Edition 20

The twentieth edition of the **Global Music Festival**​ took place at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. It was the first time the country hosted the contest after Barbados' first victory in the nineteenth edition with the song "Impossible" performed by Shontelle - which scored an impressive score of 180 points.  This edition consisted of three semi-finals which were all launched on the 30 October 2017 and a grand final which took place from the 03 November 2017. All four of the shows in this edition were hosted by previous three-time participant for Barbados in the Global Music Festival - the lead singer of Cover Drive: Amanda Reifer.  This edition was a thematic edition, and the theme was that every confirmed participant would be given a random country.

Fifty-four countries participated in this edition of the contest.  This edition was a special edition and the theme was random countries, therefore many countries returned and withdrew.  The following countries returned: Azerbaijan, Brazil, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Russia and Turkey.  Whereas, the following countries withdrew: Andorra, Estonia, India, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, Sweden and Wales.

The power six for this edition were Kosovo, The Netherlands, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Norway - these were the delegations that placed in the top six from the previous edition.  Mexico (who forfeited their win in the previous edition) were given Kosovo for this edition, Barbados were given The Netherlands, Argentina were given Mexico, The Netherlands were given Colombia, Armenia were given Puerto Rico and Portugal were given Norway.  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.

 Slogan
 Venue
 Presenter(s)
 Theme
 Participants
 Winner

## Participants

* Brazil
* Croatia
* Cuba
* Czech Republic
* FYR Macedonia
* Iceland
* File:Indonesian Flag.png Indonesia
* Kazakhstan
* Lebanon
* Lithuania
* Morocco
* Puerto Rico
* Russia
* Turkey
* Estonia
* India
* Malaysia
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Romania
* San Marino
* Sweden
* Wales

## ​Theme Poll

 Love & Heartbreak (Mexico)
 DJs & Dance Songs (Scotland)

## 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 30 October 2017.  The forty-eight 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.

Finland, Bulgaria and Canada (Scotland were given Finland, Finland were given Bulgaria, and Ireland were given Canada) 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.  Canada were automatically assigned to the first semi final, Finland were automatically assigned to the second semi final, and Bulgaria were automatically assigned to the third semi final.

Also, in the semi-final allocation draw the power six nations (Kosovo, The Netherlands, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Norway) were all drawn to vote in one of the respective semi-finals.  The Netherlands and Norway were assigned to the first semi-final; Colombia and Puerto Rico were assigned to the second semi-final; and Kosovo and Mexico were assigned to the third semi-final.

## ​Odds

The odds for the semi finals were released on the 02 November 2017 by the admins in charge of their respective semi finals, below you can see the odds for the top seven (the predicted qualifiers) in each semi final:

And, below are the odds for the favourites for the final of the twentieth edition:

  Kosovo
  Australia
  Croatia
  The Netherlands
  Armenia
  Finland
  South Africa
  Poland
  Latvia

## Returning Artists

A number of artists returned this edition: Shakira and Dua Lipa returned for their sixth participations - Shakira for Colombia and Dua Lipa for Kosovo - hoping to get another top six finish for their respective countries.  The Netherlands sent Hardwell for his fourth participation hoping to achieve his first top ten finish (his best placing being eleventh).  A number of countries returned for their third participations: Benjamin returned for Finland, Nyanda returned for Jamaica, Loïc Nottet returned for Belgium, Sergey Lazarev for Russia, The Script for Ireland, Avril Lavigne for Canada and Yohanna for Iceland.  Scotland sent Nina Nesbitt for her second participation, hoping to get a third win for the country.  TWiiNS participated for Slovakia once again and Naomi Pilgrim for Barbados.

## Semi Final One

 The Netherlands and  Norway from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.   Canada were randomly assigned to the first semi final because the head of delegation for the country is in charge of the third semi final.   Chile were disqualified because they failed to vote before the deadline - they would have twelfth.  After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Japan received the wildcard.

## Semi Final Two

 Colombia and  Puerto Rico from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.  Finland were randomly assigned to the second semi final because the head of delegation for the country is in charge of the first semi final. After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Scotland were chosen as the wildcard.

## Semi Final Three

 Kosovo and  Mexico from the power six voted in the semi final, following the allocation draw, as well as the countries participating in this semi final.  Bulgaria were randomly assigned to the third semi final because the head of delegation for the country is in charge of the second semi final. After the results were announced the admin team discussed selecting a wildcard entry from this semi final to progress to the final -  Latvia were picked as the wildcard.

## Final

Thirty countries participated in the final - the power six, the seven qualifiers from each semi-final and the three wildcards (one from each semi-final).  All fifty-four participating countries were eligible to vote in the final; however, only the thirty countries in the final had to vote.  The running order for the final was announced shortly after the results of the semi-finals on the 03 November 2017.