Since 2009 the Eurovision Song Contest has welcomed its contestants with a glamorous red carpet event. This year on Sunday 6th of May, days ahead of the first Semi-Final, four of Portugal's finest presenters will officially welcome the 43 contestants to Lisbon.

With the theme of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest revolving around the oceans, the organisers chose to replace the traditional red carpet with a spectacular blue carpet. The event will take place on Sunday 6th of May, by Lisbon's riverside next to MAAT, the Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia.

The Blue Carpet ceremony ahead of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest will take place besides MAAT at Lisbon's riverside. © Fernando Guerra, MAAT

The Blue Carpet ceremony will start at 17:00 local time (18:00 CEST) and will be broadcast live by RTP1 in Portugal as well as on the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel.

The Blue Carpet will be hosted by Cláudia Semedo, Inês Lopes Gonçalves, Pedro Granger and Pedro Penim.

Get to know the Blue Carpet hosts

Cláudia Semedo is a Portuguese actress and TV host. Born in Lisbon in 1983, she completed her studies in theatre and has a degree in journalism. After starting her career in radio she made her cinematic debut in 2000. Just one year later she acted in her first play in Portugal's national theatre. In 2002, she began working as a TV host. Cláudia presented different shows such as culinary programmes, kids, science shows and competitions. She also starred in several TV shows and soap operas.

Radio host of RTP's Antena 3 morning show, Inês Lopes Gonçalves is also TV host of the weekly talk shows Traz Pr'á Frente on RTP Memória and 5 Para a Meia Noite on RTP. In 2017 she was part of the jury of Festival da Canção, when Salvador Sobral was chosen as the Portuguese entry for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2018, she was the greenroom host of the two semi-finals and final of Festival da Canção.

Actor and TV host Pedro Granger started his career at RTP in 1999. Since then, he's starred in theatre plays, cinema and television. He hosted several TV shows, including the Portuguese versions of The Weakest Link and Idols. Being a Eurovision fan since childhood, he presented the Portuguese national selection and was the Portuguese commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012. Aside from being one of the hosts for the Blue Carpet, Pedro Granger is also a creative consultant, contributing to the script of this year's contest and he will be one of the press conference moderators this year.

Pedro Penim is a founding member and the artistic director of Teatro Praga, the company with which he has won several awards and prizes in theatre. His main work as a stage director and actor extends to the areas of writing, translation, TV presenting and education and he has had his works presented in France, Italy, Brazil, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Turkey, Israel, Slovenia and Hungary. He is also contributing to the script of this year's contest and he will be one of the press conference moderators this year.

Join us on Sunday 6th of May at 18:00 CEST for the Blue Carpet of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, live on YouTube.com/Eurovision.