Last year’s Eurovision host country, Ukraine, is all set to determine their next representative at the upcoming competition in Lisbon. A total of 18 acts will be competing for the right to fly the Ukrainian flag in Portugal this coming May, with the first half set to perform in tonight’s show.

Ukraine’s Eurovision national selection, Vidbir 2018, kicks off this evening with the first semi-final of the competition. Tonight sees a special guest performing during the show, with the Czech Republic’s official 2018 act, Mikolas Josef, set to sing his Eurovision entry, Lie to me.

How to watch

Vidbir 2018 airs from 18:00 CET (19:00 local time) via the following channels:

• UA:First
• STB
• Live webcast via the official STB YouTube channel

The show

This evening, the first half of the 18 participants will be competing onstage, hoping to advance to the final of the selection at the end of the month.

From tonight’s 9 participants, only 3 will qualify to the final stage of Vidbir 2018, whilst the remaining 6 artists will be eliminated from tonight’s show.

The 3 qualifiers will be determined via a combined 50/50 public and jury vote, the same process which has been used in the recent years of the country’s national selection.

The participants

Competing in tonight’s first semi-final is the following:

1. Constantine – Misto
2. Serhiy Babkin – Kriz tvoyi ochi
3. Laud – Waiting
4. Kazka – Dyva
5. The VYO – Ng’a-ng’a
6. Kozak System – Mamai
7. Vilna – Forest song
8. Pur:Pur – Fire
9. The Erised – Heroes

In total, 6 artists will be competing for the right to represent Ukraine in the final of the selection on the 24 February.

Vidbir 2018 schedule

• 10/02: Semi-final 1
• 17/02: Semi-final 2
• 24/02: Grand Final