France in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996
France continued to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest, participating at the 1996 contest, held in Oslo, Norway.
Eurovision Song Contest 1996 | ||||
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Country | ![]() | |||
National selection | ||||
Selection process | Internal selection | |||
Selected entrant | Dan Ar Braz & L'Héritage des Celtes | |||
Selected song | "Diwanit Bugale" | |||
Finals performance | ||||
Final result | 19th, 18 points | |||
France in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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France Télévisions, the French broadcaster, internally selected Dan Ar Braz & L'Héritage des Celtes to represent the country, singing "Diwanit Bugale" (May the Children Be Born), a song in the Breton language. This was the first time that Breton was sung at Eurovision, and the first time since 1993 that the French entry was not sung in French.
At Eurovision
In 1996, for the only time in Eurovision history, an audio-only pre-qualifying round of the 29 songs entered (excluding hosts Norway who were exempt) was held in March in order for the seven lowest-scoring songs to be eliminated before the final. France placed 11th with 55 points, thus qualifying for the final.
On the night of the final, Braz and L'Héritage des Celtes performed 13th, following host country Norway and preceding Slovenia. At the close of the voting they had received 18 points (highest being 7 from Belgium), placing 19th of 23.[1] At the time it was the worst placing for France in the Contest's history, and would remain so for the next two years, until 1998.
The French jury awarded its 12 points to Austria.
Points awarded to France
12 points | 10 points | 8 points | 7 points | 6 points |
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5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
12 points | 10 points | 8 points | 7 points | 6 points |
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5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
Pre-qualifying round
12 points | ![]() |
10 points | ![]() |
8 points | ![]() |
7 points | ![]() |
6 points | ![]() |
5 points | ![]() |
4 points | ![]() |
3 points | ![]() |
2 points | ![]() |
1 point | ![]() |
Final
12 points | ![]() |
10 points | ![]() |
8 points | ![]() |
7 points | ![]() |
6 points | ![]() |
5 points | ![]() |
4 points | ![]() |
3 points | ![]() |
2 points | ![]() |
1 point | ![]() |