We reported a couple of days ago that Hungary will choose their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in A Dal 2018. Now we can confirm that the first heat of this show is going to take place on the 20th of January, and after three heats and two semi finals, the Grand Final will take place on the 24th of February 2018.

The format of A Dal in 2018 will stay the same as in previous years – there will be weekly shows on Saturdays, starting on the 20th of January. In the first three shows (heats) 10 songs will be competing, and six songs from each of the shows will qualify for the semi finals – five songs selected in a mix of jury and app voting, and the sixth qualifier will be chosen by televoting and app voting.

In the 4th and the 5th show (semi finals), nine songs will be competing in each show, and the best four from each will qualify for the Grand Final – three will be chosen by a mix of jury and app voting, whilst the fourth qualifiers will be chosen by televoting and app voting. In the Grand Final on the 24th of February, eight songs will compete. The jury will then select the top four to proceed to the Superfinal, where the winner will be chosen by televoting and app voting.

App voting will once again be free of charge, and televoting will only have the standard cost of sending an SMS, and both voting options will be available to the viewers from all over the world.

Once the submission period closes on the 15th of November, a preselection jury will listen to all of the submitted songs, and select the best 30 which will then enter the show. The names of the qualifiers will be announced in early December. You can read how to enter next year’s A Dal right here.