Eurovision 2023: How to watch the song contest as grand final approaches

The two semi-finals took place in Liverpool this week. See our guide to the acts that qualified here.

The UK is hosting this year’s competition as the 2022 winners Ukraine are unable to, due to Russia’s invasion.

Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the song contest last year, with the UK’s Sam Ryder runner-up with his hit song Space Man.

Here is everything we know about when Eurovision 2023 is, where it will be held, and how to watch it.

When is the Eurovision Song Contest 2023?

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 began on May 9 with the first semi-final.

The second semi-final took place two days later, on May 11.

The winner of Eurovision 2023 will be crowned in the final on May 13, which will air on BBC One.

Who is presenting Eurovision?

British TV star Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina will host the Eurovision Song Contest alongside returning favourite Graham Norton.

Who will perform for the UK at Eurovision 2023?

Mae Muller, a 25-year-old singer from north London, will represent the UK in this year’s Eurovision.

Muller, from Kentish Town, will perform I Wrote a Song in Liverpool this May.

She was chosen by BBC bosses and global management company TaP Music, which has counted Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding among its clients.

Where is the Eurovision Song Contest being held?

Liverpool will host this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The event will take place in the 11,000-capacity M&S Bank Arena.

The competition will be broadcast live on BBC One. It will be hosted by singer Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham, and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina. Returning favourite Graham Norton, the comedian and talk show host, will also be a host at the grand final.

How to throw the ultimate Eurovision party at home

Just follow these 8 easy steps…

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

Step 1: Set a dress code

Dressing in the most awful, Euro-tastic outfits is essential to the night. Wrap yourself in tin foil like Ukraine’s act in 2007, use a pot of gel and bottle of hairspray for Jedward or a brunette wig and beard to create the ultimate Conchita look. Or for the more old school guest, go ABBA. The Eurovision is more about the costume than the songs for some, so your party should be too. The wackier the better…

Step 2: Flags, Flags and more Flags

Decorations are obviously a must, but you don’t have to worry, it’s pretty simple – flags! Flags on doors, walls, windows and even in your food and drinks. Any country that has a space in the grand final deserves a space in your house.

Bernard / imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock

Step 3: Swedish Drinks Only

Considering that this year’s Eurovision is going to be held in Stockholm, it seems only right that Swedish traditions have an invite to your party – so it’s time to hit the hard stuff.

Brännvin, or ‘Burn-wine’, is a Swedish special liquor distilled from potatoes. Vodka is the purest form of Brännvin, and is usually seasoned with herbs to create an ‘Akvavit’. For the real party animals, it can also be drunk as snaps, also known as a ‘nubbe’, in a small shot glass alongside a meal. For the less daring maybe, lager beer and sweet cider is also very popular in Sweden. And if you really want to get creative, why not make the Swedish mule cocktail – chin chin!

Step 4: Play drinking Games

With all these drinks involved, of course there needs to be a Eurovision-themed drinking game? Take a ‘responsible’ sip every time you see or hear the following…an act wearing sunglasses on stage, when someone says ‘Sweden’, there are dancers that have no relevance to the song – whatsoever, there is an act wearing practically nothing, someone is wearing tin foil – again, when the presenter shouts ‘Good Evening’ and finally, when a country’s performance is unusually amusing.

Rex

Step 5: Party food

With people flocking to IKEA in search of its famous Swedish meatballs, why not give it a run for its money with a delicious selection of Swedish party food. We suggest you go heavy on the meatballs and throw in a few cinnamon buns and potato dumplings for good measure.

Step 6: Do a sweepstake

While watching this gloriously tacky competition, why not engage in a little competition of your own? Organise a sweepstake amongst your guests, choosing one person per country and a pound to enter, with the jackpot as the prize.

You can print out the BBC’s handy sweepstake kit from here: bbc.co.uk

BBC

Step 7: Make a playlist

Create the ultimate playlist with Eurovision hits from over the years such as, Rise Like a Pheonix (Conchita), Waterloo (Abba), Flying the Flag (Schooch), Congratulations (Cliff Richard), Lipstick (Jedwood) and Just a little bit (Gina G). It’s bound to get the party started and keep the mood up during any ad breaks.

Olle Lindeborg/AFP/Getty

Step 8: Karaoke to end the night

It wouldn’t be the ultimate Eurovision party without a spot of karaoke after it’s all over. Even if it’s not your thing, it usually ends up being the funniest and most memorable part of the night. If you really can’t wait until the end of the night, why not put the subtitles on the telly or select the sing along version during the contest? You may want to have a few drinks first…

Birmingham hosted Eurovision in 1998 — the last time it took place in the UK — but it has also been hosted by London, Edinburgh, and Brighton. Britain last won the competition in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, one of five successes since it began in 1956.

Eurovision Grand Final running order

Austria: Teya & Salena — Who The Hell Is Edgar?
Portugal: Mimicat — Ai Coração
Switzerland: Remo Forrer — Watergun
Poland: Blanka — Solo
Serbia: Luke Black — Samo Mi Se Spava
France: La Zarra — Évidemment
Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou — Break A Broken Heart
Spain: Blanca Paloma — Eaea
Sweden: Loreen — Tattoo
Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi — Duje
Italy: Marco Mengoni — Due Vite
Estonia: Alika — Bridges
Finland: Käärijä — Cha Cha Cha
Czechia: Vesna — My Sister’s Crown
Australia: Voyager — Promise
Belgium: Gustaph — Because Of You
Armenia: Brunette — Future Lover
Moldova: Pasha Parfeni — Soarele şi Luna
Ukraine: Tvorchi — Heart of Steel
Norway: Alessandra — Queen of Kings
Germany: Lord of the Lost — Blood & Glitter
Lithuania: Monika Linkytė — Stay
Israel: Noa Kirel — Unicorn
Slovenia: Joker Out — Carpe Diem
Croatia: Let 3 — Mama ŠČ!
United Kingdom: Mae Muller — I Wrote A Song

The ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Spain, Italy and host country the UK), and current champions Ukraine, will not perform in either of the semi-finals. However, their domestic audiences will be able to vote in one of them.

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