UKRAINE – The 2022 contest was won by Ukraine, and in accordance with Eurovision tradition, the country has been given the opportunity to organise the 2023 contest by the EBU. This would be the third time that Ukraine has hosted the event, having previously done so in 2005 and 2017.

However, in light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been speculated that an alternative country from the “Big Five”, consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, may be invited to host the 2023 contest. The United Kingdom and Spain were also the runners-up of the 2022 contest, who, by unwritten rule, would be next in line to be invited for hosting the contest in case the winner declines.

If hosted outside of Ukraine, it would be the first time since 1980 that the contest is not hosted in the previous edition’s winning country.

THE DEVELOPMENTS

• On 16 May 2022, Mykola Chernotytskyi, the chairman of the Ukrainian participating broadcaster Suspilne, stated that they wish to host the contest in a peaceful Ukraine and hoped that the country would be able to guarantee the safety of all participants and their delegations during the event.[6] Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he hopes for the contest to one day take place in Mariupol. Chernotytskyi later stated that the broadcaster would begin discussions with the EBU regarding the hosting of the contest on 20 May.
• On 26 May 2022, Mykola Povoroznyk, the first deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, stated that Kyiv is ready to host the contest if asked.

The following countries have expressed interest in hosting the contest, in the event that Ukraine is unable to do so:

• Italy – On 15 May 2022, Stefano Coletta , director of Rai 1, stated that RAI would be interested in hosting again. Stefano Lo Russo, mayor of the 2022 contest’s host city Turin, has added that the city is willing to be at the disposal of RAI and the EBU.
• Netherlands – Marnix Kaart, one of the directors of the 2021 contest, raised the possibility that the Netherlands could apply to host. NPO and AVROTROS stated that they would consider hosting if asked. The Netherlands remains the last country to have hosted the contest instead of the winning country.
• Poland – The chairman of TVP Jacek Kurski stated that they are open to helping with the hosting if asked.
• Spain – RTVE announced that it is prepared to host, however they have not expressed a venue choice as of yet. Local authorities of several Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Mérida and Torremolinos, expressed interest in the days prior to the 2022 contest final.
• Sweden – The Mayor of Stockholm, Anna König Jerlmyr, suggested a few venues including the Avicii Arena, which previously hosted the contest in 2000 and 2016.
• Switzerland – On 26 May 2022, during an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, Yves Schifferle, the Swiss Head of Delegation, stated that the country hasn’t ruled out the possibility of hosting.
• United Kingdom – Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told the BBC that the United Kingdom would be willing to host, but added that Zelenskyy is “fully confident” that Ukraine will be able to do so. On 19 May 2022, the Scottish edition of the Daily Express reported that the OVO Hydro in Glasgow has cleared its schedule for May 2023, suggesting that there may be some form of agreement with the BBC to use the venue if the country can host.

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