The EBU has released the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest rehearsals schedule along with a concise guide of the upcoming events in Lisbon.

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has arrived! The 2018 Eurovision Song Contest has landed in Lisbon as the first delegations have started arriving in the host city. Rehearsals are set to kick off on Sunday 29 April at the Altice Arena.

From tomorrow morning the 43 competing countries at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will kick off their rehearsals, meet and greets, press conferences etc in Lisbon.

Sunday 29 April

The Press Centre will open its doors early in morning before the first rehearsal kicks off at the Altice Arena. Azerbaijan will be the first country to grace the Eurovision stage today and will have the honour of rolling the ball!

During each participant’s first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.

Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Azerbaijan
• Iceland
• Albania
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Lithuania
• Israel
• Belarus
• Estonia
• Bulgaria

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 21:15 CEST.

Monday 30 April

During each participant’s first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.

Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• F.Y.R. Macedonia
• Croatia
• Austria
• Greece
• Finland
• Armenia
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Cyprus

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.

Tuesday 1 May

During each participant’s first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.

Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Norway
• Romania
• Serbia
• San Marino
• Denmark
• Russia
• Moldova
• The Netherlands
• Australia

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.

Wednesday 2 May

During each participant’s first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.

Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Georgia
• Poland
• Malta
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Sweden
• Montenegro
• Slovenia
• Ukraine

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.

Thursday 3 May

During each participant’s second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.

Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Azerbaijan
• Iceland
• Albania
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Lithuania
• Israel
• Belarus
• Estonia
• Bulgaria
• F.Y.R. Macedonia
• Croatia
• Austria
• Greece
• Finland

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 19:35 CEST.

Friday 4 May

During each participant’s second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.

Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Armenia
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Cyprus
• Norway
• Romania
• Serbia
• San Marino
• Denmark

Today, the so-called ‘Big Five’ and host country Portugal will rehearse for the first time. They will rehearse for 30 minutes each, followed by a Meet & Greet.

• Portugal
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Germany
• Italy
• France

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 22:50 CEST.

At 17:00 CEST, the presenters of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will give a press conference.

At 22:30 CEST, the Eurovision Village will open at Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon.

Saturday 5 May

During each participant’s second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.

Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:

• Russia
• Moldova
• The Netherlands
• Australia
• Georgia
• Poland
• Malta
• Hungary
• Latvia
• Sweden
• Montenegro
• Slovenia
• Ukraine

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 18:45 CEST.

Sunday 6 May

Today, the so-called ‘Big Five’ and host country Portugal will rehearse for the second time. They will rehearse for 20 minutes each, accredited press has access to the arena. Each rehearsal is followed by a press conference.

• Portugal
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Germany
• Italy
• France

The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 14:30 CEST. After that, all 43 participants will prepare for the Blue Carpet, which begins at 18:00 CEST.

Later that evening, the Euroclub will open its doors for accredited fans and press.

Monday 7 May

• 15:00 — 17:25 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (for accredited press)
• 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)

Tuesday 8 May

• 15:00 — 17:10 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (with audience)
• 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: FIRST SEMI-FINAL (live show)
• Qualifiers’ Press Conference
• Afterparty

Wednesday 9 May

• 15:00 — 17:25 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (for accredited press)
• 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)

At 18:00 CEST, a joint press conference of the EBU and Host Broadcaster RTP will take place, followed by a press conference about the upcoming Junior Eurovision Song Contest at 18:30 CEST.

Thursday 10 May

• 15:00 — 17:10 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (with audience)
• 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: SECOND SEMI-FINAL (live show)
• Qualifiers’ Press Conference
• Afterparty

Friday 11 May

• 14:00 — 17:00 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (for accredited press)
• 21:00 — 0:30 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)

At 17:20 CEST, a joint press conference of the ‘Big Five’ and Portugal will be held.

Saturday 12 May

• 13:30 — 17:15 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (with audience)
• 21:00 — 0:30 CEST: GRAND FINAL (live show)
• Winners’ Press Conference
• Afterparty