Eurovision 2023 will be held in Liverpool – Final on 13 May

Lisbon - Tel Aviv - Rotterdam - Turin... Liverpool!

Back in July it was confirmed that the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 would be held in the United Kingdom after the EBU opted out of Ukraine as host country for the contest due to safety and security reasons.

A few weeks ago, the British broadcaster BBC shortlisted the possible host cities to just two, Glasgow and Liverpool. And now the BBC and the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) have just revealed that the 67th edition of our beloved contest will be held in Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

The contest will take place live from the Liverpool Arena on these dates:

• Semi-final 1: 9 May 2023
• Semi-final 2: 11 May 2023
• Grand Final: 13 May 2023
  

All three live shows will start at 21:00 CEST

It will be the ninth time the contest is held in the United Kingdom. The Brits have already hosted Eurovision eight times, mainly in the '60s and '70s:

• 1960: London (Royal Festival Hall)
• 1963: London (BBC Television Centre)
• 1968: London (Royal Albert Hall)
• 1972: Edinburgh (Usher Hall)
• 1974: Brighton (The Dome)
• 1977: London (Wembley Conference Centre)
• 1982: Harrogate (Harrogate Conference Centre)
• 1998: Birmingham (National Indoor Arena)

....and now again:

• 2023: Liverpool (Liverpool Arena)

Liverpool

Liverpool has evolved from its industrial past to become one of Britain's most thriving and dynamic cultural hubs.

Liverpool's metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.2 million, and in 2019 was the fifth most visited city in the UK.

Liverpool has a close connection with the world of arts, especially with music as it is the "home" of The Beatles.

Liverpool is a UNESCO City of Music, and the heart of the community is still the football club, Liverpool F.C.

The city was the European Capital of Culture in 2008, and has more galleries and museums than any other UK city but London: Museum of Liverpool, Spaceport Planetarium, Tate Liverpool, to name a few.

The city features an efficient public transportation network, and the Liverpool John Lennon Airport is connected to numerous international destinations.

Liverpool Arena

Also known as "M&S Bank Arena". Previously "Echo Arena".

The Liverpool Arena, also called "M&S Bank Arena," is part of Exhibition Centre Liverpool and is located in central Liverpool right next to River Mersey. The arena opened in 2008, and has a capacity of 11,000.

It hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2008, and has hosted huge concerts such as Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé, Elton John, Kanye West, Kasabian, The Killers, Lady Gaga, Oasis, Pink, Rihanna...

Since the opening in 2008, the complex has attracted more than 8 million visitors to around 4,500 events.

Direct public transport to the arena is by bus. James Street railway station is a short walk away and is served by the Merseyrail Wirral Line. The station is two stops away from Liverpool Lime Street mainline station.

Unique Logo

The official logo for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 features the Ukrainian flag inside the heart. The competition will take place in the UK, but Ukraine, this year's winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, will be represented in the logo.

Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of UA:PBC, Ukraine’s public broadcaster says:

– 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.

Participants

37 countries participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023:

Tickets

Tickets usually go out early the same year or late in the year before the contest. We expect the tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 to go on sale late 2022.

The start of ticket sales depends on several factors: Firstly, the host city (Liverpool) and arena (Liverpool Arena) must be chosen. Secondly, selection of the ticket agency. Thirdly, a floor plan of seats/stands in the arena once stage design, green room and camera placement have roughly been decided.