A number of 28 competitors will take part in the national stage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Most of the applications were filed on the last days of submissions, January 15, IPN reports.

Among the contenders are Sasha Bagnibov, Ana Timofei, CHE MD, Maria Codreanu, Ruslan Taranu, Dointa Gherman, Sandy C & Aaron Sibley, Tolik, Dima Gaitur. Lavinia Rusu, Marina Cudalb, and Vera Turcanu. The contestants also include the band “5 stele”, Tudor Bumbac, DoReDoS, Bostan, Felicia Dunaf, Nicoleta Sava, Denny Feyton, Laura Bagrii, Anna Odobesc, Ilia Sorocean & Dasha DaGro, Bella Luna, Pelageya Stefoglo, Shvets, Saidy, Constantin Cobilean, and Viorela.

The winner will be chosen in three stages. The live auditions will be held at the start of February. The national semifinal was scheduled for February 22, while the national final for February 24.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal. The semifinals of the contest will be staged on May 8 and 10, 2018, while the grand final on May 12, 2018.

At last year’s contest, Moldova was represented by the band “SunStroke Project”, which ranked third, obtaining the best score in the country’s history. Salvador Sobral from Portugal won Eurovision 2017 that was held in Kyiv.