Tonight is, again, one of the busiest Eurovision Song Contest selection nights of the year. While Moldova selects its participant for the upcoming contest, semifinals and preliminaries take place in Bulgaria, Sweden, Ukraine, Romania and Lithuania. Esctoday.com editors from around Europe keep you updated throughout the day!
What's going on in… Bulgaria!
In Bulgaria, 24 participants will compete for 12 final tickets. A panel will select the best 12 on a live TV show from the National Palace of Culture. Those 12 will continue to the final, to take place on 11th March. You can find all the contestants here.
What's going on in… Sweden!
The second semifinal of Melodifestivalen 2006, the Swedish national selection for the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, takes place in Karlstad. Eight contestants compete for two final tickets and two second-chance heat tickets. Among tonight's stars are Kikki Danielsson, Magnus Carlsson and Östen med resten. The list of participants can be found here.
What's going on in… Moldova!
Moldova will select its second Eurovision Song Contest entry ever tonight. 13 songs have been selected to take part in tonight's national final. Thanks to Moldova's excellent debute in Kyiv, tonight's winner takes part in the final of the 2006 contest in Athens. The song to represent Moldova at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest will be decided by 50% televoting and 50% jury. The list of participants can be found here.
What's going on in… Ukraine!
In Ukraine, the third rundown heat of talent scout show Ty-zirka takes place. Six contestants are left, three of them will have to leave the show after tonight's heat. The results will be announced on Sunday night. The final of Ty-zirka is set for Saturday, 11th March. The artist selected to represent the Ukraine will have to pass through the qualifier round in Athens, due to Greenjolly's disappointing result for the home country in 2005.
What's going on in… Romania!
11 participants will compete for six final tickets in Romania. The first semi took place yesterday, the final is scheduled to take place tomorrow. The list of contestants can be found here.
What's going on in… Lithuania!
The third and last semifinal of Lithuania's national selection takes place tonight as well. Nine contestants originally qualified, but Mantas and Amberlife withdrew from the competition. More about this situation can be found here. Tonight's participants;
1. N.E.O. � Alright
2. WITHDREW (Mantas – Escape we tonight)
3. Bugs Band – Pajūrio samba
4. Dovilė Miknaitytė – The way to you
5. Eduardo Gimenez – Geografias
6. Aistė Pilvelytė � Just for Fun
7. LT United – We are the winners
8. WITHDREW (Amberlife – Day or night)
9. Onsa – Time to change
