The Reference Group for the Eurovision Song Contest has traveled to Liverpool to be shown the venue for Eurovision 2023.
Liverpool played host to the Reference Group of the Eurovision Song Contest as the plans for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 were presented by the BBC to key stakeholders. The Reference Group were shown around the M&S Bank Arena which will host next years contest in May.
The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group also saw changes to its line-up following elections for new members earlier this year. Four new members joined the Group which is formed of:
- Dr. Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF – Germany) – Chairman
- Mr. Martin Osterdahl – Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor
- Mr. David Tserunyan (AMPTV – Armenia)
- Ms. Carla Bugalho (RTP – Portugal) – Eurovision 2018 Executive Producer
- Mr. Felix Bergsson (RUV – Iceland)
- Sietse Bakker (NOS – Netherlands) – Representative of the Eurovision 2021 host broadcaster
- Simona Martorelli (RAI – Italy)
- Claudio Fasulo (RAI – Italy)
- Alexandra Wolflast (NDR – Germany) – Newly elected member
- Mr. Yuval Cohen (KAN – Israel) – Representative of the Eurovision 2019 host broadcaster
- Ms. Astrid Dutrenit (NOS/AVROTROS – Netherlands) – Representative of the Eurovision 2021 host broadcaster
Alexandra Wolflast replaces Alexandra Redde from the French national broadcaster as an elected member of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group.
Eurovision 2023
Liverpool will host the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest at the M&S Bank Arena. The decision comes after multiple rounds of shortlisting various UK cities, as the winners of the 2022 contest Ukraine were not able to host. Eurovision 2023 will be held on May 9, 11 and 13.
Liverpool is known globally as the birthplace of the Beatles, as well as music events such as Africa Oyé, Liverpool International Music Festival and Sound City. The city is home to just under 500,000 people and is known for its iconic music venues and cultural events. The city is connected to the world via Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
The 2023 contest will be the first contest since 1979 in which the winning nation was unable to host the following contest. It is the sixth occasion overall on which a different country has hosted after the original host nation was unable to, following the Netherlands in 1960, France in 1963, Monaco in 1972, Luxembourg in 1974, Israel in 1980 and Ukraine in 2023. The 2023 contest will also extend the United Kingdom’s record of hosting Eurovision to nine times.
