Featured image credit: Vugarİbadov/CC BY-SA 3.0/Edited for size
The BBC and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have revealed that Liverpool will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, following a competitive bidding process.
There had been a shortlist of seven UK cities before Glasgow and Liverpool were announced as the final two contending for Host City status.
Liverpool will host Eurovision in place of 2022 winners Ukraine, which is currently involved in a conflict with Russia.
The Grand Final of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place at the M&S Bank Arena next to the River Mersey on Saturday, May 13, with the semi-finals taking place on May 9 and 11.
Liverpool was chosen as the host city following a bidding process that examined facilities at the potential venue; the ability to accommodate thousands of visiting delegations, crew, fans and journalists; infrastructure and the city’s dedication to reflect Ukraine’s win in 2022 alongside other criteria.
The BBC, together with the EBU, will organise the event next year in consultation with Ukraine’s public broadcaster, UA:PBC.
Eurovision Song Contest executive supervisor Martin Österdahl said: “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.”
BBC director general Tim Davie added: “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.”
To coincide with the Host City announcement, the EBU released the official logo for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which contains the Ukrainian flag within Eurovision’s iconic heart symbol.
The UK will host Eurovision for a record ninth time, having previously stepped up to host the event for other broadcasters in London in 1960 and 1963, in Edinburgh in 1972 and Brighton in 1974. The BBC also staged the contest following four of Britain’s five wins – in London in 1968 and 1977, Harrogate in 1982 and Birmingham in 1998.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA: PBC, 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.”
Tickets are set to go on sale for nine shows, including dress rehearsals, in due course.
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