Never once the bookmakers’ favourite during the host city race; tonight it was revealed on The One Show that Liverpool will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. On September 27, it was shortlisted alongside frontrunner Glasgow.
The Grand Final will take place in Liverpool Arena on Saturday 13 May, with the Semi-Finals taking place on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.
According to Eurovision.tv, tickets will be announced in due course.
Liverpool is the ideal place to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine.
The city is synonymous with music and Liverpool Arena exceeds all the requirements needed to stage a global event of this scale. We have been very impressed with the passion the city has shown in embracing the Contest and their inclusive ideas for placing last year’s winners, Ukraine, front and centre when thousands of fans visit next May.
This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the UK in 25 years and, as we work with our Host Broadcaster, the BBC, to celebrate Ukraine’s victory, this unique production promises to be a very special one indeed.
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor
Congratulations to Liverpool. They will be an amazing host for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool is such an exciting, warm and vibrant city. It’s the undisputed capital of pop music and is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its twinning with the Ukrainian city of Odesa. I know the people of Liverpool will welcome Europe – and the rest of the world – with open arms, and in partnership we will create something truly special.
Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC
A UNESCO City of Music
Last month, Liverpool City Council presented their campaign video for becoming Eurovision 2023´s host city. In this video, we can see some famous landmarks being shown, such as the Royal Liver Building and the Penny Lane sign. More Beatles tributes are shown and mentioned, with a powerful graffiti statement that highlights that in Liverpool, “as you need is love “.
The campaign video praises Liverpool’s love for music, it’s compassion and how it ‘s a place that “embraces the different”. And of course, it’s excellence for throwing good parties! In the end, a voiceover tells us that Liverpool could make Eurovision 2023 ‘extraordinary’.
It has a chance to be something more than it has ever been before.
Liverpool City Council
Who else is getting excited after these promises?!
What to expect from Eurovision 2023
The first important information is that Ukraine will automatically qualify to the Grand Final. The UK will also qualify as a member of the Big Five. We shall thus return to a Grand Final with 26 countries competing for the win.
The shows will be organised by the BBC, but Ukraine’s UA:PBC will send representatives to help the British hosts “develop Ukrainian elements” in the production of the contest. The statement already announces that the logo (which has not yet been revealed) will reflect the special and unique circumstances behind this special hosting. It is indeed the first time since 1980 that the contest will be held outside the winning country.
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