Mediterraneanvision Song Contest 5

The Mediterraneanvision Song Contest 5 was the fifth edition of the Mediterraneanvision Song Contest. The contest took place in Tirana, Albania, following the country's victory at the with the song "Piedestal" by Inis Neziri. Organised by the Mediterranean Broadcasting Union (MBU) and host broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), the contest was held at the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace and consisted of two semi-finals on 23 October and 17 November, and the final on 28 December 2018. The three live shows were presented by Inis Neziri and Lorela Sejdini.

Thirty-two countries participated. Austria, Jordan, Libya and Tunisia withdrew.

The winner was Kosovo with the song "Ku Vajti", performed by Elvana Gjata. This was Kosovo's first victory in the contest. Syria placed second and Italy placed third. San Marino, Malta and Vatican City rounded out the top six and along with the top three, they would go on to become members of the "Big 6" in the next edition.

Location
The fifth edition was held in Tirana, Albania, following the country's victory at the fourth edition with the song "Piedestal", performed by Inis Neziri. The selected venue was the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace.

Preparations for the fifth edition began on 19 September 2018, immediately after Albania won the fourth edition in Attard, Malta. The Mediterranean Broadcasting Union (MBU) handed RTSH, the Albanian participating broadcaster, a stack of documents and a USB drive with tools to begin the work needed to host the next edition.

Bidding phase
On 20 September 2018, it was confirmed by RTSH that 7 cities had submitted bids to host the contest. The hosting broadcaster reviewed the bids presented and on 21 September 2018 announced that it eliminated those for Durrës, Peshkopi, Shkodër and Vlorë, shortlisting the three remaining cities - Elbasan, Korçë and Tirana. On 22 September 2018, Tirana was announced as the host city. Below are the 7 cities and their bids:

Key: Host venue Shortlisted venues

Visual design
The contest's slogan, "#WeAreTheMediterranean", as well as the official logo and branding were revealed on 22 September 2018.

Presenters
After her victory in the fourth edition, Inis Neziri announced her interest in presenting the fifth edition. RTSH announced at a press conference on 22 September that Inis would indeed host the edition along with Lorela Sejdini, who represented the nation at the.

Postcards
The "postcards" are short introduction videos shown on television whilst the stage is being prepared for the next contestant to perform their entry, and are 40 seconds long. The following locations were used for each participating country's postcard:


 * – Vlorë
 * – Dhërmi
 * – Kuçovë
 * – Laç
 * – Peshkopi
 * – Kavajë
 * – Fier
 * – Divjakë-Karavasta National Park
 * – Velipojë
 * – Pogradec
 * – Sazan Island
 * – Apollonia
 * – Kukës
 * – Cape of Rodon
 * – Durrës
 * – Tirana
 * – Krujë
 * – Theth National Park
 * – Islets of Ksamil
 * – Sarandë
 * – Shkodër
 * – Orikum
 * – Qeparo
 * – Himarë
 * – Llogara Pass
 * – Leskovik
 * – Lake Koman
 * – Lezhë
 * – Elbasan
 * – Gjirokastër
 * – Berat
 * – Korçë

Participating countries


0n 28 September 2018, the MBU announced that 32 countries would take part in the contest. Austria, Jordan, Libya and Tunisia withdrew.

Semi-final 1
The first semi-final took place on 23 October 2018. Thirteen countries participated in the first semi-final. Those countries plus Albania, Greece, and Serbia voted in this semi-final.

{{Legend|navajowhite|Qualifiers}}

Semi-final 2
The second semi-final took place on 17 November 2018. Thirteen countries participated in the second semi-final. Those countries plus Andorra, Egypt, and Portugal voted in this semi-final.

{{Legend|navajowhite|Qualifiers}}

Final
The final took place on 28 December 2018. Twenty-six countries participated in the final, with all thirty-two participating countries eligible to vote.

{{Legend|gold|Winner}}

Semi-final 1
{{Legend|navajowhite|Qualifiers}}

12 points
Below is a summary of all 12 points received from each country's professional juries.

Semi-final 2
{{Legend|navajowhite|Qualifiers}}

12 points
Below is a summary of all 12 points received from each country's professional juries.

Final
{{Legend|gold|Winner}}

12 points
Below is a summary of all 12 points received from each country's professional juries.

Spokespersons
The spokespersons announced the 12-point score from their respective country's national jury in the following order:


 * 1)  – Ira Losco (Winner of the )
 * 2)  – Mihaela Fileva
 * 3)  – Nina Petković
 * 4)  – Lea Castel
 * 5)  – Barei (Presenter of the ; Spanish representative in )
 * 6)  – Yasmine Hamdan (Lebanese representative in )
 * 7)  – Sertab Erener
 * 8)  – Alvaro Soler
 * 9)  – Kaliopi
 * 10)  – Freddie
 * 11)  – Betta Lemme
 * 12)  – Luísa Sobral
 * 13)  – Valentina Monetta (Sammarinese representative in with Joshua de Cadenex)
 * 14)  – Zaho (Algerian representative in with MHD and )
 * 15)  – Mimoza (Kosovar representative in )
 * 16)  – Helena Paparizou (Winner of the with Anastasios Rammos; Cypriot representative in )
 * 17)  – Lea Sirk (Slovene representative in )
 * 18)  – Netta Barzilai
 * 19)  – Kat Graham
 * 20)  – Serena
 * 21)  – Maya Berović (Bosnian representative in with Buba Corelli & Jala Brat)
 * 22)  – Safiya (Syrian representative in )
 * 23)  – Marco Mengoni
 * 24)  – Xenia Ghali (Egyptian representative in ; Libyan representative in )
 * 25)  – Amy Macdonald (Gibraltarian representative in )
 * 26)  – Miljana Kulić
 * 27)  – Maria Elena Kyriakou
 * 28)  – Alma
 * 29)  – Thomas Muller
 * 30)  – Franka Batelić
 * 31)  – Faouzia (Maltese representative in ; Moroccan representative in )
 * 32)  – Kejsi Tola (Albanian representative in )

Other countries
Eligibility for potential participation in the Mediterraneanvision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active MBU membership that would be able to broadcast the contest. The MBU issued an invitation to participate in the contest to all active members.

Active MBU members

 * – Austrian broadcaster ORF gave no reasons as to why they did not participate.


 * – Despite initially confirming participation, on 25 September 2018 Jordanian broadcaster Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) announced that they were yet to make a decision regarding their participation in the fifth edition. Jordan did not appear on the final list of participants released by the MBU.


 * – On 22 September 2018 Libyan broadcaster Libya National Channel (LNC) announced that they were still evaluating their participation in the fifth edition and that a final decision would be made in the following days. Libya did not appear on the final list of participants released by the MBU.


 * – Tunisian broadcaster Établissement de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Tunisienne (ERTT) confirmed on 28 September 2018 that they would not be participating due to financial issues.

Official album
Mediterraneanvision Song Contest: Tirana #5 is the official compilation album of the contest, put together by the Mediterranean Broadcasting Union and released on 1 November 2020. The album features all 32 entries including the semi-finalists that failed to qualify for the final.