Iceland: Ari Ólafsson wins Söngvakeppnin 2018
Ari Ólafsson will represent Iceland at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Our Choice". Tonight the final of Söngvakeppnin 2018 was held with six finalists fighting for the ticket to Lisbon
The Icelandic broadcaster RÚV held the final of Söngvakeppnin 2018 tonight live from Laugardalshöll in Reykjavík. Six artists fought for the honor of representing Iceland at Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
In the Söngvakeppnin final there were two rounds of voting. Firstly the top two entries (50/50 televoting/jury) advanced to the superfinal: Ari Ólafsson and Dagur Sigurðsson. After another round of voting (100% televoting) it was Ari Ólafsson who could raise the trophy as winner of Söngvakeppnin 2018, and Icelandic representative at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song Our Choice.
Söngvakeppnin 2018 – Result
- Ari Ólafsson – "Our Choice" (superfinalist)
- Dagur Sigurðsson – "Í stormi" (superfinalist)
- Aron Hannes – "Gold Digger"
- Heimilistónar – "Kúst og fæjó"
- Fókus – "Battleline"
- Áttan – "Here for You"
All the songs were performed in Icelandic language in the Semi-finals. In the final it was optional for each singer if he/she will perform the song in Icelandic or in English.
Söngvakeppnin 2018
Söngvakeppnin 2018 had two semi-finals and one final. The semi-finals were held in Háskólabíó and the final in Laugardalshöll.
- Semi-final 1: 10 February 2018
- Semi-final 2: 17 February 2018
- Final: 3 March 2018
12 songs were picked to compete in Söngvakeppnin 2018 – Six songs for each Semi-final. Three songs from each Semi-final qualified to the Final, decided by televoting.
In the Final of Söngvakeppnin 2018 a combination of 50/50 televoting/jury selected two songs for the Super Final. The two super finalists performed their songs again, and here the winner was decided solely by televoting.
Iceland in Eurovision Song Contest
Iceland's debut in Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and has been participating 30 times since. Best result are two second-places with Yohanna in 2009 and Selma in 1999.
Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Iceland qualified to the Grand Final 8 out of 14 times.
Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
