Edition 25

The twenty-fifth edition of the **Global Music Festival**​ took place at the Palladium in Acapulco, Mexico. It was the fourth time the country hosted the contest after Mexico's fourth victory in the twenty-forth edition with "Wolves" performed by Selena Gomez and Marshmello - which scored a record breaking score of 263 points (the highest score in the history of the contest to-date). This edition consisted of three semi-finals which were all launched on the 15 January 2018 and a grand final which took place from the 19 January 2018. All four of the shows in this edition were hosted by Selena Gomez - the previous winner herself.

Sixty countries participated in this edition of the contest - the most (joint) countries in the history of the contest! We saw the return of Belarus, Colombia, Denmark, the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago. However, we sadly said goodbye to a number of countries this edition, but hopefully it will not be for too long! Armenia, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Iran, Puerto Rico and Russia all withdrew from this edition.

The power six for this edition were Mexico, Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Slovakia and Germany - these were the delegations that placed in the top six from the previous edition. Their placement in the power six means that they received an automatic place to perform in the final of this edition, while also being allowed to vote in one of the semi-finals in this edition.

Malta won this edition of the Global Music Festival with Eleanor and her song "Back To Life" with a record-breaking 303 points - the first song to ever receive over 300 points!  Also, Iraq and Panama reached the final for the first time since their respective debuts and the countries placed twenty-eighth and sixteenth respectively.  Additionally, Malaysia reached their best placement in the history of the contest, qualifying for the first time without the wildcard, and placing fifteenth with 113 points!  However, a number of countries failed to reach the final and achieved their worst placement in their respective histories: Albania, Andorra, Brazil, Colombia, England, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Vietnam.  Also, Egypt and Venezuela sadly got their worst placings in the history of the contest, placing twenty-ninth and nineteenth respectively.

 Slogan
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Participants
 Winner

## Participants

* Colombia
* Denmark
* Philippines
* South Korea
* Switzerland
* Trinidad & Tobago
* Guatemala
* Iceland
* India
* Iran
* Puerto Rico
* Russia

## Pots for the Semi-Final Allocation Draw

The draw to determine the allocation of the participating countries into their respective semi-finals took place on the 15 January 2018. The fifty-two semi-finalists were allocated to five pots, based on the previous results of each participating country, calculated by the averages of the past results. Drawing from each pot helps to create an equal split of successful and not-so successful countries in each semi-final to give countries an equal chance of qualification.

Malta, Finland and Ireland were not included in the pots because the head of delegations for the countries are on the admin team and are each in charge of one of the semi finals. Malta were automatically assigned to the second semi final, Finland were automatically assigned to the third semi-final and Ireland were automatically assigned to the first semi final.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations (Mexico, Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Slovakia and Germany) were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals. Mexico and Slovakia were assigned to vote in the first semi-final, South Africa and Germany were assigned to vote in the second semi-final, and Australia and Egypt were assigned to vote in the third semi-final.

## ​Semi Final One

 Mexico and  Slovakia from the power six were randomly allocated to vote in this semi-final, as well as, the countries who participated in this semi-final - as always countries not in this semi-final had the choice whether they wanted to vote in this semi-final or not.  Ireland were automatically assigned to this semi-final (as always) because the head of delegation for Ireland is on the admin team and is the organiser for the third semi-final - this is done to allow the admins to have the uncertainty of their countries' result. After the results were announced, there were discussions about selecting one of the non-qualifiers to progress to the final as a wildcard entry -  United States.

## ​Semi Final Two

 South Africa and  Germany from the power six were randomly allocated to vote in this semi-final, as well as, the countries who participated in this semi-final - as always countries not in this semi-final had the choice whether they wanted to vote in this semi-final or not.  Malta were automatically assigned to this semi-final (as always) because the head of delegation for Malta is on the admin team and is the organiser for the first semi-final - this is done to allow the admins to have the uncertainty of their countries' result. After the results were announced, there were discussions about selecting one of the non-qualifiers to progress to the final as a wildcard entry -  San Marino.

## ​Semi Final Three

 Australia and  Egypt from the power six were randomly allocated to vote in this semi-final, as well as, the countries who participated in this semi-final - as always countries not in this semi-final had the choice whether they wanted to vote in this semi-final or not.   Finland were automatically assigned to this semi-final (as always) because the head of delegation for Finland is on the admin team and is the organiser for the second semi-final - this is done to allow the admins to have the uncertainty of their countries' result.  After the results were announced, there were discussions about selecting one of the non-qualifiers to progress to the final as a wildcard entry -  Bosnia & Herzegovina.

## ​Grand Final

Thirty countries participated in the final of this edition of the **Global Music Festival**​ - the power six, the seven qualifiers from the three semi-finals and the three wildcard entries (one from each semi-final). All sixty participating countries were eligible to vote in the final; however, only the thirty finalists were obligated to vote! The running order for the final was announced shortly after the semi final results on the 19 January 2018. The results for the final were released on the 26 January 2018.