Eurovision Song Contest 1978 — 23rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
Israel won its first Eurovision title in 1978, the first victory for a Semitic-language entry, at a record-setting 20-country contest held in Paris.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 23rd Eurovision Song Contest
- Date
- 22 April 1978
- Competing countries
- 20 (record at the time)
- Winning song
- "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta
- Winning country
- Israel (first victory)
- Last place
- Norway, nul points (fifth last-place finish)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
France earned hosting rights by winning the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with Marie Myriam's "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant," obligating broadcaster TF1 to stage the following year's competition. Denmark and Turkey also returned after lengthy absences, bringing participation to a then-record twenty countries.
The 23rd Eurovision Song Contest was held on 22 April 1978 at the Grand Amphitheatre of the Palais des Congrès in Paris, co-hosted by Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone — the first time two presenters shared the role and the first male presenter since 1956. Israel's entry "A-Ba-Ni-Bi," conducted by Nurit Hirsh, won the competition.
Israel's victory was historic on multiple fronts: it was the country's first Eurovision win, the first winning song in a Semitic language, and the only winning entry conducted by a woman. Norway finished last with nul points under the post-1975 voting system, marking their fifth last-place result, while Belgium achieved their best result to that date with second place.
Work
Eurovision Song Contest 1978 — winner: "A-Ba-Ni-Bi"
Israel's first Eurovision win with a Semitic-language song opened the contest's history to broader linguistic diversity and demonstrated the competition's expanding European and Mediterranean reach.