Liverpool will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest
Liverpool has been selected as the Host City for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, following a tight bidding race with the city of Glasgow.
It’s Liverpool 2023! 'World Capital of Pop' will host 67th Eurovision Song Contest
Dates: Grand Final on Saturday 13 May with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May
United Kingdom hosting the Contest on behalf of Ukraine
Tickets to be announced in due course
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place in the Liverpool Arena next to the River Mersey on Saturday 13 May with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.
The BBC, together with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will organise the Contest in consultation with UA:PBC, Ukraine’s public broadcaster and last year’s winners of the Contest.
Liverpool was chosen following a strong city bid process that examined facilities at the venue; the ability to accommodate thousands of visiting delegations, crew, fans and journalists; infrastructure; and the cultural offer of the Host City in reflecting Ukraine’s win in 2022.
Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl welcomed the news:
‘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.’
River of Light Festival, Liverpool WaterfrontVisit Liverpool
The BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie, said:
'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.'
Unique Logo
To coincide with the announcement of the Host City, the EBU has released the official logo for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which contains the Ukrainian flag within the heart. The logo design reflects that although the competition will be held in the UK, it will be done on behalf of Ukraine, the winners of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of UA:PBC, Ukraine’s public broadcaster said:
'It is symbolic that the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Liverpool, a twin city of Odesa. The organisation of a contest of this level sets super demanding requirements. I am confident that the city recognised as the capital of pop music will meet them in the best way and will deliver the celebration of music that will amaze both delegations and fans of Eurovision.'
Ukraine & the United Kingdom - Big Eurovision Nations
Read more: A History of the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
Read more: A History of Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
Both Ukraine and the United Kingdom have a long and fascinating history when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest, with multiple iconic performances, and 8 wins between them!
The BBC has staged the Eurovision Song Contest more times than any other broadcaster… with Liverpool marking the 9th occasion:
United Kingdom Host Cities (Venues)
1960*
London (Royal Festival Hall)
1963
London (BBC Television Centre)
1968*
London (Royal Albert Hall)
1972*
Edinburgh (Usher Hall)
1974*
Brighton (Brighton Dome)
1977
London (Wembley Conference Centre)
1982
Harrogate (Harrogate International Centre)
1998
Birmingham (National Indoor Arena)
2023*
Liverpool (Liverpool Arena)
The BBC has a rich history of Eurovision participation, and has stepped in to host the Contest numerous times when the previous winning broadcaster could not (in 1960, 1968, 1972, 1974 and 2023).
Ukraine is one of the biggest success stories of the Eurovision Song Contest, having produced 3 winning songs and 2 runner-ups since their debut in 2003.
They’re also the only country (‘Big Five’ aside) to have qualified for the Grand Final on every occasion since the Semi-Finals were introduced in 2004, and it was at that Contest in Istanbul that Ukraine won for the first time.
Make sure you sign up to the official Eurovision Song Contest newsletter and subscribe to our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) to be the first to find out how to secure tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.
Related stories
Discover all the stories
Story
United Kingdom
United Kingdom to host Eurovision Song Contest 2023