Eurovision 2023 will finally be held in the UK

This Eurovision 2022 will have been exceptional in many ways, but often for dramatic reasons. With the victory of the Kalush Orchestra, a group representing Ukraine, the question of the organization of the competition in 2023 has necessarily remained unresolved given the context of the invasion of the country by Russia since February and the war that continues to rage on its soil.

The UK takes over from Eurovision 2023

After several weeks of reflection and negotiation, the case was decided on Monday 25 July: The UK will host Eurovision next spring. The reason is simple, the country finished second in the standings thanks to Sam Ryder’s performance and his flamboyant astronaut.

A necessarily complex choice, explains the European Broadcasting Union, the organizer of the event who estimated the conditions “safety and security” they weren’t gathered to welcome. A necessarily difficult decision to swallow for the winning country which had tried in vain to prolong the negotiations.

Of course, Ukraine will be the winner of 2022 automatically qualified for the final of the competitionalongside the Big 5 (France, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy).

The host city has not yet been chosen, but several cities have already come forward including Manchester, already a favorite.

On social media, the Kalush Orchestra hailed the EBU’s decision. For his part, Sam Ryder insisted on remembering him the victory will remain that of Ukraine :

“It’s Ukraine day, we just invite them to do it at home. I know how important it was for Kalush and the Ukrainian delegation to host Eurovision at home next year, and I am not the only one with a heavy heart to know that it will not. “

The pop singer is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the event is up to scratch “Celebrate Ukrainian culture, history and music”.

Photo credit: Michael Doherty, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons