Liverpool 2023🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Eurovision 2023 host city decision to be made “within weeks”

Liverpool or Glasgow? That’s the question the BBC and EBU will need to answer as the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 host city selection nears it’s conclusion.

Around twenty UK cities initially showed interest in hosting the contest. In August, the BBC announced a shortlist of cities still in the running to become the host city of Eurovision 2023. The list included, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester. Following a detailed assessment process the seven cities were reduced to just two: Liverpool and Glasgow. The final decision is expected to be made “within weeks”.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor for the Eurovision Song Contest, thanked all the cities that competed in the selection process.

‘The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) would like to warmly thank all the 7 British cities that put so much effort and enthusiasm into their bids to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. We very much appreciate their cooperation and the quality and creativity of all the bids received.

The Eurovision Song Contest is the most complex TV production in the world with very specific logistical requirements to accommodate around 40 delegations and thousands of crew, volunteers, press and fans.

We’re confident our final two cities are the best placed to meet this challenge and look forward to continuing our discussions to choose the one which will stage the world’s largest music event next May.’

Martin Österdahl

Phil Harrold, chair of the BBC’s Host City Selection Committee, added:

‘Thanks to all 7 cities across the UK who have demonstrated the enthusiasm and passion for Eurovision that exists right across the UK. We were incredibly impressed by the quality and creativity of all the city bids, in what was 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. 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.’

Phil Harrold

Liverpool’s campaign

Not long before the announcement of the final two cities, Liverpool City Council showed it’s campaign for becoming Eurovision 2023 host city. The city is keen to emphasise it’s rich music and cultural history. The 11,000 capacity M&S Bank Arena is the expected choice of venue in Liverpool.

Glasgow – another City Of Music?

Glasgow was named UNESCO City of Music in 2008, a title it shares with Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. The expected venue OVO Hydro has a capacity of 14,300 and has experience hosting national and international events. These include BBC Sports Personality of the Year and events during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Many Eurovision fans will know the venue as being used in the 2020 film ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’.


Where would you like the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 to be held? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter@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 ESC and JESC acts.

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