Eurovision 2023 will most likely be held in United Kingdom
EBU releases statement: Eurovision 2023 will not be held in Ukraine
The European Broadcasting Union, EBU, has just released a statement regarding Eurovision 2023 and the potential host country.
Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin with the song "Stefania." Traditionally, the winning country would host the next year's contest. However, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the EBU has determined that Ukraine will not host the 2023 contest.
The Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC had already started the preparations for hosting Eurovision 2023, and the EBU "share their sadness and disappointment that next year’s contest cannot be held in Ukraine":
– Following objective analysis, the Reference Group, the ESC’s governing board, has with deep regret concluded that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest under the ESC Rules cannot be fulfilled by UA:PBC.
Discussions with BBC
The United Kingdom finished 2nd at Eurovision 2022 (Sam Ryder - "Space Man"), and the EBU will now begin discussions with British broadcaster BBC to potentially host Eurovision 2023 in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom has 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)
Winner and host
In 1958, a new initiative was introduced, which has since become a tradition with few exceptions: The winning country will be invited to host the next year's contest.
There have been six exceptions where the winning country has not hosted the competition the following year. The reason has primarily been that the broadcaster could not afford to host the event:
- 1956: Switzerland won – 1957 was held in Frankfurt, Germany
- 1959: Netherlands won – 1960 was held in London, UK
- 1962: France won – 1963 was held in London, UK
- 1971: Monaco won – 1972 was held in Edinburgh, UK
- 1973: Luxembourg won – 1974 was held in Brighton, UK
- 1979: Israel won – 1980 was held in The Hague, Netherlands
Statement from the EBU
Following their win at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in May, the EBU has been exploring options for the hosting of next year’s competition with Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC, who previously staged the event in 2017 and 2005.
It has become a well-known tradition that the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest hosts the competition the following year, providing certain criteria including ensuring the viability of staging the event and the safety of all stakeholders, including the public, are met.
Given the ongoing war since the Russian invasion of this year’s winning country, the EBU has taken the time to conduct a full assessment and feasibility study with both UA:PBC and third-party specialists including on safety and security issues.
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most complex TV productions in the world with thousands working on and attending the event, and 12 months of preparation time needed.
Following objective analysis, the Reference Group, the ESC’s governing board, has with deep regret concluded that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest under the ESC Rules cannot be fulfilled by UA:PBC.
The EBU would like to thank UA:PBC for their wholehearted cooperation and commitment in exploring all scenarios in the weeks since Kalush Orchestra’s win on 14 May in Turin, and share their sadness and disappointment that next year’s Contest cannot be held in Ukraine.
The EBU has been supporting UA:PBC across a whole range of areas since the invasion. We will ensure that this support continues so UA:PBC can maintain the indispensable service they provide to Ukrainians.
As a result of this decision, in accordance with the rules, and to ensure the continuity of the event, the EBU will now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.
It is our full intention that Ukraine’s win will be reflected in next year’s shows. This will be a priority for us in our discussions with the eventual hosts.
