It’s the country that gifted Eurovision fans the likes of Paula Seling & Ovi and Luminita Anghel. And today Romania gave fans something else to cheer about, revealing that it will stage a six-part national selection in six different cities across the country.

Yes, Romania is going big with Selectia Nationala 2018. It will conduct five semi-finals and a grand final, each held in a different city. Working under the banner of “Eurovision unites Romania!”, the goal is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the country’s biggest expansion, which saw the regions of Bessarabia, Bukovina and Transylvania unite as the Kingdom of Romania.

In the weeks ahead Romanian Television will organize an online preselection, set to kickoff in mid-November.

In December a jury will meet to evaluate the songs, and the surviving acts will then compete in the semi-finals, which take place in January and February.

Doina Gradea, Interim General Manager of TVR, explained the significance of this year’s selection.

“We want to bring Eurovision shows closer to viewers from all corners of the country, in a special year for Romanians everywhere — the Centenary of the Great Union.”

She did not confirm which cities will host. However, in recent years, Brasov, Craiova, Baia Mare and Bucharest have all had the honour at least once.

Early confirmation

Call them early, call them eager and count them in! TVR confirmed that the country will take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest way back in July.

While in previous years we typically had to wait until late November or even December for news regarding Romania’s participation in the contest, this year TVR is moving quickly.

Hot off the success of Ilinca feat. Alex Florea‘s “Yodel It!”, which placed seventh at the Grand Final of Eurovision 2017 in Kyiv, Romania’s broadcaster seems poised to take the contest more seriously and get things done earlier.

What cities do you hope to see host an event? And which artists do you want to hear sing? Let us know in the comments box below.

READ MORE ROMANIA EUROVISION NEWS

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HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
6 years ago

Excellent photo there I must say.

Are internal selections falling out of favour? It seems more countries want national finals (no problem with that of course)

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

True! Countries with many semi finals before the finals, plus the national finals we had last year, plus France’s NF, plus… ok, it’s already enough. Good luck guys this Eurovision season!

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

I just hope that Romania sends the best they possible can. *cough* as good as last year *cough*

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

We can be sure that MIHAI will be there and good for him. Wish that he will find the right song, not something that sounds like Tornero, because he did that already, and not a ballad because he did that last year. He really needs something original, and full of energy, but not try hard.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

I love how TVR just spends a year’s budget on the Eurovision selection. They deserve to be one of the only countries that have never missed the finals, also because their entries are usually great.

Aslan
Aslan
6 years ago

Just scream of my sole.Sometimes national selections in all countries did such painful mistakes!
I just can not understand why this song still did not become a real hit,it`s so unfair, always mentioned about this song when think about next Eurovision…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ6s7vTawTA

Amor
Amor
6 years ago

This is so random and doesn’t belong here but I really needed someone to speak to about this. I just heard Barei’s song in a mall in Florida. I nearly died!

trias97
trias97
6 years ago
Reply to  Amor

hahahaha! that’s great, really great!! ?

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Amor

A Japanese restaurant I went to played all of Germany’s entries since 2014… I was like cool but why Germany out of all countries lmao

Varian Jeataba
Varian Jeataba
6 years ago

I was in a supermarket in Australia and their was Denmark’s esc 2017 song playing!

Amor
Amor
6 years ago

You wouldn’t have it any other way, Robyn!

Europeandreamer
Europeandreamer
6 years ago

and those bulgarian tweets anouncing us a surprise, at the end, only czechia netherlands and austria will have an internal selection xD so cool hahahah (czechia said their dream is to make a czech melfest , and so did France ) i can’t wait this season is gonna be exciting !

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

and Belgium.
But Bulgaria said a NF likelier in 2019, at the earliest.

Europeandreamer
Europeandreamer
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

my bad :3
true but i can’t wait to see why they are teasing us !! it’s exciting !
do you think Macedonia can bring back a NF ? and Croatia also said that they were thinking about it ^^

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Hm Macedonia maybe, but Croatia will probably use an internal selection this year.

No Name
No Name
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Some rumors say Dora will be back

No Name
No Name
6 years ago

So many NF’s this year I love it!

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Five semi finals?
Seem many to me, but we’ll have the chance to listen to more songs!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

==In the voice of Austin Powers…==

Yeah, baby, yeah, baby, yeah! Selectia takin’ the Melo route!

noah
noah
6 years ago

yeah,.. It wass about time to see more Romanian semi-finals and more of the contestants to have a chance to show their show and performance live

Xristos
Xristos
6 years ago

https://youtu.be/isAWwP3TbpA
Top 100 songs of eurovision 2010 2017
Enjoy

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

Romania’s national day is December 1st (like France’s is July 14th) because on December 1st, 1918, was the Great Union when Romania was big (including present day Moldova). So in 2018 will be 100 years since this Great Union, this is why TVR wants to create this celebration around Eurovision. I’m happy and the best to win.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  sorin

I mean, Romania’s music industry is one of the strongest in Europe (only Sweden can brag about more global exports this decade), so a Romanian victory is bound to come sooner or later.

sorin
sorin
6 years ago

Hopefully the best artists will submit, I honestly believe they are busy, because otherwise, in Romania there’s no prejudice against Eurovision, and no fear that failure might destroy careers.

Elmar
Elmar
6 years ago

So many national selections this year. 😮

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Time to get yodeleised again.

@ljay815
6 years ago

*weeps* how on earth are we going to be able to watch all of these when you just know they’ll all be up against eachother on Saturday nights!

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  @ljay815

Yes….what’s with this Saturday obsession and all clustered at the same timing!!

Chance
Chance
6 years ago

My body is ready for Romanian MelFest

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Chance

D’OH! I didn’t see your message. You beat me to it. 😛

Jane
Jane
6 years ago
Reply to  Chance

romanian melfest lmao they wish.