Your ultimate guide to the Eurovision 2018 event weeks
27 April 2018 at 21:00 CESTALSO READ: Lisbon 2018: What to expect from the Eurovision online channels ?
All times in this story are CEST. In Lisbon, it is one hour earlier (WEST). This story will be updated as more event details become known.
Sunday 29 April
The Press Centre next door from the Altice Arena will open its doors well ahead of the first rehearsal. The first act on stage — Azerbaijan — will report for duty at 9:40 CEST to prepare.
During each participant's first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.
Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Azerbaijan
- Iceland
- Albania
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Lithuania
- Israel
- Belarus
- Estonia
- Bulgaria
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 21:15 CEST.
Monday 30 April
During each participant's first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.
Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- F.Y.R. Macedonia
- Croatia
- Austria
- Greece
- Finland
- Armenia
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Cyprus
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.
Tuesday 1 May
During each participant's first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.
Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Norway
- Romania
- Serbia
- San Marino
- Denmark
- Russia
- Moldova
- The Netherlands
- Australia
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.
Wednesday 2 May
During each participant's first rehearsal, lasting 30 minutes, accredited press has no access to the arena. Journalists can however follow the rehearsals on screen at the Press Centre.
Rehearsals and Meet & Greets are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Georgia
- Poland
- Malta
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Sweden
- Montenegro
- Slovenia
- Ukraine
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last Meet & Greet ends around 20:30 CEST.
Thursday 3 May
During each participant's second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.
Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Azerbaijan
- Iceland
- Albania
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Lithuania
- Israel
- Belarus
- Estonia
- Bulgaria
- F.Y.R. Macedonia
- Croatia
- Austria
- Greece
- Finland
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 19:35 CEST.
Friday 4 May
During each participant's second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.
Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Armenia
- Switzerland
- Ireland
- Cyprus
- Norway
- Romania
- Serbia
- San Marino
- Denmark
Today, the so-called 'Big Five' and host country Portugal will rehearse for the first time. They will rehearse for 30 minutes each, followed by a Meet & Greet.
- Portugal
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Germany
- Italy
- France
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 22:50 CEST.
At 17:00 CEST, the presenters of this year's Eurovision Song Contest will give a press conference.
At 20:00 CEST, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia will gather at the Eurovision Village on Terreiro do Paço. After a brief appearance of their artists, they move to an invitation-only party elsewhere. Eurovision.tv will be there to catch up with the Nordics.
At 22:30 CEST, the Eurovision Village will open at Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon.
Saturday 5 May
During each participant's second rehearsal, lasting 20 minutes, accredited press has access to the arena. After each rehearsal, the artist(s) will give a press conference.
Rehearsals and press conferences are scheduled with the artists from the following countries:
- Russia
- Moldova
- The Netherlands
- Australia
- Georgia
- Poland
- Malta
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Sweden
- Montenegro
- Slovenia
- Ukraine
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 18:45 CEST.
In the evening, Israel's Netta hosts an exclusive party somewhere in Lisbon and Eurovision.tv will be there to report on everything that's happening.
Sunday 6 May
Today, the so-called 'Big Five' and host country Portugal will rehearse for the second time. They will rehearse for 20 minutes each, accredited press has access to the arena. Each rehearsal is followed by a press conference.
- Portugal
- United Kingdom
- Spain
- Germany
- Italy
- France
The first rehearsal begins at 11:00, the last press conference ends around 14:30 CEST. After that, all 43 participants will prepare for the Blue Carpet, which begins at 18:00 CEST.
Later that evening, the EuroClub will open its doors for accredited fans and press.
Monday 7 May
- 15:00 — 17:25 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (for accredited press)
- 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)
Tuesday 8 May
- 15:00 — 17:10 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the first Semi-Final (with audience)
- 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: FIRST SEMI-FINAL (live show)
- Qualifiers' Press Conference
- Afterparty
This evening, Australia will host an invitation-only party at its Lisbon embassy.
Wednesday 9 May
- 15:00 — 17:25 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (for accredited press)
- 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)
At 18:00 CEST, a joint press conference of the EBU and Host Broadcaster RTP will take place, followed by a press conference about the upcoming Junior Eurovision Song Contest at 18:30 CEST.
Thursday 10 May
- 15:00 — 17:10 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the second Semi-Final (with audience)
- 21:00 — 23:10 CEST: SECOND SEMI-FINAL (live show)
- Qualifiers' Press Conference
- Afterparty
Friday 11 May
- 14:00 — 17:00 CEST: First Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (for accredited press)
- 21:00 — 0:30 CEST: Second Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (based on which the juries will give their verdict, with audience)
At 17:20 CEST, a joint press conference of the 'Big Five' and Portugal will be held.
Saturday 12 May
- 13:30 — 17:15 CEST: Third Dress Rehearsal of the Grand Final (with audience)
- 21:00 — 0:30 CEST: GRAND FINAL (live show)
- Winners' Press Conference
- Afterparty