Eurovision 2023: All about the Grand Final

The 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest culminates tonight. 26 songs will be performed, and after 4 hours of music, performances, entertainment and excitement, we'll know the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

The show starts at 21:00 CEST, broadcast live from Liverpool Arena in the United Kingdom, and can be streamed on YouTube. The hosts are Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and Graham Norton. The running order has been decided by the British broadcaster BBC based on an allocation draw.

The qualified countries are:

• Top-10 from Semi-final 1
• Top-10 from Semi-final 2
• Big-5 (France, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy)
• Last year's winner (Ukraine)

Lineup Eurovision 2023 Grand Final

Opening: Kalush Orchestra

It's Eurovision's biggest night when one of the contestants will be crowned the winner, and therefore tonight it all begins with Kalush Orchestra, last year's winner in Turin.

From Ukraine to Liverpool, their song "Stefania" goes through different places and versions in the opening sequence, which also features other stars such as Sam Ryder (UK 2022) and even British superstar, Joss Stone.

We're now inside of the Liverpool Arena with Kalush Orchestra who continue to perform their winning entry now joined by many people. Besides "Stefania," the Ukrainian act will also present their new English single, "Changes."

Shortly after, the voice of Melanie C introduces the hosts: Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and Graham Norton.

Before the basics are introduced and translated into French, the hosts remind the viewers of the most successful Eurovision countries. This is a way to announce that Luxembourg will compete at next year's edition.

Let the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 begin!

Commercial Breaks

After song number 8 (Spain), the evening's first commercial break takes place.

For the viewers without commercials, the slot is used to promote the Junior Eurovision Song Contest set to take place in Nice, France later this year. In this sequence last year's winner, Lissandro, delivers a short speech.

After song number 16 (Belgium), the second commercial break takes place.

This time, the break will focus on the alternative channels of Eurovision. Its app and social media are the highlights, but we also see Graham Norton promoting the physical releases of this year's edition, such as the CD, vinyl and DVD.

Interval Acts: Sam Ryder and Liverpool Songbook

The presenters are back on the main stage to explain the voting rules, and are quick to open the voting:

Europe! Start voting now!

A first recap of all 26 performances is shown, followed by the first interval act of the evening.

Sam Ryder

Last year's runner-up will take the stage to present his new single, "Mountains," in a similar environment to his performance last year.

Once that's a wrap, we meet Graham Norton in the green room speaking to 1982's Eurovision hostess, Jan Leeming, who speaks about her experience back in the day. Julia Sanina continues the show and is now amongst the audience and next to displaced Ukrainians who got tickets to the live show in Liverpool.

A sequence about the drama of the voting sequence proceeds, and once that's wrapped up Alesha Dixon is reunited with Timur Miroshnychenko in the commentators boxes. They have a quick dialogue, and then she's off to the Australian box to find out about their Eurovision traditions.

A second recap is shown, and it's time for another interval act focused on the Liverpool Songbook.

Liverpool Songbook

Former Eurovision stars will take the stage to perform classics born in the city: Mahmood performs "Imagine" by John Lennon, Netta sings "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive, Daði Freyr performs "Whole Again" by Atomic Kitten, and Cornelia Jakobs sings "I Turn To You" by Melanie C.

Sonia, who is one of the UK's 16 second-place finishes in Eurovision history, takes the stage to sing "Better the Devil You Know" from 1993.

Duncan Laurence concludes the sequence with pre-recorded images of Ruslana. He sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers, and is joined by everyone else on stage, including the hosts.

A third and final recap follows, and then it's time...

Europe! Stop voting now!

Shortly after the voting lines are closed, a clip of ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus airs on how Eurovision changed his career. Other acts such as Måneskin, Rosa Linn, Sam Ryder and Duncan Laurence are given as examples of Eurovision success.

Results

We're back on the main stage where Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton are ready for the big voting sequence. But first, let's hear from the executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, if the votes have been counted and verified... You're good to go!

Jury Results

Each of the 37 countries participating in Eurovision 2023 has a jury that decides half of the result. The juries' points are given by a spokesperson from each country, where only the 12 points will be announced orally.

Televoting Results

All televotes from the 37 countries, as well as the online votes from "rest of the world," are bundled and announced for each receiving country. Starting with the country with the least points from the juries.

AND THE WINNER OF EUROVISION 2023 IS...

🏆

Voting

The voting procedure will almost be the same as the previous six years. The only change is the introduction of online voting from some of the non-participating countries ("rest of the world").

Each participating country will have two sets of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points to give. One set for each country's jury, and one set for each country's televoting. The "rest of the world" online votes will have the same weight as one participating country.

• Each of the 37 countries participating in this year's Eurovision will vote.
• Each country has a national jury who gave one set of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points.
• Each country will have televoting, which also results in a set of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points.
• Online voting "rest of the world" has the same weight as one participating country: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points.
• First, the juries' points will be presented individually by a spokesperson from each country.
• Secondly, the points from televoting will be bundled and given combined.
• The national juries voted yesterday evening (Friday, 12 May) during the second dress-rehearsal.
• If two countries have the same points, a combined national televoting and jury result will be calculated only for the purpose of solving tie situations. The best of the two is the song which has obtained points from the highest number of countries from the combined national televoting and jury calculation.

Shortly after the Grand Final, the detailed results, voting and points will be revealed.