AwlaVision Song Contest 48

AwlaVision Song Contest 48, often referred to as ASC#48, was the forty-eighth edition of AwlaVision Song Contest, held in Alytus, Lithuania. The edition started the 26th February 2020, and ended the 21st March 2020.

41 countries took part in this edition. No one debuted in this edition. Italy, Spain and Switzerland withdrew from ASC. No one returned to the competition. Drew from Denmark won the contest with the song "Perfect disaster" receiving a total of 284 points, 11 points ahead the runner-up, Azerbaijan. United Kingdom finished in third place with 211 points. The host country, Lithuania achieved a 7th place with 121 points. The last place was for Andorra, that got 19 points.

Organisation
After Lithuania's victory in AwlaVision Song Contest 47, LRT and ABU had to decide where to organise the contest this time. LRT organised a public competition for choosing the host city between all applicant cities. Some cities presented their applications and the organisation had to decide which one was the best. Finally, LRT and ABU chose Alytus as the host city of ASC48.

LRT decided to use popular and professionals people as presenters. Finally Jonas Nainys and Agnė Grudytė were selected.

Alytus Arena
The Alytus Arena is a universal indoor arena in Alytus, Lithuania. It was opened in 1977. Its reconstruction began in 2009 and was completed by the end of 2010. The arena was officially opened on 12 February 2011. The arena hosted the Group C games of EuroBasket 2011 from 31 August 2011 to 5 September 2011.

Alytus Arena is one of the most important and significant in south Lithuanian sport, entertainment, and cultural objects. However, due to the infrastructure available in the rest of the country, where the bigger cities are, it has been usually underrated and not used for important international events.

Due to the world COVID19 situation and its regulations in the European Union and Lithuania, this was the first edition that was held without public attending to any of the shows and without present press and media.

Alytus
Alytus is a city with municipal rights in southern Lithuania. It is the capital of Alytus County. Its population in 2013 was 57,281. Alytus is the historical centre of the Dzūkija region. The city lies on the banks of the Nemunas River. The major roads linking Vilnius, Kaunas, Lazdijai, and Hrodna in Belarus pass through Alytus. Divided onto two separate entities for centuries, it consists of two parts still frequently referred to as Alytus I and Alytus II, the earlier being a smaller town and the latter forming the city centre with parks, microdistricts and industrial areas.

The first historical record of Alytus dates back to 1377, when it was mentioned in the Chronicles of Wigand of Marburg under the name of Aliten. According to the chronicle the spot was occupied by a small, wooden fortress guarding the Lithuanian frontier with the Teutonic Order. The fort and the surrounding village gradually grew, despite being frequently a target of raids of both the Lithuanians and the Teutons. The Treaty of Lake Melno left the town on the Teutonic side of the border, but it was retaken soon afterwards. On 15 June 1581 Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Stefan Batory granted the town the city rights based on the Magdeburg Law. The event is celebrated as the Alytus Day.

Alytus hosted the Art Strike Biennial between 18 and 24 August 2009 in response to Vilnius becoming European Capital of Culture for 2009. This included a demonstration and a three sided football match. The universal indoor Alytus Arena hosted the Eurobasket 2011 Group C matches in Alytus. In 2010 Alytus was awarded the Honourable Plate of the European Council.

This is the second time in the contest that AwlaVision Song Contest is held in Lithuania, but the first time that it is in Alytus.

Participants
41 countries took part in the edition.

Withdrawing countries
Bellow a list of all withdrawing countries:

First Semifinal
Jury
 * (Host)
 * (Finalist)
 * (Finalist)

Second Semifinal
Jury
 * (Finalist)
 * (Finalist)
 * (Observer Member)