Host for Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Liverpool or Glasgow?

Liverpool (left) or Glasgow (right) will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 on behalf of Ukraine

We’ve all been in suspense for weeks to find out where the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be organized. Between the different cities, and Ukraine’s President who was confident Maripol would be ready to host, there has been a lot of speculating. In the last couple of weeks, Eurovision’s social media team has been dropping hints and teasing its followers. The latest news is only two cities remain in this battle: Liverpool and Glasgow. The suspense is real. Let’s take a quick look at what these two cities have to offer.

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city located in Merseyside. With roughly 500,000 residents, it’s the 10th largest English District by population. The city is noted for its culture, architecture and transport links. The cities’ link to the Beatles, led to Liverpool becoming a very popular tourist destination. The city has continued to be a home to a lot of considerable artists and record labels. There are even connections to the Eurovision Song Contest; Sonia Evans was born in this city.

When people think of Liverpool, a lot of people will think of sports. The annual Grand National horse race takes place at the Aintree Racecourse just outside the city. But, mostly (and I would even consider the word obviously), the city is best known for its premier league football. Liverpool has two rivals at each end of town: Liverpool FC and Everton FC.

Glasgow

Glasgow, located in Scotland, is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth most populous ciry in the United Kingdom, with an estimated population of 650,000 people. The city is located on the River Clyde in the country’s West Central Lowlands.

Like Liverpool, Glasgow is a very popular destination among tourists. The city is famed for its culture, shopping and (the many) people. If you wish to explore Glasgow outside of the Eurovision Song Contest, there’s a lot of free museums, you can look for the hidden gems recommended by locals or enjoy some shopping. If you have some time to spare, Glasgow is the perfect base for exploring the Highlands.

 

 

We don’t know when the definitive city will be announced. We, at Eurovision Universe, are excited about this shortlist. Both cities have their own charm and offer enough entertainment for a fun holiday in May 2023. We’ll keep you posted!

Picture of Sanne Messemaker

Sanne Messemaker

See all contributions

Related news
Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily series of spotlights—today commencing the second semi-final with its first contestant: Bulgaria.   Dara: From X-factor to Eurovision Dara (born Darina Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful modern pop artists. Born in Varna in 1998, she first gained national recognition as a finalist on The X Factor Bulgaria in 2015, where she finished third and quickly became a household name. Breakthrough and Chart Success After signing with Virginia Records, Dara launched her career with the hit single “K’vo ne chu,” which topped the Bulgarian charts. She followed this with a string of successful releases, including “Rodena takava,” “Nedei,” and “Darbie.” Her energetic mix of pop and R&B, combined with a distinctive voice and strong stage presence, helped her achieve multiple number-one hits and over 80 million streams. Songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover” further cemented her status, with the latter even gaining international attention. Television and Mentorship Dara expanded her career through television, appearing on Kato dve kapki voda and later becoming a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. She quickly proved her talent as a mentor, winning the competition with her team in both 2022 and 2024. Albums and International Growth Her debut album Rodena takava (2022) confirmed her place at the top of the Bulgarian music scene. In 2025, she released ADHDARA, a more personal and internationally oriented project, featuring collaborations with global producers and songwriters. Eurovision 2026 In 2026, Dara won Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. With her experience, chart success, and international ambition, she enters the competition as a strong contender.       Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest   After a three-year break from the contest, Bulgaria returned for Eurovision 2026. Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and initially struggled to qualify for the final. However, since the mid-2010s, the country has experienced a strong resurgence, driven by modern pop productions and more competitive entries. This renewed success led to some of Bulgaria’s best-ever results, with standout performances by Kristian Kostov and Poli Genova. Despite these achievements, Bulgaria has also been absent from the contest multiple times due to financial and organizational reasons. The Bookmakers Bulgaria is currently 13th with the bookmaker, qualification for the final should be well within reach. But can they turn momentum into a Top 10 finish?          

Read More »
April 18, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily series of spotlights—today commencing the second semi-final with its first contestant: Bulgaria.   Dara: From X-factor to Eurovision Dara (born Darina Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful modern pop artists. Born in Varna in 1998, she first gained national recognition as a finalist on The X Factor Bulgaria in 2015, where she finished third and quickly became a household name. Breakthrough and Chart Success After signing with Virginia Records, Dara launched her career with the hit single “K’vo ne chu,” which topped the Bulgarian charts. She followed this with a string of successful releases, including “Rodena takava,” “Nedei,” and “Darbie.” Her energetic mix of pop and R&B, combined with a distinctive voice and strong stage presence, helped her achieve multiple number-one hits and over 80 million streams. Songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover” further cemented her status, with the latter even gaining international attention. Television and Mentorship Dara expanded her career through television, appearing on Kato dve kapki voda and later becoming a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. She quickly proved her talent as a mentor, winning the competition with her team in both 2022 and 2024. Albums and International Growth Her debut album Rodena takava (2022) confirmed her place at the top of the Bulgarian music scene. In 2025, she released ADHDARA, a more personal and internationally oriented project, featuring collaborations with global producers and songwriters. Eurovision 2026 In 2026, Dara won Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. With her experience, chart success, and international ambition, she enters the competition as a strong contender.       Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest   After a three-year break from the contest, Bulgaria returned for Eurovision 2026. Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and initially struggled to qualify for the final. However, since the mid-2010s, the country has experienced a strong resurgence, driven by modern pop productions and more competitive entries. This renewed success led to some of Bulgaria’s best-ever results, with standout performances by Kristian Kostov and Poli Genova. Despite these achievements, Bulgaria has also been absent from the contest multiple times due to financial and organizational reasons. The Bookmakers Bulgaria is currently 13th with the bookmaker, qualification for the final should be well within reach. But can they turn momentum into a Top 10 finish?          

Read More »
April 18, 2026 No Comments
© 2019 – 2026 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: