Liverpool 2023: the Eurovision Song Contest

This year, the 67^th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool, and the city is already gearing up to host this much-loved music competition. 2023’s theme is ‘United By Music’, reflecting Eurovision’s aim of bringing together different countries.

Liverpool is this year’s chosen host city following its strong bid. It will host on behalf of Ukraine, which won the contest in 2022. So, whether you’re heading to Liverpool for Eurovision week or want to learn more about the competition, our guide has everything you need to know.

Need accommodation in Liverpool? Our Leonardo Hotel Liverpool provides a convenient base in the city.

What is Eurovision?

In its simplest form, Eurovision is an international singing competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union. It has taken place annually since 1956 and was initially created to unite countries after the devastation of the Second World War. The show features elaborate costumes, melodramatic song performances and catchy lyrics.

When is the Eurovision Song Contest 2023?

The grand final of Eurovision 2023 will take place on Saturday 13^th May. The semi-finals will occur on Tuesday 9^th May and Thursday 11^th May. If you’re watching at home, the semi-finals will be broadcast on BBC Three, and the grand final will be broadcast live on BBC One at 20:00.

Where will Eurovision 2023 take place?

Eurovision 2023 will take place in Liverpool, United Kingdom. This will be the ninth time the competition has been held in the UK. After little success in recent years, the UK secured the Eurovision runner-up spot in 2022 with Sam Ryder’s epic performance of ‘Space Man’. Although Ukraine bagged the top spot, officials decided the 2023 competition should be held in the UK for safety reasons.

In October 2022, it was announced that Liverpool would host the competition. The city beat Glasgow, Manchester and other UK cities in its bid. It was selected because of its cultural offering and infrastructure, among several other reasons. 2023 will see the UK host the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time since 1998, a year after Katrina and the Waves won the competition with ‘Love Shine a Light’.

The semi-finals and grand final will be organised by the BBC. However, Ukraine’s UA:PBC will help implement certain Ukrainian elements into the production.

Tickets for Eurovision 2023

Tickets for this year’s competition can be purchased on Ticketmaster from Tuesday 7^th March 2023. Ticket prices will vary from £30 to £290 for the semi-finals and £80 to £380 for the final, according to the Eurovision website.

Liverpool: the Eurovision host city

There’s no better place to host Eurovision than Liverpool. A UNESCO City of Music and the home of the Beatles, this vibrant North West city is defined by music. Liverpool and its residents are committed to celebrating Ukraine as part of this year’s contest and are sure to put on a spectacular show.

The shows will take place at Liverpool Arena, part of the Exhibition Centre in the city centre. Opened in 2008, it’s one of the country’s most prestigious entertainment venues, hosting a range of music, comedy and sporting events.

 Eurofest

In the lead-up to Eurovision 2023, Liverpool will also host a special two-week cultural festival, EuroFest. Occurring from Monday 1^st May to Sunday 14^th May, this festival will feature commissions from a range of artists, including collaborations between Ukrainian and UK artists.

Full details of the festival are yet to be announced. However, one confirmed attraction is The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade, which will kick off the Eurovision Party. Other attractions include The English National Opera does Eurovision, and Rave Ukraine.  

What do we know about Eurovision 2023 so far? 

Here is a summary of what we know so far about this year’s competition:

• The contest will take place in the UK this year due to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine
• Eurovision 2023’s semi-finals will be hosted by Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina. They will be joined by Graham Norton for the grand final
• The 2023 logo contains a Ukrainian flag to represent the 2022 winners
• The stage design has been created by Julio Himede and reflects celebration, communication and togetherness
• In November 2022, the European Broadcasting Union announced changes to the voting system for the 2023 competition. The results of the semi-finals will be determined purely by televoting. This was the case between 2004 and 2007. On the other hand, the results of the final will be decided by televoting and national juries – this has been the case since 2009

Hotels in Liverpool

Heading to Liverpool for Eurovision week? Our Leonardo Hotel Liverpool is an ideal place to stay in the city. Only a four-minute walk from Liverpool Arena, you’ll have all the Eurovision celebrations and attractions on your doorstep. It’s also only a short drive from Liverpool Lime Street station – perfect if you’re travelling to the city on the train.

Our Leonardo hotel has everything you need for a relaxing stay, including spacious guestrooms, free Wi-Fi and a welcoming restaurant and bar. Planning to work during your stay? No problem. Our hotel also has 10 meeting rooms, and well-lit work areas in every guestroom.  

Check out our Liverpool city guide to plan your itinerary, including where to eat and the top spots to visit.