The UK cities shortlisted to host Eurovision 2023 song contest

Birmingham, which has just held the Commonwealth Games, is one of the shortlisted cities to be the next Eurovision venue, but are they up for the challenge? Rishi Davda reports

Scott Mills joined Zoe Ball on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show to announce that Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield were the ones selected as potential host cities.

Twenty cities had expressed an interest in hosting the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, and those not making the shortlist include London and Belfast.

After the announcement, Mills said: “It’s huge, it’s a beast and it’s complicated as an event to put on. “But also it’s cities who have the passion to put on a contest like this, because of time, past experience with huge international events and also being able to host a celebration of modern music. “The next thing that happens, these cities go through to the second and final stage, they have to give a bit more detail about their plans. “The final, final decision gets made based on what city and region scores highest against the BBC’s criteria.”

The BBC – who broadcast the contest in the UK - made the selection alongside the event organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The broadcaster and the EBU made the shortlist selection based on the cities’ “capacity, capability and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity”. The winner will need a large events space, suitable accommodation and international transport links for the competing countries and their delegations.

Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra, a rap-folk band, won Eurovision 2022, in a symbolic show of public support in solidarity against Russia's invasion of the country.

As a result of the war, the UK was given the chance to host Eurovision for the ninth time – more than any other country – after their 2022 entrant Sam Ryder came second in the competition.

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