Rising like a phoenix: the underdog host cities and the future of Eurovision
As a result of these sustainable financial, environmental and social impacts of hosting Eurovision we are seeing a wider range of cities submitting bids and overcoming the favourites. A capital city has not hosted Eurovision since Lisbon in 2018.
In 2023 Liverpool surprised everyone as it beat the more obvious contenders such as Glasgow, London and Manchester. This year it was the turn of Basel to upset the likes of Geneva and Zurich. Part of their success is the obvious tourism and economic boost to a less travelled city. But as we have seen, it goes beyond that.
The scale of Eurovision has expanded and with it comes the benefit to the wider regions, as visitors look to make the most of their trip. These ‘underdog’ bids have recognised this. That is why their bid books are pages deep with innovative ways to ensure the entire region is Eurovision, whether a visitor has tickets for the shows or not. For example, Basel’s use of the Arena Plus was an innovative way of using an additional venue to allow more fans to be close to the action without needing to construct anything new. The cultural and entertainment social calendar for the week is more than just a venue for the live shows and a Euroclub, like it was in the old days. Not only does it benefit the city, but also the participating artists as well in their promotion.
Eurovision tourists often visit the host nation and its surrounding areas longer than the average leisure tourist. Thus, Eurovision tourists have greater purchasing power as they utilise the local transport infrastructure, spend more on tourist activities and definitely know how to enjoy a night out or two!
Where does Eurovision go from here?
The comprehensive nature of these bids has led to a stronger emphasis on environmental concerns as a by-product. The lesser known host cities share the local arts, culture and food of their region. This leads to locally sourced support entertainment as well as produce for the vendors. Renewable energy helps to reduce the running costs of lighting, power supply, production and backup generators. Local areas also benefit from the reuse of staging props and set designs. Infrastructure improves all the time as more and more cities commit to Net Zero and low emission city targets through renewable transport solutions.
There is no getting around the fact that the expansion of Eurovision and international success of artists such as Måneskin, Duncan Laurence, Loreen, Sam Ryder and Rosa-Linn has turned Eurovision into a global commodity. So naturally, the main obstacle remains the logistics of needing the artists, delegations, media and fans to travel into the city in the least environmentally impactful way.
As much as the EBU wants to ensure the contest is sustainable, there are factors it cannot control. Such as the legal and political framework of the host nation and how the EBU as an organising partner, works with the host broadcaster. As well as internal decisions made by the EBU Reference Group and Executive Board. Much of the hosting is dependent on the vision the broadcaster has in mind through their bid book. With that comes the affordability factor and pressures on local governments to deliver on their financial promises.
In this time of global financial uncertainty due to tariffs and inflation, hosting large-scale events is becoming a greater challenge. Therefore it requires a collaborative effort to create a sustainable legacy for the future of the contest. Opportunities to create sponsorship deals with sustainable companies must be utilised in all areas of organisation. The keyword though is legacy. Eurovision is driving the global economy and having lasting benefits to the cities it visits through tourism in a financially and environmentally sustainable way.
The various impact reports of Liverpool, Malmö and Basel, proves it is achievable and it is up to future host cities to continue that legacy they have set the standard in. As of 2025 the EBU now provides a Eurovision Song Contest sustainability guide to encourage future hosts to have the event certified and ensure a knowledge transfer as the hosting keys pass on.
With the announcement between Innsbruck and Vienna to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 imminent, this editorial has taught us not to rule out the rogue contender! As the origin story of a sustainable Eurovision, Vienna will be looking to outdo its own pioneering history with the new guidelines in place. Could Innsbruck’s offer of a sustainable, cost-effective and compact Eurovision at OlympiaWorld prove too alluring?
How sustainable do you think the Eurovision Song Contest is? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra.bsky.social on Bluesky, @escxtra on Instagram, @escxtra on TikTok and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as YouTube to see interviews and reactions to the latest Eurovision news.
