Are you ready for an explosion of music, talent, and glamour? The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is just around the corner, and you won´t want to miss a single beat. This year, the competition promises to be more sensational than ever before! Read on to discover the latest updates, top contenders, and juicy behind-the-scenes details that will make this Eurovision edition one for the ages.
Following Kalush Orchestra´s triumph in Turin, Eurovision 2023 was initially set to be hosted by Ukraine. However, due to Russia´s invasion, the contest cannot take place in the country. As a result, the United Kingdom and the BBC have stepped in to host this iconic event.
Get ready for three action-packed live shows during Eurovision week:
Semi-final 1: May 9, 2023
Semi-final 2: May 11, 2023
Grand Final: May 13, 2023
Each live event begins at 21:00 CEST and will be presented by Julia Sanina, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, and Alesha Dixon.
Liverpool, a city that has transformed from its industrial roots to a thriving cultural hotspot, will proudly host Eurovision 2023. As the UK´s fifth-largest metropolitan area, Liverpool is home to 2.2 million people and was the fifth most visited city in the country in 2019. Known as the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool holds a special place in the world of music and is a UNESCO City of Music.
At the city´s core are two Premier League football clubs, Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C. The efficient public transport network and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, offering connections to numerous international destinations, make the city easily accessible.
Traditionally, the winning country hosts the subsequent year´s contest. However, due to Russia´s invasion of Ukraine, it was uncertain whether Eurovision 2023 could be held in the country. Consequently, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced in June that the contest would not take place in Ukraine. Instead, the UK was chosen to host the event, with the decision confirmed on July 25.
Out of the seven potential host cities revealed on August 12, the list was narrowed down to Glasgow and Liverpool on September 27. Finally, on October 7, Liverpool was announced as the host city for Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Direct public transport to the Arena is available by bus. James Street railway station, served by the Merseyrail Wirral Line, is nearby and connects to Liverpool Lime Street mainline station in just two stops.
A total of 37 countries will participate in Eurovision 2023. Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, who participated in Eurovision 2022, will not be competing this year.
Ukraine, the Big-5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), are pre-qualified for the Grand Final on May 13, 2023. The remaining countries have been allocated to one of the two Semi-finals on May 9 and 11, 2023, with the draw held on January 31, 2023. Ten countries from each Semi-final will advance to the Grand Final, bringing the total number of participating countries to 26.
The first wave of Eurovision 2023 tickets, released on March 7, sold out within 2.5 hours. The second wave of tickets was made available on April 24.
Mark your calendars, folks! The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is an event you won´t want to miss. With a star-studded lineup, captivating performances, and exciting behind-the-scenes drama, this year´s competition promises to be an unforgettable extravaganza. Stay tuned for more updates, and make sure to catch all the action live on 9 May 2023.
