The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has confirmed that the Eurovision Song Contest will take place next year in the United Kingdom.
The Ukrainian hip-hop group, Kalush Orchestra, won the Eurovision Song Contest this year in Turin, Italy, but due to the Russian invasion, organisers feel it is not safe enough to hold the competition there.
Britain’s Sam Ryder, who sang the song 'Space Man', came in second behind Ukraine, and now organisers have confirmed the UK will organising duties for the 2023 edition, with the BBC as broadcaster and host.
Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of UA:PBC stated: ‘We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us. I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent.’
Related News
- Ukraine triumphs at Eurovision 2022
- Fraud at Eurovision? 'Irregular' jury points from six countries had to be recalculated
Ukraine will still automatically qualify for the Grand Final along with the ‘Big 5’ – which includes the United Kingdom.
The host city bidding will begin this week. Among the potential hosts are Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Swindon and Wolverhampton. The host city winning bid will be unveiled later on in the year.
Brussels had also been put forward as a potential host. British newspaper The Guardian stated that Brussels, home to the European Union, would have been a symbolic venue at a time when Ukraine is seeking to join the European Union.
