United Kingdom hosts Eurovision 2023

The United Kingdom will host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. British broadcasting Corporation BBC will host the contest.

This year, Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest. In a normal situation, Ukraine would have been responsible for the 2023 contest. However, due to safety reasons, EBU decided that Ukraine was not able to do the job. At the same moment, EBU mentioned talks with the United Kingdom about organising the contest. The United Kingdom was one of the countries willing to do so, and as the country reached the 2nd place it was quite logical to ask them first.

photo: EBU

‘We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,’ said Martin Österdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor.

‘The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions. Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.’

Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC added: ‘The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine. 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.’

Representatives of UA: PBC will work with the BBC to develop and implement the Ukrainian elements of next year’s shows.

Several cities already expressed their will to organise the contest. It is likely that, within a month, the host city will be announced.

source: eurovision.tv

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news

Uncategorized

🇧🇪 Essyla is the Belgian entry for Vienna

photo: EBU/RTBF Belgium has chosen Essyla to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The announcement was made on 19 February 2026 by Belgian broadcaster RTBF, who revealed both the artist and the song for this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria. Essyla will perform the song “Dancing on the Ice” on the Eurovision stage in May. The track was co‑written by Essyla alongside Nicolas d’Avell and Emil Stengele, with lyrics by Essyla and Barbara Petitjean. It carries a message of hope and resilience, framed around youth and the determination to keep moving forward despite challenges. From The Voice Belgique to Eurovision Originally from Perwez in Walloon Brabant, Essyla first became known to the public during the ninth season of The Voice Belgique, where she reached the final. Her early musical journey began with forming her own band at a young age and later studying voice at the IMEP music institute in Namur. Her style blends influences from French chansons, jazz, folk, rock and funk, creating a distinct pop‑centric sound that has attracted attention across Belgium. Before Eurovision, Essyla released singles like Let You Go and Not My Kind of Dude, and followed these with her debut EP I’ll Be Okay. Through her lyrics, she often explores themes of personal identity, empowerment and emotional honesty. A Significant Selection for Belgium Essyla’s selection marks a notable moment for Belgium at Eurovision. She is the first solo female artist to represent the country at the contest this decade, following a series of male solo artists. The 2026 contest also carries symbolic weight: it marks the 70th anniversary of Belgium’s participation in Eurovision, having debuted in the very first contest in 1956. Belgium’s sole win came in 1986 with J’aime la Vie by Sandra Kim. In May, Belgium will compete in the Eurovision semi‑finals with hopes of securing a place in the Grand Final and showcasing Essyla’s ambitious and uplifting entry on the international stage.

February 19, 2026 No Comments

Uncategorized

🇧🇪 Essyla is the Belgian entry for Vienna

photo: EBU/RTBF Belgium has chosen Essyla to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The announcement was made on 19 February 2026 by Belgian broadcaster RTBF, who revealed both the artist and the song for this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria. Essyla will perform the song “Dancing on the Ice” on the Eurovision stage in May. The track was co‑written by Essyla alongside Nicolas d’Avell and Emil Stengele, with lyrics by Essyla and Barbara Petitjean. It carries a message of hope and resilience, framed around youth and the determination to keep moving forward despite challenges. From The Voice Belgique to Eurovision Originally from Perwez in Walloon Brabant, Essyla first became known to the public during the ninth season of The Voice Belgique, where she reached the final. Her early musical journey began with forming her own band at a young age and later studying voice at the IMEP music institute in Namur. Her style blends influences from French chansons, jazz, folk, rock and funk, creating a distinct pop‑centric sound that has attracted attention across Belgium. Before Eurovision, Essyla released singles like Let You Go and Not My Kind of Dude, and followed these with her debut EP I’ll Be Okay. Through her lyrics, she often explores themes of personal identity, empowerment and emotional honesty. A Significant Selection for Belgium Essyla’s selection marks a notable moment for Belgium at Eurovision. She is the first solo female artist to represent the country at the contest this decade, following a series of male solo artists. The 2026 contest also carries symbolic weight: it marks the 70th anniversary of Belgium’s participation in Eurovision, having debuted in the very first contest in 1956. Belgium’s sole win came in 1986 with J’aime la Vie by Sandra Kim. In May, Belgium will compete in the Eurovision semi‑finals with hopes of securing a place in the Grand Final and showcasing Essyla’s ambitious and uplifting entry on the international stage.

February 19, 2026 No Comments