The semi-finals have been split for Iceland’s national selection: 6 acts will compete in each semi-final show next month, but only half can advance to the final of Söngvakeppnin 2018. Who will the finalists be?

RÚV, the Icelandic national broadcaster, has unveiled the semi-final allocation for the country’s upcoming national selection, Söngvakeppnin 2018.

Last week, the 12 bidding Icelandic acts were confirmed by the country’s national broadcaster, together with each artists’ bidding entries for the competition. Who will compete in each semi-final?

Semi-final allocation decided

The 2 semi-final shows will take place at the Háskólabíói in Reykjavik, ahead of the final of the selection at the Laugardalshöll.

10/02: Semi-final 1

• Ari Ólafsson – Heim
• Fókus hópurinn – Aldrei gefast upp
• Þórunn Antonía – Ég mun skína
• Þórir Geir Guðmundsson & Gyða Margrét Kristjánsdóttir – Brosa
• Tómas Helgi Wehmeier & Sólborg Guðbrandsdóttir – Ég og þú
• Heimilistónar – Kúst og fæjó

17/02: Semi-final 2

• Aron Hannes – Golddigger
• Áttan – Hér með þér
• Dagur Sigurðarson – Í stormi
• Stefanía Svavarsdóttir, Agnes Marinósdóttir & Regína Lilja Magnúsdóttir – Svaka stuð
• Guðmundur Þórarinsson – Litir
• Rakel Pálsdóttir – Óskin mín

Three qualifiers will be determined from each semi-final show, meaning that a total of 6 acts will compete as finalists in the last show of Söngvakeppnin 2018, taking place on the 3 March.

Each competitor will compete in the semi-final stage with the Icelandic versions of their entries. Artists will then be given the right to perform their entries in the language of their choice in the final of the selection, with the version performed in the final to be the official version for Eurovision.

Eleven of the 12 competitors have recorded an English version of their entries, with the exception being the entry from Heimilistónar.

Tickets on sale next week

RÚV has also confirmed that tickets for the Icelandic national selection will go on sale next week on the 30 January, with tickets to become available from 12:00 local time via tix.is.

Tickets for a total of 4 shows will go on sale, with prices ranging from 1,990 kr to 4,990 kr.

• 10/02: Semi-final 1 live show (19:30 local time, 2,990 kr)
• 17/02: Semi-final 2 live show (19:30 local time, 2,990 kr)
• 03/03: Grand final family show (14:30 local time, 1,990 kr)
• 03/03: Grand final live show (19:30 local time, 3,990 kr/4,990 kr)

The winner of Söngvakeppnin 2018 will go on to represent Iceland at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in the host city of Lisbon, competing in one of the 2 semi-finals on either the 8 or 10 May.