Eurovision mania is expected to reach a fever pitch in 2023 as Liverpool hosts the contest on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine. 

Here is everything we know about the competition so far, from when it’s taking place, to how you can get a seat in Liverpool.

When is Eurovision 2023?

The main event of Eurovision – the grand final – will take place on Saturday 13 May, kicking off at 8pm.

There will be two semi-finals in the run-up, one on Tuesday 9 May and one on Thursday 11 May.

Who is hosting?

After Ukraine were victorious in 2022 – thanks to folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra – the country should be preparing to host the 2023 competition.

But organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) ruled it would be unsafe to host the next contest in the country as the risks of Russian air raids and mass casualties were too high.

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Instead, runner-up the UK was invited to act as host, prompting fierce bidding from a clutch of cultural cities.

Liverpool ended up triumphant. Eurovision will be held in the Liverpool Arena, also called M&S Bank Arena, which is part of Exhibition Centre Liverpool and is located in central Liverpool right next to the River Mersey. The arena has a capacity of 11,000.

Who is representing the UK?

The UK’s entry to Eurovision is yet to be revealed. However, the BBC has confirmed it will collaborate with TaP Music, the global management company that helped select Sam Ryder for the 2022 competition, to find an act and song for 2023.

In 2022, Sam Ryder scored 283 points in the national jury vote – the country’s best result in 20 years.

The official Eurovision website will carry the latest updates as participants are announced.

How can I get tickets to the Liverpool shows?

There are nine Eurovision shows in total: each of the semi-finals and the final has one jury show (where the international juries vote in advance of the TV show), a family show (essentially a dress rehearsal earlier in the day) and the live TV show.

Tickets haven’t been released yet, but the organisers advise it can be easier to get tickets for the jury and family shows. More information can be found on the Eurovision website.

Read more:
Ukraine picks 2023 entry after competition in underground bunker
Former Sex Pistols star in running to represent Ireland

How can I watch the show on TV?

The BBC is hosting the competition this year, with plans for output beefed up. For the first time, the contest semi-finals will be broadcast on BBC One.

The semi-final allocation draw will also be broadcast on 31 January. The live event will determine which country will compete in which semi-final and will decide which semi-final the Big 5 (Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy) and 2022 winners Ukraine will vote in.

How is the voting system changing this year?

The EBU has made changes to how voting will work this year, announcing that everyone watching the show, wherever they live in the world, can cast a vote for their favourite song.

The online votes from countries not in Eurovision will be converted into points that will have the same weight as one participating country.

The EBU has also said only votes from viewers – not the jury – will decide which countries make it to the finals.

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