Liverpool and Glasgow are the two cities that remain in the competition to host the Eurovision song contest in 2023, when it will be held in the UK for the first time in 25 years.
The two cities were selected after Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester were removed from contention to host the music event. The BBC said a final decision would be made “within weeks”.
The Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra triumphed at the 2022 competition in Turin, Italy, which would normally make Ukraine the 2023 host, but the European Broadcasting Union [EBU], which produces the event, decided the next contest could not be held safely in Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion.
Phil Harrold, the chair of the BBC’s host city selection committee, paid tribute to the seven shortlisted cities in what he said had been a highly competitive field.
“The Eurovision song contest is a very complex event and Liverpool and Glasgow have the strongest overall offer; we will continue our discussions with them to determine the eventual host city,” he said. “We are determined to make the 2023 Eurovision song contest one that both reflects the winning position of Ukraine and is also an event that all of the UK can participate in.”
Instead the UK, which came second with Sam Ryder’s song Space Man, was asked to host the 67th Eurovision.
Twenty venues put in bids to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world, watched this year by a global audience of 161 million.
In August, a list narrowed down from 20 UK cities which had submitted an “expression of interest” was released by the BBC, with applicants across all four regions demonstrating how they would reflect Ukrainian culture, music and communities.
Of the seven cities named in August, six were in England and one in Scotland, with Belfast failing to make the cut for Northern Ireland.
Requirements included “a suitable venue and sufficient space to deliver the requirements of the song contest”, necessary commitment to the contest including a financial contribution, and “alignment with the BBC’s strategic priorities as a public service broadcaster”.
Liverpool, which has been a Unesco City of Music since 2015, is synonymous with the Beatles and has a rich music heritage. In 2008, the city hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards and it is also home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
“Absolutely delighted #Liverpool has made the final two for the #Eurovision2023 shortlist,” the mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, tweeted on Tuesday. “Nowhere throws a party quite like us. The people, communities & businesses of our city are ready to put on a show – for Ukraine, the UK & for Europe. Eurovision in Liverpool. Imagine.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, voiced her support for Glasgow to host the event in June, with the city’s OVO Hydro arena, which features in the Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, rumoured to be a favoured UK location to host the contest.
The Scottish singer Lulu represented Britain at the Eurovision song contest in 1969 with Boom Bang-A-Bang. She was the joint winner that year as she shared the prize with France, Netherlands and Spain with 18 points apiece.
Eurovision Song Contest 2023 |
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9 May 2023 |
11 May 2023 |
13 May 2023 |
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom |
Martin Österdahl |
British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC] |
37 |
◄2022
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The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be the 67th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest.
It will be held at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, United Kingdom on behalf of the previous year’s winning nation Ukraine. The semifinals will be held on 9 and 11 May 2023, with the grand final on 13 May 2023.
Thirty-seven countries will take part, making it the lowest amount of participants since the 2014 Contest in Copenhagen. Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro have all withdrawn from competing.
Location
Following Kalush Orchestra giving their home country its third victory at the 2022 edition in Turin, it was reported that it might be unable to host due to the ongoing war. However, Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenskyy stated that it would be held in the country.
On 17 June 2022, the EBU released a statement that given the current situation regarding the Russian invasion and concerns over safety and security for delegations/fans/press as well as lack of operational guarantees following an assessment in conjunction with UA:PBC, it would be impossible to stage the 2023 contest in Ukraine. As per the rules, the EBU began negotiations with runner-up broadcaster BBC to potentially host the event in the United Kingdom.[1] This will be the first time since the 1980 Contest that the winning country from the previous year has not hosted the Contest as well as it being the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004. On 25 July 2022, it was officially confirmed that the Contest will be held in the United Kingdom - the ninth time it has done so, the fifth by deferral.[2]
On 12 August 2022, seven cities were shortlisted to host the 2023 contest: Birmingham [which previously hosted the 1998 contest], Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. The list further narrowed down to Glasgow and Liverpool on 27 September 2022. On 7 October 2022, the chosen city was revealed and ís highlighted below:
Key
Aberdeen | P&J Live | 12,500–15,000 [with standing] 10,264 [all seated] | — | [3] |
Belfast | SSE Arena | 11,058 | — | [4][5] |
Birmingham | Resorts World Arena | 15,685 | Supported by Birmingham City Council. | [6] |
Brighton | - | — | Withdrew its proposal on 11 August 2022, citing lack of required infrastructure and venue. | [7][8][9][10] |
Bristol | YTL Arena Bristol | 17,000 | - | [11] |
Cardiff | Principality Stadium | 73,931 - 78,000 | Withdrew its proposal on 3 August 2022, citing unavailability of the proposed venue. | [12][13] |
Darlington | The Darlington Arena | 25,500 | Proposal was dependent on the construction of a roof to cover the arena. Supported by Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority. | [14][15] |
Derry | - | — | Withdrew its proposal on 8 August 2022, citing lack of a suitable venue and supporting accommodation infrastructure. | [16][17] |
Edinburgh | — | — | Supported by Edinburgh City Council. | [18] |
Glasgow | OVO Hydro | 12,306 [all seated] 14,500 [with standing] | Supported by Glasgow City Council. | [19] |
Leeds | First Direct Arena | 13,781 | Supported by Leeds City Council. | [20][19] |
Liverpool | M&S Bank Arena | 7,513 - 10,600 [all seated] 11,000 [with standing] | Supported by Liverpool City Council. | [21][22][23][19] |
London | — | — | — | [7][24] |
Manchester | AO Arena | 21,000 | Supported by Manchester City Council. | [25][19] |
Newcastle | Utilita Arena Newcastle | 11,000 | Supported by Newcastle City Council. | [26][27][19] |
Nottingham | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham | 10,000 without standing room [15,865 with standing room] | Withdrew its proposal on 9 August 2022, citing the proposed venue's incapability to meet EBU requirements. | [28][29] |
Prudhoe | - | — | — | [30] |
Sheffield | Utilita Arena Sheffield | 13,600 | Supported by Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. | [31][32] |
Sunderland | Stadium of Light | 49,000 - 60,000 | Withdrew its proposal on 10 August 2022, citing unavailability of the proposed venue. | [33][34][35] |
Wolverhampton | — | — | - | [4] |
Participants
Thirty-seven countries will compete in the Contest. The list is as follows:
TBD December 2022 | TBD December 2022 | |||
TBD 14 January 2023 | TBD 14 January 2023 | |||
TBD February 2023 | TBD February 2023 | |||
Andrew Lambrou | ||||
TBD 11 February 2023 | TBD 11 February 2023 | |||
TBD 11 February 2023 | TBD 11 February 2023 | |||
TBD 25 February 2023 | TBD 25 February 2023 | |||
TBD 4 March 2023 | TBD 4 March 2023 | |||
Noa Kirel | ||||
TBD February 2023 | TBD February 2023 | |||
TBD 11 February 2023 | TBD 11 February 2023 | |||
Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper | ||||
TBD February 2023 | TBD February 2023 | |||
TBD 26 February 2023 | TBD 26 February 2023 | |||
TBD 25 February 2023 | TBD 25 February 2023 | |||
TBD 11 March 2023 | TBD 11 March 2023 | |||
Finalists
TBD 11 February 2023 | TBD 11 February 2023 | |||
TBD 4 February 2023 | TBD 4 February 2023 | |||
TBD 17 December 2022 | TBD 17 December 2022 | |||
Scoreboard
Gallery
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References
- ↑ //eurovision.tv/mediacentre/release/ebu-statement-2023-eurovision-hosting
- ↑ //eurovision.tv/story/united-kingdom-host-eurovision-song-contest-2023
- ↑ Aberdeen Eurovision bid given 20/1 shot by leading bookmakers.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ramachandran, Naman [2022-07-26]. Who Wants to Host Eurovision? Here Are the 16 U.K. Cities in the Running [en-US].
- ↑ Eurovision 2023: UK host city will need to cancel other events to make way for contest.
- ↑ Birmingham makes official bid to host Eurovision 2023 at Resorts World Arena.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite news
- ↑ Carden, George [26 July 2022]. Brighton to put in bid to host Eurovision Song Contest 2023 [en-GB].
- ↑ Green, Daniel [17 June 2022]. Brighton throws hat in ring to host Eurovision 2023 [en-GB].
- ↑ Green, Daniel [11 August 2022]. Brighton ruled out of race to host Eurovision 2023 [en-GB].
- ↑ Bristol submits bid for UK Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as shortlist due to be announced.
- ↑ Picot, Nathan [17 June 2022]. Cardiff express interest in a bid for Eurovision 2023 [en-GB].
- ↑ Eurovision 2023: Cardiff out of race for song contest.
- ↑ Darlington confirms it WILL bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 [en].
- ↑ How Darlington Arena was going to host Eurovision with giant Ukraine flag for roof [en].
- ↑ Anderson, Gillian [2022-08-01]. Derry considering bid to host Eurovision 2023 [en].
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [2022-08-08]. Eurovision 2023: Derry Will Not Bid To Host [en-GB].
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [2022-08-11]. Eurovision 2023: Edinburgh Confirms Bid Submitted To Host [en-GB].
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Eurovision 2023: Seven UK cities make shortlist to host song contest.
- ↑ Eurovision Song Contest 2023 to be hosted in the UK as Leeds to make bid on behalf of Ukraine.
- ↑ Eurovision 2023 confirmed for UK as Liverpool steps up host city bid.
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [23 September 2022]. Eurovision 2023: Odesa Supports Liverpool's Bid to Host [en-GB].
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [17 June 2022]. Eurovision 2023: Mayor of London Expresses Support For Capital to Host [en-GB].
- ↑ Manchester has been named a 2023 Eurovision Shortlisted Host City.
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [12 July 2022]. Eurovision 2023: Newcastle Preparing Bid to Host Eurovision [en-GB].
- ↑ Duke, Simon [2022-08-08]. Newcastle officially confirms bid to host Eurovision next year [en].
- ↑ Eurovision 2023: Nottingham sets its eyes on hosting the event.
- ↑ Granger, Anthony [2022-08-09]. Nottingham Will Not Bid For Eurovision 2023 [en-GB].
- ↑ Is Prudhoe going to bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023?.
- ↑ UK Eurovision 2023: Sheffield will bid to host song contest in Utilita Sheffield Arena.
- ↑ Sheffield's Eurovision bid is in as Council's bid receives regional backing [en] [2022-08-09].
- ↑ Sunderland councillor wants the Stadium of Light to host Eurovision 2023 [en-GB] [19 June 2022].
- ↑ Plans outlined for 10,000-capacity arena in Sunderland [en-GB] [1 February 2022].
- ↑ Rosie [2022-08-11]. Sunderland rules out bid to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest [en-GB].