The opening ceremony of the international song contest Eurovision 2018 was held in the Portuguese capital city.

      The event took place in the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, Lisbon.

      Portugal got the right to host the 63rd Eurovision contest due to the last year victory of Salvador Sobrad in Kiev, Ukraine.

      43 countries are taking part in the competition this time. Russia is represented at Eurovision by singer Julia Samoilova with the song I Will not Break. The stage director of her concert item is Alexei Golubev, who staged Polina Gagarina’s performance at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in 2015, when she won the 2^nd Prize.

      The first semifinal of Eurovision 2018 will be held on May 8, the second semifinal will take place on May 10, and the final will be on May 12.