After winning Eurovision 2017, Salvador Sobral returned to a jubilant Portugal gripped by celebrations over the historic win.
And as the “Amar pelos dois” singer has enjoyed a glorious airport welcome, numerous TV appearances and even invitations from Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning Britain, the team at RTP has been busy throwing itself into next year’s extravaganza.
In an interview with Magazine Notícias, Nuno Artur Silva — RTP’s Content Administrator and a member of its Board of Directors — spoke about the challenges of organizing a massive event like Eurovision and what will happen to Festival da Canção as the country prepares to host Eurovision 2018.
While hundreds of screaming fans welcomed the Sobrals to Humberto Delgado airport, the Portuguese Head of Delegation Carla Bugalho faced a different reality. She arrived with the EBU’s thick file of specifications for the 2018 edition. Talk about a shift in pressure!
“Eurovision is an event that entails a high level of requirements,” Silva said. “It’s Europe’s biggest entertainment show and that means a lot of responsibility. RTP has all the abilities to create a memorable event. Technologically it’s going to be a challenge but we have all the conditions to create an amazing Eurovision.”
RTP’s own evening news program previously confirmed Lisbon as the host city of Eurovision 2018. But, following interest from other cities, Silva talks about the matter with caution and says it hasn’t been confirmed.
“Everything is still to be decided, but it has to be a place with enough hotels and space for everything — an event like Eurovision requires. It’s not only the final and the semis, but weeks of preparation.”
After revamping Festival da Canção — the Portuguese national selection for Eurovision — last year, RTP has decided to maintain the same strategy this year. It will invite quality composers (rather than staging a public call) to produce good songs. However, it hasn’t closed the possibility of opening up the process in the years to come.
“We have good music in Portugal,” he said. “We must value that. Maybe with time we can democratise the process, but for now our efforts are in the quality of our compositions. Last year we were not interested in copying the formula many countries do. Big shows and fireworks. We just wanted good music and that’s it.”
Europe ate it up — and not just the jurors and televoters who chose Salvador as the winner during the Saturday finale. Luisa and his sister also won two Marcel Bezençon awards — for composition and artistry — as chosen by their fellow composers and the various national commentators at Eurovision.
Are you confident Portugal will organise a successful Eurovision? Do you think Lisbon is the perfect city to host the musical extravaganza? What about sticking to the same formula with Festival da Canção? Tell us all in the comments section below!
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Portugal will be like Ukraine, and is not big drama. Competition between cities is good, the best offer will win, why do you think is weakness to have that ”contest” between cities? Now they will start to record each other ugly neighborhoods, like Ukraine did. So what?
I thought the Atlantic Pavillion/MEO Arena was the only avaiable/realisitc choice! Ideal location with lots of conference rooms avaible next door. Would it be too expensive?
The next best options are too small. I’ve never been to Porto but I’m sure it’s lovely. Don’t know if they have plans to build a big arena of their own one day.
Not to get of subject but does anyone know what the B&W halls are like now, three years on? I’ve heard they’re in the same condition the were found in
Its gonna be Lisbon…for sure.
“Last year we were not interested in copying the formula many countries do. Big shows and fireworks. We just wanted good music and that’s it.” TRUE!TRUE!TRUE! Don’t just copy, Europe! Be creative and produce good music! Portugal keep up the good work. Don’t change you national selection process. It’s fine. Portugal will definetely do its best to be a memorable host country! It’s their first time and we don’t know if there will be a 2nd one. So, they are going to work for the best result. I believe there’s no need to change the host city. Lisbon is beautiful,… Read more »
“Luisa and his sister…”? U drunk?
Actually Luisa seems more masculine than salvador
this is kyiv 2017 all over again.
I don’t think so…
This is muuuuuuch better than the ridiculous City Battle
Of course it should be in Lisbon. It is ridiculous what the mayors of the other cities are proposing. The problem, however, seems that it is very expensive to rent the Meo Arena for three to four weeks that are necessary for the whole event.
According to the rules EBU demands 6 weeks acces to the arena.
Porto Santo 2018 is coming, ladies
LOL Yes, on the beach.
Sure RTP, whatever you say.
Lisbon 2018
… but it’s going to be lisbon
Ehhh they probably have it all planned out, except they still have to fill out all the paperwork before actually announcing it. But it still sounds like they have a much more cohesive plan than Ukraine’s City Battle last year. Hope it’s short and get it done quickly, so there won’t be as much last minute stuff.
Copenhagen converted a ship yard, so anything is possible I guess. But unless they plan on having it in a football stadium or a significantly smaller arena, then it’ll be in Lisbon.
No! that Copenhagen ship yard costed esc2014 heavy liabilities forced the bankruptcy .
Pavilhão Atlântico = Meo arena = Altice arena(new name) lisbon is the best choose to host esc 2018.
I wish RTP design esc2018 stage like esc2017 Minimalism but with amazing Lighting effects and Water around the stage. Maybe Rtp hire esc2014 stage designer again make the same ship theme stage for esc2018 . I don’t care to see the same etc 2014 stage again.lol
I wish RTP design esc2018 stage like “esc2014” Minimalism but with amazing Lighting effects and Water around the stage.
my house 2018
LETS DO THIS!
It’s still going to be Lisbon. It’s not only the capital, but the country’s biggest city economically and culturally. With Ukraine the security concerns and the 2005 contest meant that there was a legitimate chance that a city like Odessa would host. But Portugal’s won for the first time, and so would just host the contest in its largest city.
There’s literally no chance Odessa would be able to host this year. It’s way too close to Crimea.
Nah. Porto, Guimaraes, Algarve are also very big. There are good options.
I’am afraid that there aren’t! The other venues are small for ESC and many of them a bit far from sizeable hotel offering, good public transport and other attractions.
The alternative is to use an outdoor venue in Porto or in the Algarve, but that is too risky.
They should have 50-50 televote/jury vote on the Host City selection. Get that money $$ 😀
That’s hilarious, that would be cool if they did that. They should do it in July.
Host in the Azores.
LMAO, I’ll say that
(I noticed many flags from Azores on Eurovision)
That would’t be a bad option, much better than Gondomar.
hahah, temos cá uma arena mas só dá para 5000 pessoas, nada que não se fizesse. mas agora a sério tem de ser em Lisboa.
Freixo de Espada à Cinta should be the host city for Eurovision 2018! Make it happen!
That would be fun! Just imagine doing it at Penedo Durão.