2018 is finally here! Hence, the search of more and more countries for their next Eurovision entrant and song is well and truly underway. A few days ago, the Montenegrin national broadcaster RTCG announced that their forthcoming national final Montevizija 2018 has been scheduled for the evening of 17 February.

Thirty-one want it; only one will get it!

Following the conclusion of the submission period in mid-December, RTCG has officially stated that they have received 31 entries, all wishing to take part in the national final race and finally represent the country next May in Lisbon. Now an appointed 5-member judging panel has to evaluate all these 31 submitted acts and determine which 5 of them will battle for the golden Eurovision ticket.

The 5 lucky acts are expected to be announced in due course, whilst the final winner of the event will be elected 100% by public vote.

Montenegro at Eurovision

After their split from Serbia, Montenegro firstly took the Eurovision stage as an independent state in 2007. The country is yet to win the event and has had relatively poor statistics since, having been present at only 2 Grand Finals, in 2014 and 2015, when they achieved their best Eurovision result to date. This was a 13th place with the singer Knez and his entry Adio.

Last year, the Eurovision participation of the Balkan state was featured by the eccentric performance of Slavko Kalezić. Undoubtedly, he managed to make sense with his long tress and extraordinary clothing, however, he didn’t progress to the Grand Final, coming 16th at the first semi-final with 56 points.

Slavko was the winner of the 2017 Barbara Dex Award. Here you may enjoy his appearance on the stage of the International Exhibition Centre of Kyiv.

Who could be this year the one for Montenegro?