Eurovision Song Contest 1980

Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Date and venue
Final
  • 19 April 1980
VenueNederlands Congresgebouw
The Hague, Netherlands
Organisation
OrganiserEuropean Broadcasting Union (EBU)
ScrutineerFrank Naef
Production
Host broadcasterNederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS)
DirectorTheo Ordeman
Executive producerFred Oster
Musical directorRogier van Otterloo
PresenterMarlous Fluitsma
Participants
Number of entries19
Debuting countries Morocco
Returning countries Turkey
Non-returning countries
Participation map
  •      Competing countries     Countries that participated in the past but not in 1980
Vote
Voting systemEach country awarded 12, 10, 8-1 point(s) to their 10 favourite songs
Winning song Ireland
"What's Another Year"

The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 19 April 1980 at the Nederlands Congresgebouw in The Hague, Netherlands, and presented by Marlous Fluitsma. It was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), who staged the event after the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which had won the 1979 contest for Israel, declined hosting responsibilities as it had staged the competition in 1979. Although Fluitsma was the main presenter, each song was introduced by a presenter appointed by each participating broadcaster, that in some cases was the same person providing the commentary.

Broadcasters from nineteen countries took part this year, with Monaco and the previous year's winner Israel deciding not to participate, and Turkey returning. Morocco made its only appearance in the contest. It was the last Eurovision Song Contest not to be hosted in the previous edition's winning country until 2023.

The winner was Ireland with the song "What's Another Year", sung by Johnny Logan and written by Shay Healy.