BTRC, the Belarusian national broadcaster, has revealed that it has received more than 90 applications in its quest to search for the 2018 Belarusian Eurovision entry. Belarus will be selecting its Eurovision act and entry via national final.

More than 90 applications for participation in the national qualifying round of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest were received by Belteleradiocompany (BTRC).

As of 3 January, BTRC has received a total of 95 entries. Belarusian solo performers and music groups have applied to enter the competition, including artists from Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan and Moldova.

However, the number of applications is still not final and may change; not all applicants will be admitted to the audition. Some music groups have submitted songs with folk lyrics or music, which is prohibited by the rules of Eurovision.

About the 2018 Belarusian selection

According to the rules and regulations of the 2018 Belarusian Eurovision national selection, the submission period for artists to submit their applications concluded on 26 December 2017.

The Belarusian broadcaster will now evaluate and verify all submitted applications and check if they comply with the national selection rules and regulations as well as the Eurovision regulations.

The first stage of the national selection

• The auditions will begin on 11 January at 10:00 CET (12:00 local time) and will be held at BTRC’s 600 Meters Studio in Minsk. The auditions will be streamed live on BTRC’s official website  www.tvr.by.
• The audition will be held with live vocals accompanied by music and (or) a phonogram recorded with no vocals of any type or any vocal imitations.
• BTRC will be publishing the names of the jury members who will shortlist the submitted entries in due course. The names of the jury members will be published on BTRC’s official website.
•  The names of the 15 finalists will be known on 11 January. According to the Regulations, there will be no more than fifteen finalists.

The second stage of the national selection

The 2018 Belarusian national final will be held in Minsk no later than on 1 March 2018. A total of 15 acts will battle for the golden ticket to Lisbon.

The 2018 Belarusian Eurovison act and entry will be determined via a mixed 50/50 public televoting/professional jury deliberation. The televised show will be aired live on BTRC Channel 1 and will be streamed live on the broadcaster’s official website.

Belarus in Eurovision

Belarus joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 in Istanbul and is yet to win the event.

The country achieved its best placing in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 when Koldun placed 6th in Helsinki with Work your magic. The country has only qualified 5 times in its 14 year history in Eurovision.

In 2017, Naviband flew the Belarusian flag in Kyiv with their ethno-influenced melody Story of my life. The handsome couple placed 17th in the Grand Final.