Bulgarian broadcaster BNT has announced the 18 semifinalists that will compete in the Bulgarian semi final, to be held February 3rd in Sofia.

Among the list we can find Mastilo, who came 2nd in last year's Bulgarian final, and Sofi Marinova who came 2nd in the 2005 Bulgarian final with Slavi Trifonov and Edistveni, despite refusing to sing on the final night due to the belief that the results were rigged in favour of Kaffe. Ustava, who will sing with Sofi, also took part in the 2005 final. Yuna Hili was a backing singer for Brian Kennedy who represented Ireland in Athens with the song Every song is cry for love that finished 10th in the final.

Also on the list are Maltese sisters Natasha & Charlene, who have taken part in several Maltese finals, most recently with Echoes of Gaia, which placed 10th in 2006, and Teddy ft MC Chriss, who came 8th in the 2005 Finnish national final with the song Unconditional love – despite being Bulgarian, Teddy lives in Finland.

The full list:

• Svetozar Christov & Lora Vladova – If you come baby
• Yuna Hili – Too late for heartache
• Petya Pavlova – Runaway
• Grupata – Back in your heart
• Teddy ft MC Chriss – Lyubovta e svoboda
• Pantommind – Days of old
• Sofi Marinova & Ustata – Ya tvoya
• Svetla Ivanova – No no no
• Mastilo – Getting crazy
• Dilyana Tsenova – Confession
• Bella – Falling angel
• Aksinia – Az znam
• S-lavina – Higher (Balkan heart)
• Margarita Hranova – Moya lyubov
• Charlene & Natasha – Open your eyes
• Orlin Goranov – Tova e lyubovta
• Krum – Dokoga
• Pippo & Sashesto – Az moga

However, it won't necessarily be one of these 18 that go to Helsinki – BNT has also commissioned 3 wildcards, to be performed by more established Bulgarian artists, to start in the Bulgarian final. These 3 wildcards will be announced during the semi, which will be held on 3rd February , with the top 9 songs (as chosen by televoting) going to the final, to be held on the 24th, in Sofia's National Palace of Culture.

Bulgaria will be hoping to qualify to the final for the first time since its debut in 2005 with Kaffe's Lorraine. in 2006 Bulgarian hopes were also dashed at the first stage with Mariana Popova's Let me cry only ending 17th in the semi.