Iceland: Here are the songs & artists for Söngvakeppnin 2018

The songs and artists for this year's Söngvakeppnin in Iceland have just been announced by Icelandic broadcaster RÚV.

The acts were leaked on the music streaming service Tidal just hours before the official announcement.

All the songs have to be performed in Icelandic language in the semi-finals. In the final it's optional for each singer if he/she will perform the song in Icelandic or in English.

The 12 songs have been chosen by an advisory song selection committee and the executive committee of the contest.

Söngvakeppnin 2018

Söngvakeppnin 2018 consists of two semi-finals and one final. The semi-finals will be held in Háskólabíó and the final in Laugardalshöll.

• Semi-final 1: 10 February 2018
• Semi-final 2: 17 February 2018
• Final: 3 March 2018

12 songs has been picked to compete in Söngvakeppnin 2018 – Six songs for each Semi-final. Three songs from each Semi-final will qualify to the Final, decided by televoting.

In the Final of Söngvakeppnin 2018 a combination of 50/50 televoting/jury will select two songs for the Super Final. The two super finalists will perform their songs again, and here the winner will be decided solely by televoting.

All three shows will be broadcast live.

Iceland in Eurovision Song Contest

Iceland's debut in Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and has been participating 29 times since. Best result are two second-places with Yohanna in 2009 and Selma in 1999.

Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Iceland qualified to the Grand Final 8 out of 13 times.

Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.