The Yugoslavian participating broadcaster, Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija (JRT), selected its entry through Jugovizija 1981.

After a four-year break, Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija (JRT) returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981.

[2] Sixteen songs made it to the national final, which was broadcast by JRT to all of the regions of Yugoslavia.

The winner was decided by the votes of eight regional juries (Sarajevo, Skopje, Novi Sad, Titograd, Zagreb, Belgrade, Ljubljana, and Pristina).

The winning entry was "Lejla", performed by Bosnian singer Seid Memić Vajta and written by Ranko Boban.