Ukraine won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, but due to the war that continues to rage in the country, next year's contest will be held in the United Kingdom. The UK finished as runner up in the previous edition of the contest.
According to the latest betting odds from major bookies, the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Scotland. Seven cities were recently unveiled as potential hosts with Glasgow being the favourite for the next event.
Eurovision Host City Odds
Seven cities were announced as the potential host city for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Here are the latest odds for next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
- Glasgow 5/4
- Birmingham 2/1
- Manchester 7/1
- Leeds 11/1
- Liverpool 12/1
- Newcastle 25/1
- Sheffield 25/1
Which City is the favourite?
Glasgow is the favourite to host the 2023 Eurovision. The Scottish city will find out in the autumn if it was officially selected to be the host city for the event.
Glasgow provides easy access to travellers, visitors, and contestants from around Europe. The host city must be close in distance to an international airport and Glasgow fits the bill.
The historic Scottish city will host the event at Glasgow Hydro if it is selected. The multipurpose event building is ideal for the 2023 Eurovision.
Birmingham
Birmingham is close behind Glasgow at odds of 2/1 to host Eurovision. It may come as a surprise to some that England's second city is so high on the list.
It is also a surprise that London did not make the final cut of cities. This gives Birmingham the chance to host another major event, something it has been doing lately. The 2022 Commonwealth Games were held in Birmingham, raising the city's profile.
Smarkets' statistics have Birmingham at 27% likely to host the 2023 Eurovision. The city has proposed that the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Arena will be the venue for the Song Contest.
There are a lot of critics to Birmingham's bid for the song contest. Many people are unhappy with it being considered due to Birmingham hosting the Commonwealth Games.
Manchester
Manchester, which can lay claim to being England's true second city, is third in odds to host the event. Manchester is 7/1 to host Eurovision 2023.
The city has proposed that the enormous AO Arena be the location of the song contest. The AO Arena has hosted a variety of sports and music events over the years.
In addition to having strong facilities, Manchester Airport can accommodate travellers from all over Europe. The city's public transport, service industry, and hospitality sector are also top notch, and Manchester will feel like these areas make it a better selection than Birmingham.
Leeds
Leeds come in at 11/1 to host the Eurovision Song Contest. For some, Leeds will feel like an afterthought when it comes to the song contest location.
Compared to Glasgow, Birmingham, and Manchester, Leeds doesn't have the same facilities for travellers. Leeds doesn't receive the same number of major events as its competitors.
Spice Girl Mel B is backing Leeds to land the Eurovision. The city is offering up the Leeds Arena for the event.
Sheffield
Like Leeds, many fans of the contest may be surprised if the Eurovision host city status is given to Sheffield. Sheffield is a thriving city with a history of having a strong music scene.
Sheffield's bid claims it is a perfect alternative to the usual suspects. It has great transport links and an area perfect for the 10,000-plus spectators that will be present.
Liverpool
Liverpool are another strong favourite to host the event. The northwest city is often overlooked due to being so close to Manchester -- who takes many of the major events.
Liverpool is a city of culture and many travellers from around the world visit Merseyside each year. Now that Liverpool have been shortlisted, the council has a team working on a strong bid to bring Eurovision to Merseyside.
Newcastle
Newcastle are an underdog to receive the European Broadcasting Union invitation to host Eurovision 2023. The city's location next to a major international airport could hurt the final bid. The 11,000-capacity Utilita Arena has been proposed as the location in Newcastle for the event.
When is the Winner Announced?
The winner of the Eurovision Song Contest host city bid will be announced in the autumn. Each city is currently putting together isn't final bid.
Why is Eurovision Song Contest Being Hosted in the UK?
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the UK due to Ukraine, last year's winner, not being able to hold the event due to the war currently occurring in the country.
When is Eurovision 2023?
The next Eurovision Song Contest will take place in May 2023.
How Much Sway will Ukraine Have in the Ceremony?
Ukraine's sway should have some significance. Already, Ukrainians who have been displaced have thrown their support behind their adoptive UK cities. Kalush Orchestra, who won the 2022 event, will likely throw their support behind one of the seven cities for the event. In the end, the European Broadcast Union will have the final say.
How Many Cities Bid to Host Eurovision?
Seven cities have been shortlisted from a total of 20 possible locations. All UK capital cities -- London, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Cardiff -- were omitted from the final shortlist.
