Eurovision 2018 countdown: 100 days! What do we know so far?

It is not the Final Countdown. But it's the Semi-final Countdown!

With 100 days left before the first show of Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon is aired, it's time for a round up of some of the facts we know so far about the biggest music competion in the world. The 2018-edition will feature 43 songs from 43 countries.

Eurovision Song Contest 2018 takes place in Lisbon, Portugal:

• Semi-final 1: 8 May 2018
• Semi-final 2: 10 May 2018
• Grand Final: 12 May 2018

Songs & Artists

3 countries are ready with songs and artists selected for Lisbon:
Click on a song title to see video, lyrics and details about each song

• Albania: Eugent Bushpepa – "Mall"
• France: Madame Monsieur – "Mercy"
• Austria: Cesár Sampson – "Nobody But You" (song not released yet)

Artists

5 countries have chosen their artists to send to Lisbon:

• Australia: Jessica Mauboy
• Azerbaijan: Aisel
• Belgium: Laura Groeseneken
• Finland: Saara Aalto
• Georgia: Iriao
• Netherlands: Waylon

National selections

Preparations are at full speed in the 43 countries participating in Lisbon. The national selections peak in a few weeks, and so far 8 countries have started their selections, shows and competitions:

• Lithuania, Eurovizija: 3 shows out of 9 have taken place
• Belarus: The auditions have finished, 11 finalists selected
• Hungary, A Dal: 2 shows out of 6 have taken place
• Romania, Selecția Națională: The first show out of 6 has aired
• Moldova, O melodie pentru Europa: 16 finalists selected for the final in February

... and many countries have revealed the contestants for their national selection.

So far we know that...

• 2 countries will select their entry tomorrow! ( Spain & Czech Republic)
• 17 countries will select their entry in February
• 10 countries follow in March.

The big Eurovision selection days will be Saturday 24 February 2018 (five countries select) and Saturday 3 March 2018 (four countries select). Still there are some countries who haven't announced the dates for their national selection, and still a few countries where it is unsure if they are organizing a national selection process, or just pick an act internally.

Semi-final allocation draw & Host Insignia Ceremony

The Semi-final allocation draw will be held tomorrow, on 29 January 2018, where it will be determined who's in which Semi-final. Also the "Big 5" (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain) + Portugal will be distributed to the two semi-finals for voting.

The Host Insignia Exchange takes place in Lisbon just before the allocation draw. Here the "Eurovision Keys" will be handed over from Kyiv city to Lisbon city. The Eurovision Keys exist of extreme weird key-hangers from each host the last many years.

Tickets

The ticket sale began in November 2017, where the first tickets for the Grand Final went on sale. In December more tickets for the final were released, and on Tuesday 30 January 2018, 11:00 CET the tickets for the two semi-finals and rehearsals will be on sale.

There will be more tickets on sale in the future.

Event

The host city is selected (Lisbon, in case you have been sleeping the last half year), and the dates are also set: 8, 10 & 12 May 2018.

The Arena is selected: Altice Arena, and the stage design has been revealed: Another master piece by Florian Wieder.

All Aboard! Logo & Slogan for Eurovision 2018 have been revealed. The theme is: Maritime, oceanic motives.

The location of both Eurovision Village (Praça do Comércio) and Euroclub (Lust in Rio) has been decided.