The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the UK, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and BBC have confirmed.
Normally, the winners host the following year's contest. However, organisers decided the event could not be held in the reigning champions' country, Ukraine, due to the ongoing conflict with Russia presenting too many safety and security risks. Therefore, runners up the UK have been invited to host for the 67th edition of the competition.
It is still being decided in which city the event will be held, but Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Aberdeen, London, Brighton, Bristol, Belfast and Cardiff are all being considered. A statement from BBC director general Tim Davie posted on Twitter read:
"It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege.
"The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity.
"The BBC will now begin the process to find a Host City to partner with us on delivering one of the most exciting events to come to the UK in 2023."
Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of Ukraine's public broadcaster UA:PBC added: "The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine. We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us. I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent."
Eurovision 2022 was held in Italy, with Ukrainian entrants Kalush Orchestra performing the winning song Stefania.
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