BTRC, the Belarusian national broadcaster, has announced that it has set the date for the forthcoming 2018 Belarusian national final on Friday 16 February.

A total of 11 acts will battle for the golden ticket to Lisbon at the upcoming Belarusian national final. BTRC is in full steam and gearing up for its Eurovision finale.

The running order of the national final will be determined via a special draw next Tuesday. Hereafter the 11 participants will take part in the shooting of their respective promo videos.

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.

Hereafter, the Belarusian broadcaster evaluated and verified the submitted applications and checked if they complied with the national selection rules and regulations as well as the Eurovision regulations.

The first stage of the national selection

• The auditions were held 11 January at BTRC’s 600 Meters Studio in Minsk
• The audition was held with live vocals accompanied by music and (or) a phonogram recorded with no vocals of any type or any vocal imitations
• The names of the 11 finalists were revealed on 11 January

The second stage of the national selection

The 2018 Belarusian national final will be held in Minsk on 16 February 2018. A total of 11 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.