The three hosts for Selecția Națională 2016, the Romanian national selection for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, have been revealed.

Selecția Națională 2016 will be hosted by Cornel Ilie, Ioana Voicu and Jo. The announcement was made live at Radio Romania News by Iuliana Marciuc, the Head of Romanian Delegation and producer of the National Selection. Radio Romania is partner of Eurovision Romania 2016.

Cornel Ilie is the composer, lyricist and producer of the Romanian pop-rock band  Vunk. He already has experience in hosting important events, in 2013 hosting the Romanian Music Awards, and in 2014 the Radio Romania Awards. Cornel Ilie has also participated in the national Romanian selection for Eurovision several times: with Vank (the predecessor of Vunk) in 2002, in 2009 with Tina Geru and with Alexa, and in 2010 with Dalma. As a composer, Cornel Ilie has written lyrics for artists such as Gabriel Cotabiţă, Loredana, Alexandra Crişan, Valentin Dinu, AG Weinberger, and Keo.

Ioana Voicu found herself behind the scenes of the Romanian Eurovision selection in the past year. This year she will be Cornel Ilie’s partner at the Selecția Națională 2016. In 2015, Ioana Voicu also hosted a series of programmes dedicated to Eurovision on TVR .

Jo (Ioana Bianca Anuta) represented Romania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Kiev, with the song Ai puterea în mâna ta (You have the power in your hands). She also participated in the national Romanian selection for Eurovision in 2012, placing 4th, and she has hosted TV-programmes in collaboration with TVR. The singer will accompany the competitors of the Selecția Națională 2016 in the Green Room, from where she will cover the emotions and the first impressions of the participants. Jo will also encourage each of the contestants before their performance, and meet their supporters.

Cornel Ilie and Ioana Voicu, together with Jo, will host the semi-final and of the national final of  the Selecția Națională 2016 at the Sala Polivalentă in Baia Mare Municipality.

The two events will take place on 4 and 6 March 2016. At the semi-final on March 4th, Jukebox, M I H A I, Ovidiu Anton, Florena, Doru Todoruţ and Irina Baianţ, Dream Walkers, Hayley Evetts, Andra Olteanu, Irina Popa, Vanotek feat. The Code & Georgian, Xandra and Mihai Băjinaru, will compete. Out of the 12 songs, 6 will go to the final: 4 will be chosen by a professional jury, 2 by the public, through televoting.

In the final of the national Romanian selection 2016, the public will choose via televoting Romania’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 10, 12 and 14. 43 countries will partake in the competition. Romania will participate in the second semi-final on May 12th.

To get into the mood, enjoy Romania’s 2015 Eurovision-entry, De la capăt (All over again) by Voltaj, once again:

Stay tuned to ESCToday.com for all the latest news on the Eurovision Song Contest!