LTV, the Latvian broadcaster has officially confirmed to Esctoday that Latvia will compete at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö next May. The 2013 Latvian Eurovision selection will consist of 2 semifinals on 8 and 9 February 2013 and the grand final 16 February.

LTV has exclusively revealed to Esctoday.com that for the first time ever the semi-finals will be held in Riga’s Palladium Concert Hall and will be open to audience. The grand final will be held in Ventspils at the same venue as last year’s finals and will also be open to public. The Latvian broadcaster will be opening its selection to foreign composers and authors to submit their entries and songs, though the competing artists/acts are strictly to be Latvian citizens.

Latvia debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest with Brainstorm’s My Star in 2000, and has the event in 2002 with Marie N’s I wanna and successfully hosted the contest on home soil, in Riga in 2003.

More information will be revealed in due course. Stay tuned to Esctoday.com for more news on Latvia and the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

source: Esctoday.com, LTV