Following the win of the Eurovision Song Contest in May, the EBU has explored options with Eurovision 2022 winning nation Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA: PBC, which was previously hosted in 2017 and 2005.
As a tradition, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest host country is usually the current winner, the competition the following year, providing certain criteria including the ensuring the viability of staging the event and the safety of all stakeholders including the public.
Given the ongoing war since the Russian invasion of this year’s winning country, the EBU has taken the time to conduct a full assessment and feasibility study with both UA:PBC and third-party specialists, including on safety and security issues.
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most complex TV productions in the world with thousands working on, and attending, the event and 12 months of preparation time needed.
Following objective analysis, the Reference Group, the ESC’s governing board, has with deep regret concluded that, given the current circumstances, the security and operational guarantees required for a broadcaster to host, organize and produce the Eurovision Song Contest under the ESC Rules cannot be fulfilled by UA: PBC.
As the result of the decision, according to the rules and to ensure the continuity of the event, EBU will now begin discussions with BBC as this year’s runner-up to the potential host as the United Kingdom for Eurovision 2023. The last time when runner-up hosted the Eurovision was in 1980 when it was hosted by the Netherlands.
Last time the United Kingdom hosted Eurovision was in 1998.
Its full intention to highlight that Ukraine’s victory will be reflected and referenced in next year’s shows. This will be a priority for the host nation.
Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song ‘‘Stefania”.
