2023 Eurovision ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Excitement is reaching near fever pitch as Liverpool gears up to host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. Around 100,000 extra visitors are expected to descend on the city next month as the pop extravaganza takes place at the M&S Bank Arena

WHEN IS THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2023?

The 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena from 9-13 May.

WHY IS LIVERPOOL HOSTING THE EVENT?

In accordance with tradition, the winner of last year’s contest, Ukraine, was initially given the opportunity by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to host Eurovision 2023.

However, due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, it was concluded that the event could not be held there for safety and security reasons.

It was announced on 25 July 2022 that the 2023 contest would be held in the United

Kingdom, with British cities invited to bid to host the event.

The BBC received expressions of interest from 20 UK towns and cities, whittling this list down to just Liverpool and Glasgow by 27 September.

Liverpool was revealed as host city on 7 October, with Eurovision officials praising its world-class facilities; the innovation behind its cultural programme and its plans to celebrate the people of Ukraine.

WHO IS REPRESENTING THE UNITED KINGDOM?

Mae Muller (left) will represent the UK at Eurovision 2023 with her track ‘I Wrote A Song’.

The 25-year-old Londoner co-wrote her entry with Brit-nominated songwriter Lewis Thompson and Karen Poole, who has written for the likes of Lily Allen, David Guetta and Kylie Minogue.

WHO IS THE BOOKIES’ FAVOURITE?

Loreen, who won Eurovision 2012 with ‘Euphoria’, is the current favourite to bring home what would be a record-equalling seventh title for Sweden.

The singer will represent her country for the second time after winning the grand final of Sweden’s national selection competition, ‘Melodifestivalen’.

Finland and Ukraine are the other two with the best chance of victory according to the bookies, with the odds of a ‘home’ win for the UK as big as 40/1.

WHICH COUNTRIES ARE TAKING PART?

A total 37 countries will participate in this year’s contest:

Albania

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belgium

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia (Czech Republic)

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Moldova

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

San Marino

Serbia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Of the 37 countries taking part, 31 will compete in two semi-finals with 10 successful acts from each semi-final joining four of the ‘Big 5’ (France, Germany, Italy and Spain), hosts the United Kingdom and Ukraine in the grand final.

CAN I STILL GET TICKETS?

All 6,000 tickets for the live shows were snapped up less than two hours after going on sale last month. Prices ranged from £90 to £290 for the live semi-final shows, and from £160 to £380 for the live grand final. The government has announced that around 3,000 tickets will be made available for displaced Ukrainians living in the UK.

HOW CAN I WATCH EUROVISION?

Eurovision 2023 will be shown live on BBC One with a star-studded hosting team set to guide viewers through the two semi-finals and grand final.

Graham Norton is once again returning as part of the BBC’s presenting line-up for the grand final alongside Ukrainian singer, Julia Sanina, Emmy Award-winning actress, Hannah Waddingham, and pop star/TV presenter, Alesha Dixon.

Norton will be joined in the commentary box on 13 May by actress and comedian Mel Giedroyc, with the pair taking turns to offer their views on the 26 acts.

For the first time in the UK’s Eurovision history, both semi-finals will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with radio DJs Scott Mills and Rylan providing their colourful insight.

Ukrainian broadcaster Timur Miroshnychenko will cover the opening ceremony live stream on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel in the company of Liverpool’s very own Sam Quek.

Meanwhile, fellow Liverpudlian Claire Sweeney will be heading up BBC Radio Merseyside’s coverage of the grand final alongside the soon to be announced winner of ‘The Voice of Eurovision’ talent search.

HOW IS LIVERPOOL CELEBRATING EUROVISION 2023?

Aside from the live shows at the M&S Bank Arena, a host of cultural events linked to Eurovision will be held across the city centre next month – the biggest of which being a massive outdoor party in front of St George’s Hall on 7 May.

Up to 30,000 free tickets have been made available for ‘The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome’, which will feature “high profile performances, collaborations and stunning production”.

Tickets will be released in early April on a first come, first served basis, for anyone who is a National Lottery player, as a thank you for the £330m they have contributed to over 3,600 music and cultural projects in Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Liverpool City Council has revealed the first details of a two-week cultural festival which will take over the city in the lead up to Eurovision.

Running from 1-14 May, EuroFest will present 24 brand new commissions – 19 of which are collaborations between UK and Ukrainian artists.

The majority of the work being produced has been inspired by the Eurovision 2023 slogan ‘United by Music’, none more so than The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade by The Kazimier – a huge outdoor underwater sea disco which will make its way through the city to kickstart the Eurovision party. Working with UK and Ukrainian designers, musicians and community groups, expect hundreds of performers, incredible music and a huge glitterball jellyfish!

Meanwhile, the English National Opera does Eurovision is being created by the English National Opera and will be a unique show bringing together two very different musical worlds into one epic outdoor performance with live chorus and orchestra.

On a more poignant note, Izyum to Liverpool by Ukrainian artist Katya Buchatska, will transform the iconic Liverpool Cathedral into a train carriage replicating the journey from Izyum to the border with Poland. Filmed in real-time, this piece offers an extraordinary window into the landscape of Ukraine as it is today and also serves as a reminder of the spirit and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Finally, Rave Ukraine is a collaboration between producer Jez Collins, UAME I Music Saves UA and Open Culture to deliver a simultaneous rave in Liverpool and Kyiv which will be streamed across the world. This commission is a celebration of the uniting power of music and the resilience of Ukrainians throughout the last year to keep making music, dancing and celebrating culture.

Plans for the official fan park at Pier Head and other Eurovisionspecific events are set to be made public soon.