lisbon eurovision 2018 meo arena

It’s taken them 53 years to finally win the contest and the right to host. And Portugal aren’t about to let this opportunity go to waste. Broadcaster RTP has already announced that Eurovision 2018 will be held in Lisbon!

Like many first time winners, Portugal has opted to host in their capital city. Whilst the exact arena has not been confirmed, an RTP news bulletin suggests that the MEO Arena is the show’s likely home.

Eurovision 2018 Host City: Lisbon

For many Eurovision fans, it may be welcome relief to hear this news so quickly. This would be especially true after the very prolonged — and at times chaotic — host city selection for 2017.

In fact, it’s the quickest we’ve known the host city for many years, with the likes of Austria and Denmark holding a bidding process. Lisbon makes perfect sense to host, however.

The city’s Humberto Delgado Airport is around 15 minutes drive from the rumoured MEO Arena. It also has a large transport network, including the Lisbon Metro, trams, bus and rail services.

And yes, it even has Uber, for y’all who are wondering. Plenty of hotels, hostels and rented accommodation available online mean it’s an easy choice, even against the likes of Porto or Braga.

MEO Arena for venue?

The MEO Arena also seems like a write-in as the Eurovision venue. Built in 1998, the multi-purpose venue can hold a capacity of 20,000 people.

Unlike Kyiv’s International Exhibition Centre, it’s also well used to hosting music concerts regularly. Big names to have performed there in the last year alone include Adele and Shawn Mendes.

Other options — such as the Coliseu dos Recreios — would likely be far too small to host the contest, both in terms of capacity and building infrastructure.

The arena has a distinctive shape, almost looking like a flying saucer from above. Rocket to the stars, honey!

On the bank of the River Tagus, it’s a transport hub for many local services and will be relatively easy to access — especially compared with the likes of Copenhagen 2014, for example.

Y’all, we can’t wait to be sipping some Portuguese wine and eating some local Pastel de Nata as the contest takes place. Further details will be expected in the coming months, including arena confirmation, Opening Ceremony details and more.

For now though, it looks like Portugal are already on the right track. What do you think about Lisbon as host city? Do you want the contest at MEO Arena? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

Read all of our Portugal Eurovision news here

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Fernando
Fernando
6 years ago

Ideally, ESC 2018 would be a great opportunity to show other parts of Portugal and attract tourists to that area… (Lisbon is already a big tourist attraction, ESC will be, as we say it, like “raining on a wet floor”.)
… but realistically Lisbon is the best option in terms of budget (preexisting facilities), accommodation, and transport.

Anton
Anton
6 years ago

A nice coincidence: the music video for Jamala’s new song was filmed in… Portugal 🙂

dgfsdgsa
dgfsdgsa
6 years ago

Here tou have the Portuguese song in 16 languages:

http://amarpelos2.com

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

I would like to see Buraka Som Sistema in the interval act putting everyone to dance in the arena and at home, like the interval act in Oslo.

dgfsdgsa
dgfsdgsa
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

true

Diego
Diego
6 years ago

Hope for Daniela Ruah and Diogo Morgado like a presenters, interval acts by Nelly Furtado and Dulce Pontes, and Suzy in the Green room.

Jolly
Jolly
6 years ago
Reply to  Diego

omg!! I said the same to my brother, Daniela Ruah and Morgado as hosts would be amazing!! But it with be difficult, too much money :S

dgfsdgsa
dgfsdgsa
6 years ago
Reply to  Diego

HERMAN JOSE will be one of the hosts.

Joshua
Joshua
6 years ago

Portuguese people are one of the most racist and xenophobic in the world. If you’re not “pure white” think twice before going to Lisbon, a city full of neo-nazi gangs…avoid going too far from turistic áreas. Portuguese often hates everyone who’s from african origin (racism against black people is on a very high level), muslims, jewish, asians and some specific nationalities (brazilians, argentineans, spanish, and those from Eastern Europe like romanians, moldovans, greeks, turks and ukranians). If you fit in any of these categories and want to visit Portugal, I just wish you luck. Xenophobic behaviour and disgusting racism unfortunately… Read more »

João
João
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

what do you want with all those lies? Portugal is one of the safest countries in this world (nº5)
Portuguese people are well known because of their hospitality
, they are friendly you know?
They mixed with africans like no other european ethnicity!
What the hell are you talking about?

Aya Sato and Bambi
Aya Sato and Bambi
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Hi fake news ! bye bye

JP
JP
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

WTF? Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world (number 5). The first one in the world to abolish slavery. Has one of the highest scores for LGBTI people. Has one of the most inclusive rates for ethnicity. Going to approve also this year gender equality laws. I’m a Muslim guy, married with a guy that comes from Angola. I live outside of a touristic area and have always been accepted. Just an example, was in Paris and for me it was an awful experience. Nothing like this country that has really inclusive laws and helps you with… Read more »

Aya Sato and Bambi
Aya Sato and Bambi
6 years ago
Reply to  JP

maybe his/her favorite singer didnt win .LOL

Francisco Manuel Moeda Sardinha
Francisco Manuel Moeda Sardinha
6 years ago
Reply to  JP

WTF you´re completely mad and insane

Francisco Manuel Moeda Sardinha
Francisco Manuel Moeda Sardinha
6 years ago

Not you JP, but joshua obviously

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

You can hate a song, but to say pure lies like that is just hideous. Of many examples, let me just ask you who else in Europe do you have a government where the Prime Minister is of Indian origin, Justice Minister is Black and a Secretary of State is of Roma origin? And it was not even an issue for anyone. How far can one go only out of pure hate of song or a country… Disgusting! I think the racist here is rather you.

Paulo Goncalves
Paulo Goncalves
6 years ago
Reply to  L'oiseau

Absolutely, a pure lie from so called Joshua. Yes, the prime minister is of Goan origin says a lot how the country progressed from the time when the right wing dictatorship fell in 1974.

There is still more work being done to fully include some resident communities but even Sikhs I saw comfortably wearing religious attire.

And there has been a mosque for over 20 years, when very few muslims lived in Lisbon.

gogogo
gogogo
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Dude, you’re so full of sh*t.
Anyone can search it up and find how lovely Portugal is.

Aya Sato and Bambi
Aya Sato and Bambi
6 years ago
Reply to  gogogo

I can imagine Fake News like this usually came from which ??? hurt fans.lol

Adriana
Adriana
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Why are you such a liar, Joshua?! Shame on you. Portuguese people are very helpful, hospitable, humble, very friendly and reserved in a good way. They are very melancholic and also conservative/traditional, but they aren’t xenophobic.

Diego
Diego
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

You so bad person, why so many lies, People have Internet do you know that? Not living in a Black and White TV preriod.
Do you know How many awards did Portugal received for hospitallities and tourism in the Last years???
I personally work in the Center of Lisbon 90% of my coustemers are tourism.
Old Lisbon is a multi cultural. Indian, african, Chineses, Japoneses and european People living working in peaceful together.
Understand you can be frustated but please no need for those lies, can you sleep at night with your heavy conscience?

Azzzul
Azzzul
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

fake news alert!!!

where are you from Joshua? sad you lost? deal with it!

Oliver
Oliver
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

Yes they are a bit racist towards africans, brazillians, muslims, south americans, asians,turks and eastern europeans. But still, they’re just very nationalist and proud of their history and country. Something that most europeans from around europe dont have right now. We should look up to them.

Paulo Goncalves
Paulo Goncalves
6 years ago
Reply to  Oliver

Yes, Portugal is proud of its history and people see it from the best angle. A few people were lucky to have been exposed to different cultures and races, and immigration dislodges some jobs like elsewhere. Given the general educational level, the country surely has much less racism than one could expect. I got stopped in touristic Prague in the tube recently because I look different, I do not see that these days in Lisbon. Anyone would be safe there from that point of view and you can be certain people will go out of their way to host everybody… Read more »

dgfsdgsa
dgfsdgsa
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

JOSHUA SHT UP THAT DIRTY MOUTH,

FrancESCa
FrancESCa
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

In portuguese we say “bota mais nivea nesse cotovelo” which means “I forgive you, everything will be allright” and I think that’s beautiful 🙂

Leo Herlington
Leo Herlington
6 years ago
Reply to  Joshua

So, Joshua basically described the OPPOSITE of Portugal xD

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

Question, Would Lisbon be the most Western City to host the contest?

João
João
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

in mainland europe yes for sure! the westernmost extent of mainland Europe is in Portugal

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Lisbon (9º08’18” W) is just 1/2 kms west from Millstreet (9º03’51” W).

Annabelle R. Lee
Annabelle R. Lee
6 years ago
Reply to  R

I did like it when RTE was casting its net around the country and I love all (but one) of their winning songs of the 1990s as well as All Kinds of Everything & What’s Another Year. You’d have to look up (as Lisbon slightly larger than Millstreet) if Meo Arena will be the western most place (as it is in the extreme east of the city) but if its cities/towns not venues it will be the westernmost (not for my lack of voting for Iceland yearly, once for the Hosting and several times more for hoe good the song… Read more »

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
6 years ago

MEO reminds me of last years Junior Eurovision winning song “Mzeo” so every time I see MEO I sing Mzeo. #Lisbon2018 #WhatEverTheThemeForEurovision2018WillBe

Nikki
Nikki
6 years ago
Reply to  Ariso Light

I vote for navigation, ocean or discovery. Portuguese history is pretty attached to navigation. One of the mottos I have in my head on this theme is ‘through waves of melody’

Gerard1989
Gerard1989
6 years ago

For the last two months Salvador fans have tried to defend/explain his statement about hamburger music and tartar music. What do you have to say now, when is in full display haw ugly he is inside, his arrogance, and how much he despise ”normal people”. He uses every opportunity to speak about fast-food music, and he said that Marcel Bezencon award is more important than Eurovision, because in Eurovision, normal people vote.
In 62 years of Eurovision, he is the less deserving winner, with his song that has a place only in a romantic comedy during ending credits.

Miguel F
Miguel F
6 years ago
Reply to  Gerard1989

well he won both, the juries and the televoting with HUGE difference…fair winner with a smashing victory. Get it over

Oliver
Oliver
6 years ago
Reply to  Gerard1989

He made that speech about ‘hamburger music’ since he arrived in kiev and people still voted for him, they probably got his point or didnt care, so stop whining.

Annabelle R. Lee
Annabelle R. Lee
6 years ago
Reply to  Gerard1989

He made a statement on tartar music? Oh I’d love to see that, please give me a link, or a source or something other than sourlosersauce. Get over it and try to get out of the house more often. Or at all. Enjoy the beautiful Spring and Romantic Comedies and try to have some happiness and even some love in your life you poor thing. Enjoy your friends’ company, make more friends. Be open. Don’t hold on to anger and bitterness honey, that will give you some nasty karma if you plan to live twice 🙂 Most sincere Best Wishes!

ado
ado
6 years ago

It’s easy to choose the city and venue when you host for the first time. Ukraine wanted to avoid Kyiv because it hosted in 2005.
What about an one word slogan?

Pipo
Pipo
6 years ago

What about “never give up” as the slogan for 2018? 🙂 Great to represent us 😉

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Pipo

“Never Give Up! Never Surrender!” – Galaxy Quest

John
John
6 years ago

It was obvious… MEO ARENA, Parque das Nações, Lisbon, is one of the best places in the world to an event in big scale. Arena for 20.000 people (15.000 sit), and in 100 meters, has the FIL, with 100.000 square meters with 4 huge pavilions, and in all Parque Nações has 10.000 places for cars underground… It is one of the most beautiful places in all europe, next Tejo River, and received yet all kind of big events, like europeans and world sport events, it received super stars of music, events like Web Summit the best technology conference on the… Read more »

Lilitu
Lilitu
6 years ago

Not going to lie I started to look into my plane tickets last week. The wife and I are really tempted to go, her aunt lives in Lisbon and it’s one of our favorite cities.

Diego
Diego
6 years ago

Dont you guys remember Madonna Hung up at Mtv? Was in Meo Arena
https://youtu.be/fgSdHN-adDY

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  Diego

OMG! I remember!

Fernando Garrido
Fernando Garrido
6 years ago

Meo Arena is of course the best place fort the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisboa! Lisboa as a capital as lots of means of transport, metro directly from the airport to the Meo Arena and to downtown Lisbon so it will be very easy and practical! It will be so fun!! Enjoy Lisboa and this wonderful event! Welcome!!!!

Jolly
Jolly
6 years ago

guys, not related, but cute video of the day: Salvador’s first ever TV appearance when he was 10 y/o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqVQL1QXEdY

L'oiseau de Portugal
L'oiseau de Portugal
6 years ago

A dream is coming true! I still cannot believe it. One important thing to add. Lisbon is very gay friendly

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Plus I can get a direct flight from JFK if we go! Of course, I would need to bring the hubby and the baby with me! My aunt have been to Lisbon and she said it’s beautiful!

#MarioVision
#MarioVision
6 years ago

So see you in #Lisbon 2018! <3
Countdown : 365 days to go! 🙂

Rock Me
Rock Me
6 years ago

I’m 85% sure I’ll go next year.Can’t wait.

Americanvision
Americanvision
6 years ago

Well it took 48 hours to decide on a city. Well done, Lisbon! 🙂

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Americanvision

They had a rigorous process bouncing it back and forth among three major cities, with a few months of internal canvassing … and then they hopped into the Royal Portuguese Time Machine Galleon and came back to announce the final result.

Very efficient system.

Thales
Thales
6 years ago

Omg so happy! 🙂 This shows that RTP and Portugal were waiting for this for so much time. Finally we will meet in that beautiful Lisbon! I just hope that all the stupid “haters” will keep their asses at home. They are stupid and obv. Portugal doesn’t want welcome they. Stay at home and cry honeys!
Can’t wait for my first time in PORTUGAL!!

Jorge Fernandes
Jorge Fernandes
6 years ago
Reply to  Thales

Everyone is welcomed In Portugal, even haters. When they’ll arrive they’ll stop hating… ??

VF
VF
6 years ago

Not so fast, the mayors of Santa Maria da Feira, Faro, and Guimarães are also saying they want to host. But don’t worry, it will be Lisbon.

Host city
Host city
6 years ago

Santa Maria da Feira <3

Diogo
Diogo
6 years ago
Reply to  Host city
Lorenna
Lorenna
6 years ago
Reply to  Diogo

I love this song! I heard it for the first time few years ago, and since then is stuck in my head!

Jean
Jean
6 years ago
Reply to  Host city

Lol! Going there how? By renting a thousand Bus?

Pedro
Pedro
6 years ago

Can’t beleive this is happening! It’s like a dream! Finally it’s PORTUGAL time. We’ll try to do our best to make Eurovision 2018 one of the best ones! See all in Lisbon <3

Vinicius
6 years ago

Ohh those are great news!!! I’m so happy with Portugal’s victory!!! Lisbon is absolutely wonderful!!! Stunning architecture, the districts of Belém and Alfama ooze with history and great Portuguese cuisine, the Praça do Comércio is just amazing, and since it will be May, it’ll be a perfect time to go to the beaches nearby as well. Oh man, I can’t wait!!! I actually have a travel weblog and my latest post was about that city (I wrote it well before ESC 2017, though). If you guys want to take a look at it: erthojai.blogspot.com Let’s hope RTP will do its… Read more »

Tomás davitt
Tomás davitt
6 years ago

Omg so organise. I LOVE it. Can’t wait t go to Portugal. Ukraine was a lovely country but organising to go there was a NIGHTMARE. SO excited!!!!!

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

Obvious choice really! WEll done Portugal on the quick announcement regarding host city. I had the pleasure of seeing the MEO Arena up close a few years ago, when it was previously called the Atlantic Pavillion. This place is huge and I imagine Eurovision in this place would be along the lines of Stockholm and Copenhagen in terms of scale in comparison to the the small arenas of Vienna and Kyiv. It’s funny how every second year, Eurovision is in a big arena 🙂 Ideal transport links in the area too, with buses, cable car and metro in the vicinity.… Read more »

Alberto
Alberto
6 years ago

Great! I know that Portuguese are hardworking people, they will for sure do a great job!

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

Arena looks great. Plenty opportunity to make it stunning. Another thing I really hope for – implement design more, unlike this year. Namysto was great, but there were no animation at all in production aspects, except of arc’s projections for few seconds.

Tusán
Tusán
6 years ago
Reply to  Zebb

True. RTP needs to hire a British or Scandinavian branding and design agency. This year’s ident was horrible.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Eurovision 2018 season has just started y’all!
Great news!
Lisbon is a beautiful city as many people suggest! (I didn’t have the chance to visit. Who knows? Maybe next year?)

MEO Arena seems ideal. It has enough capacity, it’s not far from the airport as you mention.

Looking forward to see what they will prepare for us in 2018!

P.S. They have already started organising things. That’s good compared to last year. They’ve taken it seriously!

Racal
Racal
6 years ago

Lisbon is one of the best cities in Europe: it’s beautiful, great food, rich history, great architecture, cool parties in the bairro alto, and the best thing is the friendly, warm people … It’ll be great to have Eurovision there! 🙂

Hsinaps
Hsinaps
6 years ago

My hometown is next to the border with Portugal. I’m so excited. Lisbon is a very beautiful city <3

stan
stan
6 years ago

I was also in Lisbon last year….the most beautiful city in the world!! You should also visit Sintra.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

I’m starting to save my money to go to Lisbon next year. I’m sure it’s gonna be spectacular.

cheesecake
cheesecake
6 years ago

I was in Lisbon last year and the city is beautiful. The area around the arena is very modern, I think it was built for Expo.
Lovely to see RTP taking this seriously, they’ll do a great job.

Luke
Luke
6 years ago

Think Lisbon will be my first Eurovision I’m actually going to be going to can’t wait for it as flights are cheap from UK and some hotels are cheap enough for me, just hope I can get in fast before tickets sell out for final

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago
Reply to  Luke

Same here – of course, the fact that it’s the same time zone doesn’t hurt, nor does the fact that the journey’s around the same length as going from London to Cardiff by coach!

VF
VF
6 years ago

Even though I’m from Porto, Lisbon makes sense. Maybe Porto 2118 haha Nevertheless, don’t forget to spend some time in Porto. It’s only 3 hours by train or less than a hour with Ryanair.

And now I’m gonna go to the fridge to get a Pastel de Nata. Thank you for making me drooling wiwibloggs.

Paulo Goncalves
Paulo Goncalves
6 years ago
Reply to  VF

True, if they choose the MEO arena, you could potentially even stay in Porto, the intercity train leaves straight from the area!

ImpressiveInstants
6 years ago

Can’t wait… and we’re still a year away! 🙁

Kai
Kai
6 years ago

RTP told me…they want Silvia Night for the interval act
“i have arrived” 🙂 🙂

Pedro MIguel
Pedro MIguel
6 years ago

Lisbon is so beautiful and wiwiblogs chose that ugly pic fom the 80´s…thats embarrassing lol

VF
VF
6 years ago
Reply to  Pedro MIguel

From the 80’s? It’s the old town, it’s supposed to be old.

Pedro Miguel
Pedro Miguel
6 years ago
Reply to  VF

Lisbon is the 2nd oldest capital in europe..nothing new.
But the 2nd pic is dated, is old and ugly. Lisbon has better looking nowadays. I guess you don´t know Lisbon very well…look at the cathedral. That pic of from 1990…

VF
VF
6 years ago
Reply to  Pedro Miguel

Sou do Porto, conheço Lisboa, mas não consigo distinguir se a catedral está diferente ou não. Por mim a foto está boa, não há nada de feio. Limparam mais a fachada, foi? Estive lá o ano passado, lembro-me lá da cor da catedral.

Pedro Miguel
Pedro Miguel
6 years ago
Reply to  VF

Pois..mas eu sou de Lisboa e conheço bem a cidade…é como se eu fosse mostrar uma foto do Porto sem ter sequer o metro a passar a ponte. Topas? A imagem é antiga e desfasada da realidade actual da cidade. Foi isso que quis dizer…nada a ver com o facto da cidade ser antiga ou não.
Cumps

Osterreich
Osterreich
6 years ago

One of the most underrated cities in Europe. So, I want to have a taste of Portuguese men, how was it?

man
man
6 years ago
Reply to  Osterreich

Underrated??? It is the 8º city of Europe most visited yet.

And the second one that rises mor in tourism.

About man, do you want an international study?? Here you go:

Lisbon fourth in the world in worlds best looking men:

http://www.travelersdigest.com/267-best-looking-men/2/

VF
VF
6 years ago
Reply to  Osterreich

You haven’t been paying attention. Lisbon and Porto have been booming in tourism and have been trendy for the past 7 or 8 years.

João
João
6 years ago

Meo Arena is the 3rd largest indoor arena in Europe
the area around is pretty good…its for sure the right place to host Eurovision 2018, 20 years after the great world fair Expo´98 in the same place!
See you in Lisbon 🙂

man
man
6 years ago

It was obvious… MEO ARENA, Parque das Nações, Lisbon, is one of the best places in the world to an event in big scale. Arena for 20.000 people (15.000 sit), and in 100 meters, has the FIL, with 100.000 square meters with 4 huge pavilions, and in all Parque Nações has 10.000 places for cars underground… It is one of the most beautiful places in all europe, next Tejo River, and received yet all kind of big events, like europeans and world sport events, it received super stars of music, events like Web Summit the best technology conference on the… Read more »

Julie
Julie
6 years ago

Well, that was rather quick and drama-free 😀

M
M
6 years ago

Wow! The fact that they chose the location so quickly is nothing but a sign that RTP is going to take this seriously and that they are eager to host. Looking forward to a hopefully fantastic show in 2018

José
José
6 years ago

I think Lisbon is definitly the right place!

Tim
Tim
6 years ago

Portugal will shine as Eurovision host. It had been waiting for it for almost 50 years and will not let this chance run away. MEO Arena is huge, right next to it there is FIL, an exhibition center with 4 pavilions, each one with around the same size as MEO Arena, great for Press, Fan Zone, etc… Unlike what many may think, RTP is used to big broadcasts, like Euro 2004 as main broadcaster (at the time, considered by UEFA the best ever in terms of organisation), Champions League Final, etc. Also MEO Arena is an infrastructure that gets many… Read more »

Azaad
Azaad
6 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Yeah! It’s easy to forget while we’re in our ESC bubble but Portugal’s quite a developed country that has the resources to host a great contest, even if they haven’t done at ESC.

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

Kudos to RTP to sorting this out so quickly. Although like most first time hosts, there wasn’t a desire to “show a different side of the country” as there was with the movements to have Lyiv or Odessa host, given that Kyiv hosted in 2005. So RTP smartly went with its largest city, which like many countries is its capital. It’s also nice that they have a venue that’s more or less ready to host a musical contest, rather than a converted sports arena, as this would save money that could be spent elsewhere in the contest’s budget. Now all… Read more »

Margot
Margot
6 years ago

I’m a Belgian Eurovision fan who’s decided to move to Lisbon for university. Seems like fate is on my side 🙂