Outside of the two week run-up to the contest, one of the most beloved times of the year for Eurovision fans is national final season.

Many listen to hundreds of songs (particularly if you were committed enough to get through all 60 in Romania’s Selectia Nationala this year), pick their favourites and grow bitterly disappointed when they don’t win. But after all is said and done national final season provides us with the majority of Eurovision entries each year.

We had our first result way back in December 2017 following Albania’s Festivali i Kenges. Then — after patiently waiting for a few weeks — the floodgates opened and national finals were appearing all over the place, including the UK’s Eurovision: You Decide, Malta’s MESC, Belarus’ Eurofest, Ukraine’s Vidbir and way more than we have space to list here.

So while we countdown our favourites of the songs that didn’t quite take their regional crowns, we want to know which of the Eurovision 2018 entries that did win their respective national final are your favourites.

29 countries chose their entry through a national selection this year. France, Montenegro, Serbia, and the Czech Republic all returned to this more democratic process of selection, while San Marino chose their entry through a national final for the very first time.

All these songs are already winners, but only one can come out on top here. Click on the links below to take a listen to all the songs and then vote in our poll. You can choose as many songs as you want, but like always you can only vote once — so make it count!

Make sure to comment down below with your thoughts, and if you haven’t already you can vote in our poll for the best internally selected Eurovision 2018 act here.

Eurovision 2018 National Final Winning Songs

Albania: Eugent Bushpepa – “Mall”

Armenia: Sevak Khanagyan – “Qami”

Belarus: Alekseev – “Forever”

Czech Republic: Mikolas Josef – “Lie To Me”

Denmark: Rasmussen – “Higher Ground”

Estonia: Elina Nechayeva – “La Forza”

Finland: Saara Aalto – “Monsters”

France: Madame Monsieur – “Mercy”

Germany: Michael Schulte – “You Let Me Walk Alone”

Hungary: AWS – “Viszlát nyár”

Iceland: Ari Ólafsson – “Our Choice”

Italy: Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro – “Non mi avete fatto niente”

Latvia: Laura Rizzotto – “Funny Girl”

Lithuania: Ieva Zasimauskaite – “When We’re Old”

Malta: Christabelle – “Taboo”

Moldova: DoReDos – “My Lucky Day”

Montenegro: Vanja Radovanovic – “Inje”

Norway: Alexander Rybak – “That’s How You Write a Song”

Poland: Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer – “Light Me Up”

Portugal: Cláudia Pascoal – “O Jardim”

Romania: The Humans – “Goodbye”

San Marino: Jessika feat. Jenifer Brening – “Who We Are”

Serbia: Sanja Ilic & Balkanika – “Nova deca”

Slovenia: Lea Sirk – “Hvala, ne!”

Spain: Alfred & Amaia – “Tu canción”

Sweden: Benjamin Ingrosso – “Dance You Off”

Switzerland: Zibbz – “Stones”

Ukraine: Mélovin – “Under The Ladder”

United Kingdom: SuRie – “Storm”

Eurovision 2018 Poll – Best National Final Winner

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131 Comments
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EH UK CYP
EH UK CYP
5 years ago

Portugal and France are the songs that catch my attention the most. hope people vote for both of them

lea
lea
5 years ago

Eugent’s LIVE Performance at The Voice Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDRByA_vEVw&t=2s

AngieP
AngieP
5 years ago

ESC 2018 song chosen through a national final is the best?
Definitely France, Germany, Italy, Armenia, Albania and Ukraine chose the best one among their finalists.

My favourites are France, Germany and Italy.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago

More votes for Iceland… please? 🙂

Veronica
Veronica
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Love Ireland very much. 12 points from China.

Sisto
Sisto
5 years ago
Reply to  Veronica

Totally agree.

James
James
5 years ago

This year there are only two songs I like – Portugal and Czeck Republik

Gabriel
Gabriel
5 years ago
Reply to  James

Portuguese singer….12 points

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Gabriel

Hate these fake esc fans who give points to countries/singers rather than songs

Kim
Kim
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Esc is not about hate. Why care about reasons for the choise people make? I vote for s song.

Women, football and rock'n'roll
Women, football and rock'n'roll
5 years ago

Hungary 12 points 🙂

peter
peter
5 years ago

my vote goes for SPAIN. also my vote in may goes for spain

Peter
Peter
5 years ago
Reply to  peter

I know that even if didnt vote for spain in may it would still win. So i guess youre right

Peter
Peter
5 years ago
Reply to  Peter

Youre absolutely right. Greece will win the worst song of 2018

Catherine
Catherine
5 years ago
Reply to  Peter

Spain and Greece won’t even be in the top 10.

Jo
Jo
5 years ago

I love all the interviews between Benjamin Ingrosso and Lady Jenevia.
She is like an order sister to him. You can really tell that he is young.

benni
benni
5 years ago
Reply to  Jo

From where is Lady Jenevia? You say she is like a big sister, I feel that artists are intimidated by her.

Jo
Jo
5 years ago
Reply to  benni

Well not whith Benjamin. I don’t know where she’s from.

Zebb
Zebb
5 years ago
Reply to  benni

She’s american of japanese descent.

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago

THIS YEAR 12 POINTS GO TO GERMANY FROM SPAIN……………MUACK

THAKS GERMANY.

Peter
Peter
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Well germany,s song is also really cheesy. He’s just imitating ed sheeran

Gigi
Gigi
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Germany’s song is so boring.

Donald Duck
Donald Duck
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

If Spain desrve -12 from Germany , Spain go to gives -24 back to Germany, dont worry , we are very generouse whit ours friends,lol

Madrileño
Madrileño
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

HANS HAHAHAHAHA BE NICE WITH THE COUNTRY YOU VISIT IN SUMMER.

Elin
Elin
5 years ago

If you like Benjamin, Sweden. Look at this interview : )

https://youtu.be/OlWX00ID86M

Jo
Jo
5 years ago
Reply to  Elin

I love all the interviews between Benjamin Ingrosso and Lady Jenevia.
She is like an order sister to him. You can really tell that he is young.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Elin

Thank you. That was really funny to se. Love when he got the present.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Elin

Well, hate end the values of ESC. Think about that.
It is not nessesary to comment at all if you don’t like our song or us.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago

Ja, men tror du hans sound funkar i öst? Vore kul.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Kommentaren hamnade på fel ställe. : )

benni
benni
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

You don’t speak english because you want to write some secret, but if I click right on my mouse, I see the option Translate in english. No need to bother to write in a non-english language. You probably wrote about Swedish song, if will be liked in the east. I’m from the east and I like it. Happy?

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  benni

I am terrible in english and it is so much easier to write in swdish, sometimes I am intrested in what other people from sweden think. Especislly when it comes to our own song. Sometimes I write in swedish to avoid hate and comments. Those times can I write in swedish of that reason. Happy that you like it. But don’t you agree that our song, dance you off is a song more for US than eourope? I don’t know what is no The radio in the eastern coutry. Do people like the kind of music Benjamin sings in general?… Read more »

benni
benni
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

If east likes Sergey Lazarev, Doredos, Kirkorov, Alekseev, it means it will like Benjamin Ingrosso too. Rock is not much bigger than other genres, mostly east likes party music. Some ESC fans even blame east for its party music from 2000’s.
Good luck for Benjamin Ingrosso!

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  benni

Thank you. I usaly like songs from east. Espesially if the songs are very diffrent from what I usaly listen to. Tjata what makes Eurovision so fun. : )

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

That’s what makes Eurovision fun ; )

Women, football and rock'n'roll
Women, football and rock'n'roll
5 years ago

Others who find Finland far too cheesy, contrivied and kitschy? So overrated…The kind of music you ONLY hear in ESC. Never a good sign. And too “pink”

I voted for Hungary, Czech Rep, Norway, Itality, Slovenia etc

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago

I do! And the same I can say about Australia and Norway this year. Those 3 are my bottom podium.

cox
cox
5 years ago

Overthinking Eurovision is talking about Netta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYhKpfejMg

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago

1. France
2. Italy
3. Czech Republic
4. Poland
5. Portugal
6. Albania
7. Ukraine
8. Romania
9. Spain
10. Lithuania
11. Denmark
12. Germany
13. Switzerland
14. Finland
15. Sweden
16. Estonia
17. Serbia
18. United Kingdom
19. Latvia
20. Hungary
21. Slovenia
22. Moldova
23. Armenia
24. Norway
25. Montenegro
26. Malta
27. Belarus
28. Iceland
29. San Marino

Greetings from Peru.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Peru? WOW! 🙂
Such a long way away. How did you get to know about Eurovision?

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

A Latin American internet forum and plenty of searches on Wikipedia LOL. This is my first full Eurovision season and I’m really loving it. Greetings.

Aria
Aria
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Are you esckissesfromperu

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago
Reply to  Aria

No, I’m not. Is there another Peruvian here?

Aria
Aria
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

That’s a youtube channel

benni
benni
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

@lol
There are exactly 29 countries that had national selection. What do you not understand about this article?

benni
benni
5 years ago
Reply to  benni

@los

JayJay
JayJay
5 years ago
Reply to  Marcelo

Horrendous are both your taste and comment

SaaraFan
SaaraFan
5 years ago

So many good songs in this poll, i love the most Finland, France, Spain, Ukraine,Sweden,Belarus and Denmark ,can’t wait to watch live show in Lisbon and Saara will slay!!

good luck to everyone:)

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  SaaraFan

I think a more meaningful poll would result questioning what is your biggest crush, except your own country, por favor, because this is how the voting really works, in real life.

SaaraFan
SaaraFan
5 years ago
Reply to  Yaa

yeah you’re right, i have to choose….
my biggest crush is obviously Saara,lol, but i’m from Finland,
so i’m gonna vote for France or Ukraine i guess:))
i love so many songs this year, it’s painful to choose lol

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  SaaraFan

You are aloud 20 votes in ESC voting sistem so you can enhance your favorite so much, so the question is, who is your favourite?

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  SaaraFan

I like saara too.
Better winner than israel.

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

Somebody tell me when will the wiwi jury commence?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

When the reviews are finished. Obviously.

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

There’s nothing obvious in that

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

(Probably next week.) 😀

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

That’s a less haughty answer at least

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Sorry you’re in a bad mood. 🙁

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Someone put me in it
And now that I’m in it…..I won’t break eyeaaaaaaah eyeaaaaaaah
Cause even in the darkness……..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

I can see a light!

Nick
Nick
5 years ago

Hungary,Armenia, Sweden,Ukraine and Germany, though i think all these songs are pretty decent, except Norway (sounds too childish ) and Iceland (dated and boring).

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago

Frace song is soooooooo BORING PLEASE.
NOT IN TOP 10 AT ALL

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Well he can say as you can

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Thanks Kris for been respectfull

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Lol…. I already did
I’m hoping my help will contact you shortly

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Thats not wrigth this is just an opinion Im not saying anything nasty.
Thanks for followin me.
I just love bedides spain other songs.
RELAXXX

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Regardding to Australia I have nothing against them is just that they came 4 a visit and the said they where organizing a paralell contest in asia.
U TAKE IT SO PERSONAL MAN.

Abbey
Abbey
5 years ago

Lithuania, Ukraine and Hungary

Christian
Christian
5 years ago

That French song again? But whyyy?

Gretta
Gretta
5 years ago

I voted for Sweden Portugal Finland and Ukraine, though i like almost all songs in this poll:)

Billy Bob
Billy Bob
5 years ago

France,Ukraine, Italy are the best!

irish esc
irish esc
5 years ago
Reply to  Billy Bob

agree but ther some other good ones too imo : )

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

I’m surprised to see how badly Italy has been doing in all those recent polls (and in the betting odds). The song was never among my favourites but I expected many people to like it.

Hada
Hada
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Especially because the Eurovision version leaked and it turned out to be good (although it is one of my favorites)

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

What the song says is beautiful but the melody is rock……..pop bit lost in between.
Thaks Italy for thinking on spain atacks.

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  Jose Abraham

Joel nadie piensa en la cataluña independiente hay problrmas mas importanted que esos.
Cataluña siempre formara parte del reino de España os guste o no.
Hasta que todos los españoles cambiemos la ley.
BUT THIS IS EUROVISION PLEASE.

Jose Abraham
Jose Abraham
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Dont understand what you mean

Ari The Scorpio
Ari The Scorpio
5 years ago

Surprisingly, my favorite out of this rather big bunch is… Montenegro! I really like the song but that says a lot about the overall choices made in this year’s NF season. Also, Malta does not look that bad anymore to me. I now believe they can qualify.

Ari The Scorpio
Ari The Scorpio
5 years ago

Also, i hope Iceland gets last place in this poll for murdering music. Closely followed by Ukraine for slaughtering the English language.

Dayana
Dayana
5 years ago

Ari The Scorpio Moldova last year had poor English and took third place)

Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

La forza. <3
Viszlat nyar is a cute runner-up!

allexo
allexo
5 years ago

France had the best national final. Simple.

Belle
Belle
5 years ago

Sweden is underrated! Ingrosso is the best.

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Belle

Instämmer, kan det bero på att jag också är svensk? ; )

Tycker det i år. Men tror det inte vi vinner. Är inte stil som jag tror esc tittare diggar. Tror Benjis musik funkar bättre i USA. I och för sig tänkte jag samma kring Wiktoria första gången jag höre henne. Bra, men countrypop är inget för ESC fantaster, mer för US. Men hon verkar ju ha hyfsat många fan inom escvärlden ändå. : )

Milla
Milla
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Men nu är ju inte den vanliga röstaren som fansen alla gånger. Benjamins låt är en av dom mest moderna och det som många lyssnar på utanför eurovision-bubblan vilket jag tror är en bra sak. Men vinner gör vi nog inte..

Malin
Malin
5 years ago
Reply to  Milla

Ja men tror du han funkar i öst? Vore kul. : )

Tycker han är jätte bra. Har absolut inte stenkoll på musik men första gången jag lyssnade så fick jag accosiationer till Wham, Micael J, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber. Tycker han är grym och borde ha en framtid utanför Sverige. framförallt i US.

Milla
Milla
5 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Jag vet inte om öst kommer gilla det.. Men om inte låten gör det så lär väl möjligtvis showen göra det istället 🙂 Tror minst på top 10 i år.

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago

Albania, Estonia and France for sure! Honourable mention to Armenia! All four are in my top 10! I see Spanish and Melovin fans haven’t hijacked this poll so far! LOL! ?

Marina
Marina
5 years ago
Reply to  blondboybc

blondboybc Now Alexeyev’s fans are the most active. There are a lot of them, from all the Soviet countries.He can even become a winner )

Kris
Kris
5 years ago
Reply to  Marina

Maybe here but Not in the actual contest!! But yeah those fans can make him qualify!!

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  Marina

Sure, those belarussians &other russians are swarming amongst us, spoliling our polls, or even the ESC results, God forbid!

blondboybc
blondboybc
5 years ago
Reply to  Marina

Well, if they are, not seeing it in this poll!

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  blondboybc

Go see the other poll on this blog the one with Who should win ESC, 40 000 voted, russian speaking blokes are all on Vk not here.

Mari(o)Vision / Box Jellyfish
Mari(o)Vision / Box Jellyfish
5 years ago

The best song : Denmark
The best NF (overall) : France

SebastienXavier
SebastienXavier
5 years ago

France has the best national final this year!

James
James
5 years ago

Well,I have made up my mind for the magical song of the Portuguese singer…..

Andrea
Andrea
5 years ago

My vote was for Armenia mostly due to the raw power behind it. A big difference among all the songs this year, which seem to go back to electronica over and over again.

Sarah Boucher
Sarah Boucher
5 years ago

The Tolmachevy Sisters are Alekseev’s Backing Vocalists.

David Enchilada
David Enchilada
5 years ago

I voted for France and Finland. And they came out on top! I feel like such a rigger

Lolek
Lolek
5 years ago

Spain only in 6th on this poll? How strange considering it always seems to lead in the other polls. Hmmm.

Emerald
5 years ago
Reply to  Lolek

Yes, spanish song is the best

peter
peter
5 years ago
Reply to  Emerald

someone feels threatened. or are you just jealous

Frensiti
Frensiti
5 years ago

Albaniaa, amazing song

Lourdes
Lourdes
5 years ago

Italy, Albania, France, Estonia!

Y tho?
Y tho?
5 years ago

Albania by far.

Polska
Polska
5 years ago

Why Spain not lead yet?

Fun or ban?
Fun or ban?
5 years ago
Reply to  Polska

Simply because there are many better songs than the Spanish one!

peter
peter
5 years ago
Reply to  Fun or ban?

never in a million years. spain has the best song by far

Donald Duck
Donald Duck
5 years ago
Reply to  peter

just the same that the cheesy trashy boring gneric garbage Greek music, awfulll

Maxime
5 years ago

YAAAS France!

Btw, you can also vote in the semis of Eurovision 2018 here 🙂
https://goo.gl/forms/sxwzgDTrQajOTgb73

KESC
KESC
5 years ago

Taboo is soo underrated. Hope Christabelle will qualify.

friedenau
friedenau
5 years ago

I really want France to do well, but I am scared of the voters, as this song may be too subtle and elegant for the masses…
On the other hand, I don’t get why Germany is not a bigger favorite! It contains all the elements to appeal both juries and voters. I am quite confused this year

v-alex
v-alex
5 years ago

Have you seen the last version of “Forever”? It’s amazing!

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  v-alex

I’ve been searching for it forever(pun intended)but I didn’t find it 🙁

Gabbi
Gabbi
5 years ago
Reply to  v-alex

The song became a little better but still boring!

Icoughtyou
Icoughtyou
5 years ago
Reply to  v-alex

Geia sou re alexandra me ta oreaa souuu !!!

Yaa
Yaa
5 years ago
Reply to  v-alex

I hate the new version, the song is ruined, I’ m sad, really. I hope it’s not true.

William Lee Adams
Admin
5 years ago

In the past Sweden has always come at or near the top of this poll. The tide appears to be changing this year.

Liam Lindsay
Liam Lindsay
5 years ago

The UK will surprise y’all and will do a lot better than people expected it to do. Everybody is predicting last place but, I think that’s a little harsh.

You can’t blame the UK for the BBC not being willing to listen to the fans.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Helps that the song is not that strong, too! Doesn’t matter waht we think because it is still going to do well!

Malin
Malin
5 years ago

Well, I think that Benjis music is more for the US market. The inspiration from oldschool soul is perhaps noting for escfans. I love it and I am coviced that Benji will have many hits outside Sweden even if he won’t make it in esc.

Milla
Milla
5 years ago

Well Sweden’s song is not eurovision-fan friendly. Like Frans. So I don’t expect it to do well in polls.

Lolita
Lolita
5 years ago

These polls are not 100% relevant, because everyone votes for own country. And even if they are relevant a bit, Sweden is low only because fans are mad, because Felix/Jessica/Margaret/whoever haven’t won.

Lolita
Lolita
5 years ago

And last year Italy was high and even first, and even then televiewers barely recognized song. That says all about poll and fans!

Southern20
Southern20
5 years ago

Portugal is the best by miles.The most sensitive and emotional song,and her voice is not from this world.I also like France,Finland,Germany and Hungary but in another level.Portugal will double it,i’m sure,as i was last year when everybbody said i was crazy.

Lolita
Lolita
5 years ago
Reply to  Southern20

And last year Italy was high and even first, and even then televiewers barely recognized song. That says all about poll and fans!

Elfi
Elfi
5 years ago

My votes: Portugal, Italy, France, Spain and Latvia

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

Voted for my top 5 of Course: Hungary,Czechia, Estonia, Italy and Denmark.

Kalle
Kalle
5 years ago

Finland

gh_joker
gh_joker
5 years ago

France of course

Polska
Polska
5 years ago

This poll is good