The spectrum of bismuth was photographed in the 400–1200 Å (1 Å = 10−1 m) wavelength region on a 3 m normal incidence spectrograph using a triggered spark source. The 5d8, 5d76s, and 5d76p configurations of Bi VIII were analysed. The missing 1S0 level of the 5d8 configuration, 27 of 38 levels of the 5d76s configuration, and 30 additional levels of the 5d76p configuration were established. One previously identified level at 338 016 cm−1 (J = 3) was revised to 338 701 cm−1. Two hundred and sixty-three lines were classified in the 5d76s–5d76p transition array, and 26 additional lines were classified in the 5d8–5d76p transition array. The least-squares-fitted parametric calculations interpret the observed spectrum satisfactorily. The scaling factors of the energy parameters were compared in the isoelectronic sequence from Au IV to Bi VIII.