Season 18
Season 18 of Melodia Song Contest Reimagined is hosted in Error creating thumbnail: Coimbra, Portugal. The winning country was File:Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda, represented by Sabina Ddumba with their song "I Cry". They scored 173 points in the Grand Final. The runner-up was File:ReunionRadiantVolcanoFlag.png Réunion with 171 points.
Location
This edition of Melodia Song Contest was held in Estádio da Cidade de Coimbra, a stadium with a capacity of 29.622 people.
Participating Countries
37 countries initially declared interest in participation this season.
This season’s national-final landscape delivered an eclectic palette of styles, aesthetics, and artistic risks. Swiss staple Schweiz Selects put forward “Strawberry Lemonade” by Marlin, a breezy, pastel-tinted pop number that charmed with its sweetness even if it ultimately placed 35th. Across the ocean, the United States’ Melodex leaned into darker alt-pop with “sad boii” by Benee, its hazy emotional core resonating with a niche audience and landing just one step lower at 36th. Both entries, though wildly different in tone, highlighted how national finals increasingly celebrate contrasting moods and production styles.
India’s Agni-Pariksha brought the fire both literally and thematically with “Beparwai” by Jonita, an empowering, vocally rich performance that stormed to 10th place and became one of the standout mid-table success stories. Meanwhile in Réunion, the Grand Prix du Concours unveiled perhaps the season’s most intimate and successful offering: “Dependence affective” by Gwennili, a delicate, emotionally raw ballad that captivated juries and audiences alike, rightfully earning the silver medal and the HoD's subsequent auto-qualification in Season 19.
East Asia and Central Europe also delivered memorable moments. South Korea’s return of MNext embraced shimmering dance-pop with ChungHa’s “Sparkling,” an effervescent track that radiated charisma on stage and finished respectably in 22nd. Hungary’s Bajnokok Összecsapása cemented a tradition of bold, moody pop with Itenera's “Idegen,” whose atmospheric style and tight staging pushed it into an impressive 8th place.
In Europe, Poland's Polska Festiwal Muzyczny offered a fierce and emotional slice of eastern European pop with BOVSKA’s “Ziemia Mi Się Pali,” a track that blended urgency and vulnerability on its way to 14th. The United Kingdom's Departure for Portugal showcased soul-tinged indie through Brooke Combe’s “Miss Me Now,” which soared to 7th thanks to its smoky vocals and understated confidence. Portugal’s own Cantares da Gândara went more experimental with “Aguarela” by VSP AST, landing in 24th in the grand final after an auto-qualification but standing out for its artistic ambition. And finally, Gibraltar’s quirky yet beloved United by Tea national final produced James Marriott’s “Something’s Wrong,” a polished alt-rock moment that resonated widely and claimed 12th place.
Together, these entries paint a vibrant portrait of a season unafraid to experiment with genres, languages, and storytelling, showing once again that national finals remain one of the richest musical ecosystems for discovery at Melodia Song Contest.
| Country | Broadcaster | Song | Artist | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Samoa
|
tng8394 | KVZK-TV | "Tired Boy" | Sunday (1994) | English |
 Australia
|
randomguy213 | SBS | "Astronaut" | Jaguar Jones | English |
| File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh | chalenn | BTV | "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" | Joy Crookes | English |
 Belgium
|
kasvi004 | VRT | "On Met La Patate" | Omdat Het Kan & Average Rob | English, Flemish |
| File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | zyroutx | TV Brasil | "Velho Fusca" | Xama | Portuguese |
 Canada
|
zakrusta | CBC | "Biblical Love" | Flower Face | English |
| File:Flag of Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands | thejendyz | Radio Cayman | "Footprints" | Tom Gregory | English |
 Cocos Islands
|
wither2706 | SBS | "Stained Glass Love" | Telenova | English |
 Denmark
|
dodgefulartist3 | DR | "ItBotGGBtSSiaDWoD" [1] | Volbeat | English |
| File:Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini | toniaczka | EBIS | "Okondana" | Sarnilo & Sibu Manzini | Siswati |
| File:Flag of France.svg France | yvourstruly | France Télévisions | "hot shit" | Cil | French |
 Georgia
|
haepuff | GPB | "Over and Over" | Tatia Darsalia | English |
| Error creating thumbnail: Germany | whothehellisorestis | ARD | "Sawdust" | Lina Mariah | English |
 Gibraltar
|
pinguini | GBC | "Something’s Wrong" | James Marriott | English |
 Guam
|
itsme_notme | KGTF | "I CANT QUIT" | MEL 4EVER | English |
| File:Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey | valentinomore | BBC | "Bus Stop" | Amber Van Day | English |
| File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary | stevenesc. | MTV | "Idegen" | Itinera | Hungarian |
 India
|
aenthology | Doordarshan | "Beparwai" | Jonita | Hindi |
| File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | meuw2202 | RAI | "Rumore bianco" | chiamamifaro | Italian |
| File:Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo | twan7047 | RTK | "Si Ai" | Tayna | Albanian |
 Liechtenstein
|
drehspiessfleisch_im_brot | Radio L | "Little Numbers" | BOY | English |
| Error creating thumbnail: Lithuania | Riardukas | LRT | "Mylėjau Kažkada" | GJan | Lithuanian |
 Luxembourg
|
spiritsarehere | RTL | "Real Love" | Francis of Delirium | English |
| File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia | szszofi06 | RTM | "MWA!" | DOLLA | English, Malay |
| File:Flag of Netherlands.svg Netherlands | suppacoo | AVROTROS | "Cicada" | Blackbriar | English |
| Error creating thumbnail: North Korea | ctys0n | KCTV | "Famous" | AllDay Project | English, Korean |
| File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru | jita26televisi | IRTP | "Kutimuni" | LENIN | Quechua |
 Philippines
|
chromiliaghaztic | ABS-CBN | "Saranggola" | Ben&Ben | Filipino |
 Poland
|
hailflax | TVP | "Ziemia mi sie pali" | BOVSKA | Polish |
 Portugal
|
msgomes219 | RTP | "Aguarela" | VSP AST | Portuguese |
| File:ReunionRadiantVolcanoFlag.png Réunion | jesuisunepoubelle | Réunion La Première | "Dependance affective" | Gwennili | French |
 Romania
|
devil666132020 | TVR | "Toata Lumea Danseaza" | MIRA | Romanian |
 South Korea
|
paldosreal.sss | KBS | "Sparkling" | CHUNG HA | English, Korean |
| Error creating thumbnail: Switzerland | eternal2 | SRG-SSR | "Strawberry Lemonade" | Marlin | English |
| File:Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda | blueythesharkie | UBC | "I Cry" | Sabina Ddumba | English |
| Error creating thumbnail: United Kingdom | skanyone | BBC | "Miss Me Now" | Brooke Combe | English |
| Error creating thumbnail: United States | sandernl | NBC | "Sad Boiii" | BENEE | English |
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Contest Overview
Semi-Final allocation draw
The draw to determine which semi-finals each non-automatic qualifier country would compete in took place on the 24th July 2025. The 32 semi final participants were spread across 5 pots based off of their delegates voting history. The pot allocation was made internally, thus the Pots are currently unavailiable.
Semi-Final 1
16 countries competed in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Canada, Georgia and Philippines voted. 10 countries qualified for the final, with Romania moving into the wildcard stage.
| Draw | Country | Song | Artist | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | South Korea
|
"Sparkling" | CHUNG HA | 8 | 64 |
| 02 | File:Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo | "Si Ai" | Tayna | 7 | 71 |
| 03 | File:Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda | "I Cry" | Sabina Ddumba | 1 | 141 |
| 04 | Luxembourg
|
"Real Love" | Francis of Delirium | 10 | 63 |
| 05 | Cocos Islands
|
"Stained Glass Love" | Telenova | 3 | 92 |
| 06 | Error creating thumbnail: Lithuania | "Mylėjau Kažkada" | GJan | 12 | 47 |
| 07 | File:Flag of Eswatini.svg Eswatini | "Okondana" | Sarnilo & Sibu Manzini | 14 | 42 |
| 08 | Poland
|
"Ziemia mi się pali" | BOVSKA | 5 | 82 |
| 09 | File:Flag of France.svg France | "hot shit" | Cil | 4 | 86 |
| 10 | File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia | "MWA!" | DOLLA | 9 | 64 |
| 11 | File:Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey | "Bus Stop" | Amber Van Day | 6 | 82 |
| 12 | American Samoa
|
"Tired Boy" | Sunday (1994) | 13 | 43 |
| 13 | Australia
|
"Astronaut" | Jaguar Jonze | 15 | 37 |
| 14 | Romania
|
"Toată Lumea Dansează" | MIRA | 11 | 48 |
| 15 | Error creating thumbnail: Switzerland | "Strawberry Lemonade" | Marlin | 16 | 36 |
| 16 | File:Flag of Netherlands.svg Netherlands | "Cicada" | Blackbriar | 2 | 104 |
Semi-Final 2
16 countries competed in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Guam and Portugal voted. 10 countries qualified for the final, with Germany moving into the wildcard stage.
| Draw | Country | Song | Artist | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary | "Idegen" | Itinera | 4 | 71 |
| 02 | Belgium
|
"On Met La Patate" | Omdat Het Kan & Average Rob | 13 | 43 |
| 03 | Error creating thumbnail: United Kingdom | "Miss Me Now" | Brooke Combe | 3 | 99 |
| 04 | India
|
"Beparwai" | Jonita | 7 | 69 |
| 05 | File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh | "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" | Joy Crookes | 6 | 69 |
| 06 | File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru | "Kutimuni" | LENIN | 14 | 39 |
| 07 | Gibraltar
|
"Something’s Wrong" | James Marriott | 8 | 64 |
| 08 | File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | "Velho Fusca" | Xama | 16 | 20 |
| 09 | Denmark
|
"ItBotGGBtSSiaDWoD" | Volbeat | 12 | 44 |
| 10 | Liechtenstein
|
"Little Numbers" | BOY | 9 | 61 |
| 11 | Error creating thumbnail: United States | "Sad Boiii" | BENEE | 15 | 34 |
| 12 | Error creating thumbnail: Germany | "Sawdust" | Lina Mariah | 11 | 56 |
| 13 | Error creating thumbnail: North Korea | "Famous" | AllDay Project | 10 | 59 |
| 14 | File:ReunionRadiantVolcanoFlag.png Réunion | "Dependance affective" | Gwennili | 1 | 131 |
| 15 | File:Flag of Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands | "Footprints" | Tom Gregory | 5 | 70 |
| 16 | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | "Rumore bianco" | chiamamifaro | 2 | 115 |
Wildcard Round
The wildcard round voting finished on August 11th. Germany was declared the winner after earning the higher percentage of votes to progress. To be noted that Germany won the wildcard on a 1-vote difference!
| Country | Song | Artist | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania
|
"Toată Lumea Dansează" | MIRA | 47.1% | Eliminated |
| Error creating thumbnail: Germany | "Sawdust" | Lina Mariah | 52.9% | Grand Final |
Grand Final
26 countries participated in the Grand Final. Every participating country voted in this round. Uganda was the winner with 173 points, followed by Réunion with 171 points and Italy with 166 points. Germany ended in the last place with 31 points, making them the first Wildcard winner ending in the last place.
| Draw | Country | Song | Artist | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Cocos Islands
|
"Stained Glass Love" | Telenova | 4 | 154 |
| 02 | File:Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey | "Bus Stop" | Amber Van Day | 16 | 58 |
| 03 | Gibraltar
|
"Something’s Wrong" | James Marriott | 12 | 74 |
| 04 | Error creating thumbnail: North Korea | "Famous" | AllDay Project | 17 | 57 |
| 05 | File:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary | "Idegen" | Itinera | 8 | 96 |
| 06 | Philippines
|
"Saranggola" | Ben&Ben | 19 | 56 |
| 07 | File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | "Rumore bianco" | chiamamifaro | 3 | 166 |
| 08 | South Korea
|
"Sparkling" | CHUNG HA | 22 | 51 |
| 09 | File:ReunionRadiantVolcanoFlag.png Réunion | "Dependance affective" | Gwennili | 2 | 171 |
| 10 | File:Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh | "Feet Don’t Fail Me Now" | Joy Crookes | 11 | 81 |
| 11 | Portugal
|
"Aguarela" | VSP AST | 24 | 38 |
| 12 | Guam
|
"I CANT QUIT" | MEL 4EVER | 23 | 41 |
| 13 | Error creating thumbnail: Germany | "Sawdust" | Lina Mariah | 26 | 31 |
| 14 | File:Flag of France.svg France | "hot shit" | Cil | 18 | 56 |
| 15 | India
|
"Beparwai" | Jonita | 10 | 90 |
| 16 | Error creating thumbnail: United Kingdom | "Miss Me Now" | Brooke Combe | 7 | 103 |
| 17 | File:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia | "MWA!" | DOLLA | 20 | 55 |
| 18 | Poland
|
"Ziemia mi sie pali" | BOVSKA | 14 | 63 |
| 19 | File:Flag of Netherlands.svg Netherlands | "Cicada" | Blackbriar | 6 | 107 |
| 20 | Georgia
|
"Over and Over" | Tatia Darsalia | 5 | 115 |
| 21 | Luxembourg
|
"Real Love" | Francis of Delirium | 25 | 34 |
| 22 | File:Flag of Uganda.svg Uganda | "I Cry" | Sabina Ddumba | 1 | 173 |
| 23 | File:Flag of Kosovo.svg Kosovo | "Si Ai" | Tayna | 15 | 60 |
| 24 | Canada
|
"Biblical Love" | Flower Face | 9 | 94 |
| 25 | File:Flag of Cayman Islands.svg Cayman Islands | "Footprints" | Tom Gregory | 13 | 69 |
| 26 | Liechtenstein
|
"Little Numbers" | BOY | 21 | 53 |
References
- ↑ Actual song title; "In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom"