Since early this year, Lithuania’s search engines for the next Eurovision representative have been working in full motion. The country’s broadcaster LRT is now announcing that, as with every year, their annual national selection show Eurovizija will be taking place once more in 2019. As for those who wish to defend the Lithuanian colours in Tel Aviv, the time is now!

8 shows in 2019; further announcements in December

2019 sees a change in the Lithuanian national selection, as LRT has shortened the total duration of the procedure to 8 shows, that will kick off in January. Following the evaluation of the submitted entries, the ones qualified to the final eight weeks of Eurovizija 2019 will be revealed after the closure of submissions in December, along with the venue that will be hosting the final evening on 23 February.

All artists and authors wishing to participate in Eurovizija 2019 may submit their entries to LRT by 10 December. Candidates who are able to apply for participation are split into three categories: those who offer a song, performers without a song, and performers with their own song.

Foreign authors are able to submit compositions for the national selection event, however the performers must be of Lithuanian citizenship.

The Lithuanian Head of Delegation, Audrius Giržadas, has made the following statements:

I have no doubt that last year there were new names in Lithuania that were able to introduce themselves to a large audience. We really have songs that could enslave not only Lithuania. Both categories of applications – songwriters and performers – already looking forward from now until December 10th, and we promise to both sides – and the songs and artists – to show the best possible prospects.

Here you may download and read in detail the rules of Eurovizija 2019, as published by LRT.

Lithuania in Eurovision 2018

Under the same national selection format, Lithuania decided to take part and send a representative to the 63rd Eurovision Song Contest, held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon. The young singer Ieva Zasimauskaitė was the lucky winner of Eurovizija 2018, with her ballad song When we’re old.

The rehearsals’ beginning in Lisbon and her qualification to the Grand Final, saw Ieva climbing much higher than probably expected to the bookers’ preferences, even inside the Top 5 of the contest. Following an extraordinary and romantic performance with her husband joining her on stage in the end, Ieva finally came 12th in the Grand Final, with a total of 181 points.