Ukraine will no longer host Eurovision 2023, who will instead?

Ukraine won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with rap-folk group Kalush Orchestra. It is tradition in the contest that the winner of the previous year hosts the next contest. After careful deliberation, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has ruled out Ukraine from hosting. Who has been chosen in their place?

‘Security issues’

The EBU just released a statement explaining that with ‘their sadness and disappointment’ they have no other choice but to rule out Ukraine from hosting next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, despite Zelenskyy assuring Ukraine will host the contest.

In their statement, they explain that for a country to host Eurovision, they have to tick certain criteria. Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the country no longer meets all criteria.

The EBU has been ‘exploring options for the hosting of next year’s competition with Ukraine’s public broadcaster UA:PBC’ but, due to 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.

The UK could host instead

Since Ukraine has been ruled out, the EBU has been forced to find another country to host the annual song contest. In their statement, the EBU explains that they have chosen the BBC to host.

The EBU will now begin discussions with the BBC, as this year’s runner up, to potentially host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.

This seems like the logical second solution as the UK’s entry, Sam Ryder came in second with ‘Space Man’, which is the best the country has done since 1998.

A spokesperson for the BBC said:

We have seen the announcement from the EBU. Clearly these aren't a set of circumstances that anyone would want. Following their decision, we will of course discuss the BBC hosting the Eurovision Song Contest.

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