EuropeBelgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Italy in the Eurovision Song ContestNetherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Switzerland in the Eurovision Song ContestGermany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Monaco in the Eurovision Song ContestLuxembourg in the Eurovision Song ContestSpain in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Finland in the Eurovision Song ContestNorway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Greece in the Eurovision Song ContestMalta in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song ContestMorocco in the Eurovision Song ContestCyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Slovakia in the Eurovision Song ContestHungary in the Eurovision Song ContestRomania in the Eurovision Song ContestLithuania in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Russia in the Eurovision Song ContestMacedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest
         Competing countries     Relegated countries unable to participate due to poor results in previous contests     Countries that participated in the past but not in 1999
Vote
Voting systemEach country awarded 12, 10, 8–1 points to their ten favourite songs
Winning song
1998 ← Eurovision Song Contest → 2000

The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem, Israel. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the contest was held in the country following its victory at the 1998 contest with the song "Diva" by Dana International, and was presented by Dafna Dekel, Yigal Ravid and Sigal Shachmon.

Twenty-three countries participated in the contest. Finland, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland, having participated in the 1998 contest, were absent due to being relegated after achieving the lowest average points totals over the past five contests, while Hungary actively chose not to return. Meanwhile Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, and Iceland returned to the contest, having last participated in 1997, while Lithuania made its first contest appearance since 1994.

The winner was Sweden with the song "Take Me to Your Heaven", composed by Lars Diedricson, written by Gert Lengstrand and performed by Charlotte Nilsson. Iceland, Germany, Croatia, and Israel rounded out the top five, with Iceland achieving its best ever result and Croatia equalling its previous best. It was the first contest since 1976 that countries were allowed to perform in the language of their choice, and not necessarily the language of their country. It was also the first ever contest not to feature an orchestra or live music accompanying the competing entries.