Eurovision Song Contest 2018 host city and date announced
The host city and dates for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest have been announced.
The camp pan-European music contest took place in Kyiv, Ukraine in May.
Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral took the trophy after topping the leaderboard with a massive 758 points – winning both the jury vote and the public votes with emotional ballad Amar pelos dois.
The winning country is traditionally offered the right to host the next contest, and it was confirmed this week that the contest will be heading to sunnier shores in 2018.
The European Broadcasting Union confirmed that the next host city will be Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.
The contest’s LGBT fanbase will likely get a warm welcome in Lisbon, which has a thriving LGBT scene and Pride celebrations.
Portugal is liberal on LGBT rights.
It is one of only a few countries in the world that maintains a Constitution protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Portugal was the eighth country in the world to pass same-sex marriage, back in 2010, and recent years have also seen gender recognition laws and same-sex adoption approved.
RTP said in a statement: “Five hundred years ago Lisbon was the place where these sea routes departed from and arrived. And today, the city of diversity, respect and tolerance, with a society of all colours and creeds that shares the values Eurovision stands for, invites everyone to celebrate this willingness to come closer and stand united.”
The Semi-Finals of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 8 and 10 2018, with the Grand Final due to be held on Saturday May 12.
Jon Ola Sand, the EBU’s Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “We are very pleased to announce that [Portgual’s broadcaster] RTP will be hosting the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
“The City has presented an exemplary proposal, and we look forward to working together to make Portugal’s first ever Eurovision the most exciting one yet. We would like to congratulate RTP on their professional and detailed assessments of all the bids.”
Gonçalo Reis, the CEO of RTP, said: “Hosting Eurovision 2018 is a great opportunity for Portugal, Lisbon, the entertainment industry, and RTP. We look forward to organising an event that will show our creative capabilities.”
