Edition 41

The forty-first edition of the **Global Music Festival** took place at the Arena Națională in Bucharest, Romania. It was the first time the country hosted the contest, after Romania's first victory in the fortieth edition with the song Love Can Save It All performed by Andra - which scored 269 points. Romania has participated in every edition since the contest started and took them forty attempts to win. This edition consisted of three semi-finals which were all launched on the 12 September 2018 and a grand final which took place from the 16 September 2018. All four of the shows in this edition were hosted by singer and presenter Aurelian Temişan along with television host Ilinca Avram.

Fifty countries participated in this edition of the contest: Due to the previous edition having a theme, there were many returning and withdrawing countries. Three countries made their debut in the forty-first edition, they were as follows; Antigua & Barbuda, Bangladesh and Bolivia. Trinidad & Tobago came back after being away for eight editions, with their last appearance in the thirty-second edition. Another additional fifteen countries returned; Albania, Barbados, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iceland, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay and Wales. After participating since the first edition, Romania decided to leave the contest. Even though they hosted the forty-first edition, the original owner of Romania withdrew from the contest. This is the first time in the history of the Global Music Festival where the host country did not take part. Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Uganda were another eighteen countries to withdraw from the contest.

The power six for this edition were Australia, China, Croatia, Germany, Barbados and Northern Ireland - 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. The top six in the thirty-ninth edition were originally Romania, Uganda, Finland, Peru, Ukraine and Colombia - but due to the theme they were changed to whatever country they selected. 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. Poland, who was Norway in the previous edition, finished in the top six in the fortieth edition but they withdrew from the contest. This lead to Northern Ireland, who was previously Colombia in the fortieth edition, to take their place as they placed in seventh.

 Slogan
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Participants
 Winner
 Kim Petras - Heart to Break

## Participants

* Bangladesh
* Bolivia
* Barbados
* Bosnia & Herzegovina
* Iceland
* India
* Japan
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Northern Ireland
* Portugal
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Switzerland
* Trinidad & Tobago
* Uruguay
* Wales
* Brazil
* Bulgaria
* Cambodia
* File:Indonesian Flag.png Indonesia
* Ivory Coast
* Mali
* Mongolia
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Papua New Guinea
* Peru
* Romania
* Russia
* Syria
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Turkey
* Uganda

## 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 11 September 2018. The 44 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 these countries are on the admin team and are in charge of the first, second and third semi-finals respectively; as a result, the countries were automatically assigned to another semi-final: Malta were assigned to semi-final two, and Finland were assigned to semi-final three, and Ireland were assigned to semi-final one.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations (Australia, China, Croatia, Germany, Barbados and Northern Ireland) were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals. Australia and Germany were assigned to vote in the first semi-final, China and Croatia were assigned to vote in the second semi-final, and Barbados and Northern Ireland were assigned to vote in the third semi-final.

## Semi Final One

 Australia 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.  Ireland were automatically assigned to this semi-final 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.

## Semi Final Two

 China and  Croatia 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 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.

## Semi Final Three

b Barbados and  Northern Ireland 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 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.

## 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 fifty participating countries were eligible to vote in the final; however, only the thirty finalists were obligated to vote! The votes of the non-qualifiers and non-participants were all combined in to the televote. However, only thirty non-qualifiers and non-participants could vote. The running order for the final was announced shortly after the semi final results on the 16 September 2018. The results for the final were released on the 23 September 2018.