Another year, another Eurovision contest. As always, this year’s event promises to be a huge extravaganza that brings Europe (and, increasingly, the whole planet) together for a night of great outfits, dazzling performances, and (mostly) healthy competition. Last year’s winners Ukraine are unfortunately unable to host the awards, but new host Liverpool has stepped up to the plate and promised an all-out awesome 67th edition of the competition. On this page, we’ll run through everything you need to know, including the key details, the countries that are taking part, and why some people may use a betting offer to back the United Kingdom, who are usually outsiders for glory, to take top spot. We’ll also give all the information you need to attend the event yourself.
The Details
First thing’s first. When is Eurovision 2023 taking place? The event will take place over three evenings on May 9, May 11, and May 13. The first two shows are considered “semi-finals,” with the big night, the final, taking place on Saturday May 13 at 8pm.
The shows will be hosted by Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina, and Hannah Waddingham, with Graham Norton joining for the final.
About the Host City
Liverpool wasn’t originally supposed to host Eurovision 2023. Usually, the winner of the previous edition gets to host the following competition. However, this couldn’t happen. Liverpool was chosen to be the new host.
And that makes a lot of sense, given its musical history. The city has produced a host of world-famous bands over the years, including, of course, The Beatles. Liverpool also has a ready-made arena, the M&S Bank Arena, which can accommodate some 11,000 attendees for the competition.
We’ll have some information about getting tickets for the show later on in the article. If you can’t make the show but still want to soak up some Eurovision atmosphere, then Liverpool has you covered. There will be a “Eurovision Village” at the Pier Head in the city centre, which will feature DJs, musical performances, and a lively atmosphere. You can even view the semi-finals and final from there if you can’t get into the arena.
Which Countries Are In Eurovision 2023?
There’ll be thirty-seven countries battling it out for glory at Eurovision 2023. These countries are:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- 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
Not all of these countries will be in the final. In fact, only six countries are guaranteed a place. These are the previous winners, Ukraine, along with the “big five” — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The other countries will have to navigate the semi-finals first. The best ten of each semi-final will make it through to the final, giving a final count of twenty-six.
Who’s Got a Chance of Winning?
It’s always difficult to predict who will win Eurovision and there’s always one surprise package! Sweden have emerged as early contenders, while Ukraine could also be in with a chance of winning two years in a row. An outside contender is the United Kingdom. They’ve famously done pretty awful at Eurovision over the years, but voters are usually sympathetic to the host country. If Liverpool can put on a great show, then they might just pull off an unlikely victory.
Attending the Event
Want to attend the show? We promise you won’t regret it! Tickets are now on sale, with prices ranging from £30 all the way up to £380. The price depends on the day you’re attending (semi-final tickets are cheaper) and the location of your seat within the venue.
This year’s event promises to be a special one, so it’ll be worth the cost. And if you can’t get a ticket, then you could always visit Liverpool and soak up the atmosphere at the fan zone.
