Next month sees the Caucasus-located country of Armenia selecting their representative for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, the final of which will take place on the 25 February.

AMPTV, the Armenian national broadcaster, has today announced the 3 dates of the country’s national selection in the search for the nation’s upcoming Eurovision act.

Depi Evratesil returns once again in Armenia in 2018, following its debut the previous year. However, the 2018 editions of the Armenian national selection sees some changes.

Changes in Depi Evratesil

Last year, artists were invited to audition with cover versions of famous songs to the judging panel, hoping to earn the eventual right of representing Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Whilst the artist was determined through the national selection, the song was decided via an internal selection by both the broadcaster and the winning artist, namely Artsvik.

Artsvik qualified to the Eurovision 2017 final with Fly with me

This year, each of the 20 participants will be competing in one of 2 semi-finals with their own songs, performing for a place in the final of Depi Evratesil on the 25 February.

During the semi-finals, 10 artists will compete in each show for a place in the final of the selection; 5 artists will advance from each semi-final, meaning that 10 artists will be competing for the right to fly the Armenian flag in Lisbon,

The Armenian representative for 2018 will be determined via a combined 50/50 public and jury vote.

Depi Evratesil 2018 dates

This year’s Depi Evratesil will run throughout the course of one week, kicking off in mid-February. The dates are as follows:

• 19/02: Semi-final 1 (Ten participants, 5 qualifiers)
• 22/02: Semi-final 2 (Ten participants, 5 qualifiers)
• 25/02: Grand final (Ten finalists, winner determined)

The allocation and running order draw for each of the 2 semi-finals will be unveiled and confirmed on the 12 February.

Who would you like to see representing Armenia at Eurovision 2018? Listen to each of the bidding entries below via the official Depi Evratesil playlist!