Earlier today RTP and the EBU revealed the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest host city thus delighting Eurovision fans far and near. It’s time to book your flights and hotels for Eurovision 2018! The Portuguese national broadcaster held a special press conference at the RTP Headquarters in Lisbon earlier today.

A total of 5 cities battled for the golden right to host the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest: Braga, Gondomar, Guimarães, Lisbon and Santa Maria da Feira.

The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 8, 10 and 12 May in the beautiful capital of Portugal. Lisbon is located on the Atlantic shores of Portugal and has a population of circa 2.7 million inhabitants and is amongst the oldest cities in the old continent.

Mr. Jon Ola Sand (ESC Executive Supervisor on behalf of EBU) says:

We are very pleased to announce that 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.

Mr. Gonçalo Reis (RTP CEO) says:

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.

RTP’s mesage for the fans and press at the press conference:

Europe has always been plural, yet it’s legacy represents the wish for a brighter future, with one another. Portugal is a country in one of the far reaches of Europe, and strongly connected to it, but always wide opened to the sea. And the oceans can give us a hint into this idea of being intertwined. All things flow. And through them we too are connected. That has been the main key in Portugal’s history, bridging not only with the rest of Europe, but also with Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. By sea. 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.

Presentation video of Lisbon the 2018 Eurovision host city