Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Country	Estonia
National selection
Selection process	National Final
Selection date(s)	January 27, 1996
Selected entrant	Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna
Selected song	"Kaelakee hääl"
Finals performance
Final result	5th, 94 points
Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1994 • 1996 • 1997►

The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the third time that Estonia entered the Eurovision Song Contest, and was their first participation since their last place in the 1994 final. The entrant was again selected by a panel of expert judges, with thirteen entrants into the preselection final. The preselection would end up tied on points, with Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna's duet "Kaelakee hääl" winning on the basis of being awarded more maximum points than the runner-up Kadri Hunt. In the final, Ilus and Linna finished 5th.

National final

The 1996 preselections were hosted by Marko Reikop and Karmel Eikner, and were broadcast live from a night club in the Estonian capital Tallinn. Thirteen songs entered the event, with several acts entering with more than one song. Several artists had also competed in the last Estonian preselection for the 1994 contest, including Evelin Samuel and Pearu Paulus.

The preselections were voted on by a panel of judges from across Europe, with Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna tying first with Kadri Hunt on 62 points. After a review of the scoring, it was announced that Ilus and Linna would go on to represent Estonia at the finals in Oslo, due to the Finnish judge awarding them maximum points - Something which Hunt had not achieved from any judge during the voting process.

At Eurovision

Estonia had missed the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 final due to a low score in the 1994 event, which allowed other countries the chance of compete in 1995. Likewise, low scoring countries at the 1995 final missed out for 1996, allowing Estonia to get back in. In the final, Estonia would not have to worry about low scoring putting them out for 1997, with Ilus and Linna performing strongly and receiving maximum points from Sweden, Finland and Iceland. With the scores received from other countries steady also, Estonia managed to finish 5th, their highest ever placing at the time.

Voting

Points awarded by Estonia

12 points	Ireland
10 points	Sweden
8 points	Iceland
7 points	Austria
6 points	Croatia
5 points	Norway
4 points	Netherlands
3 points	France
2 points	United Kingdom
1 point	Belgium

Points awarded to Estonia

Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 1990s Janika Sillamaa Silvi Vrait 1995 Maarja-Liis Ilus & Ivo Linna Maarja Liis-Ilus Koit Toome Evelin Samuel & Camille 2000s Ines Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL Sahlene Ruffus Neiokõsõ Suntribe Sandra Oxenryd Gerli Padar Kreisiraadio Urban Symphony 2010s Malcolm Lincoln & Manpower 4 Getter Jaani Ott Lepland Birgit Õigemeel Tanja Elina Born & Stig Rästa Jüri Pootsmann
Songs 1990s "Muretut meelt ja südametuld" "Nagu merelaine" 1995 "Kaelakee hääl" "Keelatud maa" "Mere lapsed" "Diamond of Night" 2000s "Once in a Lifetime" "Everybody" "Runaway" "Eighties Coming Back" "Tii" "Let's Get Loud" "Through My Window" "Partners in Crime" "Leto svet" "Rändajad" 2010s "Siren" "Rockefeller Street" "Kuula" "Et uus saaks alguse" "Amazing" "Goodbye to Yesterday" "Play"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Estonia did not compete)