ESCToday brings you the Discover Lisbon series of articles in collaboration with Urban Adventures in order to introduce you to the Eurovision host city Lisbon. Today we will have a look at the 2018 Eurovision venues and hot spots in the Eurovision city!

When it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest, the event does not consist only of the live tv shows but many side events and trimmings which come in with the package of hosting this mega event.

The Eurovision Song Contest has grown immensely since its early days in the 1950’s, today 40 plus countries partake in our beloved contest. The number of competing countries has grown and so have the events surrounding the competition!

The Eurovision venue

The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be held at the Altice Arena in Lisbon on 8, 10 and 12 May.

The Altice Arena (Atlantic Pavillion) can house at least 20,000 spectators and is located in the Expo 98 complex now known as the Parque das Naçoes in the Portuguese capital. The venue is very close to Lisbon’s International Airport and there are lots of restaurants, hotels, attractions and entertainment hubs in the proximity including the Vasco de Gama Shopping Centre and the Lisbon Ocenarium.

The multi purpose indoor arena lies next to the extraordinary Oriente Station overlooking the Tagus river. The Eurovision arena is just a 20 minute ride from downtown Lisbon by metro. Lisbon’s metro is an excellent means of transport connecting the 2018 Eurovision arena both to the city centre and airport.

Aerial view of Parque das Naçoes

Many international acts have given concerts at the Altice Arena: Madonna, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus etc. In 2005, Lisbon welcomed the MTV Music Awards with a spectacular show hosted in this venue.

The Altice Arena was built in 1988 specially for the Lisbon Expo 98 and designed by Regino Cruz. The Arena has great experience in hosting both international sports and musical events, accommodating thousands of spectators.

The Press Centre

The 2018 Eurovision Press Centre is located at the Pavilhão de Portugal, a stone throw away from  the main Eurovision venue Altice Arena,  at the Parque das Nações complex.

The Press Centre will include the traditional Press Working Area, Press Cafe and Restaurant, Interview and Radio booths,  Meet and Greet area, Lounge area, Info and pigeon holes desk, Fan Area, Fan Desk. cloak rooms etc. Circa 2,000 journalists and accredited fans are expected to work in the press centre during the Eurovision weeks.

The Press Conference Room is located in an adjacent tent with a capacity of 500 persons.

About Pavilhão de Portugal

The Pavilion of Portugal aka Pavilhão de Portugal  has been designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira. The premises consists of  two main bodies separated by a construction joint. One of the bodies is a public square, measuring 60 x 50 meters, covered by a thin concrete canopy, reinforced by stainless steel beams attached to the lateral porticos.

With two floors above the ground, the main body of the Pavilion is slightly higher than the rest. A concrete canopy extends over the construction joint, enabling the architect to mark a subtle hierarchy in the relationship between the two bodies.

The building was specially designed and built for EXPO 98, the Pavilion of Portugal is famous for its impressive concrete canopy. Constructed with the collaboration of the celebrated Portuguese engineer, Segadães Tavares, and made of reinforced concrete, the canopy appears to be elegant and light, based on the idea of a sheet of paper resting on two bricks. It covers a large ceremonial square, looking out to the city, and is ideal for hosting large scale events.

For the structure of the interior area, currently closed to the public, Siza Vieira benefited from the collaboration of another leading Portuguese architect Eduardo de Souto Moura.

The Eurovision Village

The 2018 Eurovision Village will be housed at Lisbon’s iconic square Terreiro do Paço also known as Praça do Comercio, located in the heart of  Lisbon.

The 2018 Eurovision Village will open from Friday 4 May-  Saturday 13 May. The schedule and programme for the Eurovision Village has been released.

There will be a lot of action taking place at the Eurovision Village which will be housed in the heart of Lisbon. Eurovision fans and visitors will be in for a treat as there will lots of entertainment and fun in store for them!

Live performances, competitions, themed parties will all take place at this Eurovision hotspot. You will be able to see the 2018 Eurovision acts performing on the Eurovision Village stage.

Giant screens will be set up at the Eurovision Village for public viewing, locals and fans will be able to view the 3 Eurovision shows live from here. Visitors, fans and locals will also get to savour local delicacies and food at the various food stalls.

Entrance to the Eurovision Village is free!

The OGAE Euro Fan Cafe

The 2018 Ogae Euro Cafe will be housed at MoMe.  The OGAE Euro  Cafe will be one of the hot spots in Lisbon during the Eurovision week enabling fans to mix and mingle.

The OGAE Euro Cafe will operate from 05-12 May and will be run jointly by OGAE Portugal and OGAE International.

There will be a grand line up of activities at the Euro Cafe in Lisbon offering lots of entertainment to the visitors and guests.

MoMe is a brand new night club located in downtown Lisbon and opened its doors last December and is one of the most fashionable clubs in the city.

Access to the OGAE Euro Fan Cafe is limited to OGAE Members with a pass.

The Euroclub

The 2018 Euroclub will be housed at Ministerium Club, one of Lisbon’s most trendiest night clubs. The club is located in the heart of the city, namely at at Terreiro do Paço (Praça do Comerçio), and just a stone throw away from the Eurovision Village.

Ministerium Club opened its doors in December 2012 in facilities previously occupied by the Portuguese Ministry of Finance. It has since become one of the main references in Lisbon for house & techno, hosting weekly events with names from the forefront of electronic music alongside underground local talent.

The Euroclub will run from 06-12 May 2018 and will operate daily from 23:00-04:00 local time.

Artists, accredited media and press, accredited fans and delegations will be able to party and unwind at the Euroclub after a hard day’s work schedule and dance away to the early hours of the morning. Lisbon is all set to party Eurovision style come May!

Access to the Euroclub will be restricted to accredited fans, journalists, delegations and artists and will not be open to the general public.

The Blue Carpet

The epic Eurovision Red Carpet will be transformed into the Blue Carpet for the forthcoming 2018 Eurovision Song Contest to blend in with the theme and slogan of Eurovision 2018 – All Aboard.

The 2018 Eurovision Blue Carpet will be located at the Maat Museum complex in Lisbon’s Belem district on the shores of the Tagus River.

During the Red Carpet, competing acts at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will be able to meet and greet their fans and the assembled press. We will be able to admire our favourite acts in their best attire and designer outfits.

This is a closed event and only open to accredited press and fans.

The Welcome Reception

The venue for the official Opening Ceremony of Eurovision 2018 and  the Welcome Reception is Lisbon’s Museum of Electricity  located in Belem and just a stone throw away from MAAT.

At the opening ceremony, the Mayor of Lisbon Mr. Fernando Medina and officials from RTP, the EBU, City of Lisbon and Portugal will officially welcome the 2018 Eurovision participating countries, delegations and artists to Lisbon.

This event is also closed to the public and only open to the delegations and artists of the competing countries in the contest.

Check out RTP’s video showasing the Blue Carpet, Eurovision Village, Euroclub locations along with the main arena.

Lisbon welcomes you #AllAboard the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest!