The 1979 Eurovision contest was the first held outside of Europe

Science · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When the Eurovision Song Contest traveled to Jerusalem in 1979, it broke a geographic boundary that had defined the competition since its inception. This historic move sparked intense diplomatic friction, leading to a unique set of logistical hurdles and a scoring drama that nearly flipped the final result.

The 1979 edition marked a significant shift in the contest's geography, as it was the first time the event was held outside of Europe. Hosted by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) at the Menachem Ussishkin auditorium in Jerusalem, the move prompted immediate geopolitical consequences. Due to opposition from Arab nations regarding a Muslim-majority country joining a competition hosted in Israel, Turkey pulled out despite originally planning to enter with 'Seviyorum'. Similarly, Yugoslavia opted out of the competition for political reasons, despite a public poll showing nearly 100,000 citizens supported their return.

Logistically, the production faced unique challenges due to local infrastructure. Because Israeli Television did not yet have the capacity to broadcast in color for most occasions, the IBA had to borrow cameras from the BBC—a move also seen during the 1971 contest in Dublin. The musical production was notable for its scale; the IBA Symphony Orchestra, consisting of 39 musicians, performed the music for every entry except for the Italian submission. The stage design by Dov Ben David incorporated local flora like prickly pear cactus and pomegranates, alongside a film showcasing Jerusalem's religious and modern scenery.

The competition concluded with a tense scoring sequence that nearly saw a different winner. Israel led early on, but Spain surged ahead. By the time only the final Spanish jury remained, Israel trailed by a single point. Spain ultimately awarded Israel 10 points, securing Israel's second consecutive win with the song "Hallelujah." The event also marked a procedural turning point: it was the final year points were announced in order of appearance; from 1980 onward, the contest switched to an ascending order of preference.

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