For the first time ever there was a pre qualifying contest involving all entries (except hosts Norway). The juries heard a recording of the songs from all 29 of the countries wanting to take part, including Macedonia trying to make their debut. The juries then scored the songs based on the recording alone with the top 22 scoring countries qualifying for the final. Amongst those missing out were Germany, the one and only ESC final they have missed. Also missing out were Denmark, Israel, Russia, Romania, Macedonia & Hungary. Ireland returned to winning ways scoring their 4th victory in 5 years (although they had a huge hand in the 1995 winning song as well). Portugal scored their highest ever position finishing 6th. Elisabeth Andreassen was back for a 4th time, but for the first time as a soloist. Her complete record at Eurovision reads 1982 - 8th, 1985 - 1st, 1994 - 6th, 1996 - 2nd - an impressive record. Mariana Efstratiou returned for Greece 7 years after her debut. Turkish entrant Sebnem Paker would return the following year, as would the female half of the Estonian duo, Maarja-Liis Ilus. Cypriot Constantinos Christoforiou made the first of his 3 appearances. In the voting Ireland took the lead early on and, despite losing it briefly to Croatia, was never really challenged. Norway finished 2nd despite not having a single top mark awarded to them.
Results
1.(17) 162 points - Ireland - The Voice - Eimear Quinn
2.(12) 114 points - Norway - I Evighet - Elisabeth Andreassen
3.(23) 100 points - Sweden - Den Vilda - One More Time
4.(7) 98 points - Croatia - Sveta ljubav - Maja Blagdan
5.(11) 94 points - Estonia - Kaelakee hääl - Maarja-Liis Ilus & Ivo Linna
6.(4) 92 points - Portugal - O meu coração não tem cor - Lucia Moniz
7.(15) 78 points - Netherlands - De erste keer - Maxine & Franklin Brown
8.(2) 77 points - United Kingdom - Ooh aah...Just A Little Bit - Gina G
9.(5) 72 points - Cyprus - Mono yia mas - Constantinos
10.(6) 68 points - Malta - In A Woman's Heart - Miriam Christine
(8 ) 68 points - Austria - Weil's dr guat got - George Nussbaumer
12.(1) 57 points - Turkey - Besinci mevsim - Sebnem Paker
13.(19) 51 points - Iceland - Sjúbídú - Anna Mjöll
14.(10) 36 points - Greece - Emis forame to himona anixiatika - Mariana Efstratiou
15.(20) 31 points - Poland - Chce zna? swój grzech - Kasia Kowalska
16.(9) 22 points - Switzerland - Mon cœur l'aime - Kathy Leander
(16) 22 points - Belgium - Liefde is een kaartspel - Lisa del Bo
18.(22) 19 points - Slovakia - Kym nas mas - Marcel Palonder
19.(13) 18 points - France - Diwanit Bugale - Dan ar Braz et l'Héritage des Celtes
20.(3) 17 points - Spain - ¡Ay, qué deseo! - Antonio Carbonell
21.(14) 16 points - Slovenia - Dan najlepših sanj - Regina
22.(21) 13 points - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Za našu ljubav - Amila Glamocak
23.(18 ) 9 points - Finland - Niin kaunis on taivas - Jasmine