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Sam Ryder having a lovely time

Eurovision 2023: When can I buy tickets? What happens next?

26 July 2022 at 19:16 CEST
Sam Ryder having a lovely time EBU / Corinne Cumming
We now know the United Kingdom will host the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2023 - but there are lots of fans wondering ‘When can I buy tickets for Eurovision?’ and ‘Where will it be?' Many fans might not even know that there are actually 9 shows you can watch live at the arena! Here’s our guide to the next few months.

To be the first to know when Eurovision Song Contest 2023 tickets will go on sale, make sure you sign up to the official Eurovision Song Contest newsletter and subscribe to our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook). Along with Eurovision.tv, these are the first places that important announcements are made regarding the live shows in May next year.

Tickets

Ticket prices, availability, and even the ticket provider, won’t be decided until there is a confirmed Host City and venue for the shows.

Even at that stage, the available number of tickets will take a little longer to decide while the BBC evaluates how much space is needed for the production inside the venue. Because the Eurovision Song Contest is a live TV production some sections of the seating may need to be altered to make way for cameras, technical equipment and the stage. This is entirely dependent on the chosen venue.

If you haven't bought tickets for a Eurovision Song Contest before: listen up! The Eurovision Song Contest isn't just one Saturday night spectacular... it isn't even just the three broadcast Semi-Finals and Grand Final... it's actually 9 shows across the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Eurovision week!

Once ready, tickets will go on sale for the following 9 shows:

  • Grand Final: Live TV Show [Saturday evening]; Jury Show [Friday evening]; Family Show [Saturday afternoon].

  • First Semi-Final: Live TV Show [Tuesday evening]; Jury Show [Monday evening]; Family Show [Tuesday afternoon].

  • Second Semi Final: Live TV Show [Thursday evening]; Jury Show [Wednesday evening]; Family Show [Thursday afternoon].

The Jury Show is a full run through of the show that takes place the night before the televised version. It’s when the international juries cast their votes for the participants. Audiences can stay for a randomised version of the qualifier/points reveals, as the presenters practise for different scenarios.

The Family Show is a full run through of the show that takes place earlier in the day of the Live TV Show; it serves as one final rehearsal for the artists and crew, and as the name suggests, it’s much more convenient for those who wish to bring younger Eurovision fans. Again, the Family Show features a randomly generated presentation of the qualifiers and points.

The Live TV Show is exactly that: a live television show. Audiences across Europe (and Australia) will get to cast their votes to add to the Jury scores. No randomisations this time - it's all for real!

Interest in Eurovision tickets is expected to be high, but as fans who have travelled to a Contest before will tell you: traditionally it can be easier to secure tickets for the Jury and Family Shows. These shows have all of the content and performances of the broadcast shows, but leave you free to watch the Live TV Show as it was intended… on the television!

Again, make sure you sign up to the official Eurovision Song Contest newsletter and subscribe to our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook) to be the first to find out how to secure tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision Host City

Next year’s Host City will be chosen following a bidding process that is now underway.

Bidding is expected to be competitive, with several British mayors, councils and MPs already informally expressing an intention to bid. Of course, not all locations mentioned in the press will formally apply, and the BBC and the EBU will await official approaches and applications before publishing a long-list of potential Host Cities later in the Summer. 

As well as selling their vision for a fantastic Contest, potential Host Cities are expected to demonstrate that they can meet a list of expectations.

Last year, the EBU’s Host City criteria was based on providing a venue able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators (as well as a press centre), that should be within easy reach of an international airport and with ample hotel accommodation for delegations, crew, journalists and visiting fans.

Eurovision 2023 theme, branding, slogan, hosts, show details, etc…

Once a destination has been decided upon, it will be announced at a time agreed by the BBC and the EBU, in conjunction with Host City representatives.

Branding, slogans, show details and tickets then tend to follow over the course of the next 6 months – the exact timings of which differ annually, as every Contest is held in unique circumstances.

One date that, for the time being, is set in stone each year is September 1. Songs publicly released before this milestone are not eligible to enter the Eurovision Song Contest the following year. This is thought of as the start of the ‘Eurovision season’.

We also publish the official list of participating public broadcasters around this time.

Between this point and the new year, we usually see the announcement of one or two artists or songs (for Turin 2022, Belgium announced Jérémie Makiese on September 15, 2021) and the occasional national final (Albania’s Festivali i Këngës took place in December 2021).

By the time January rolls around, artist selections are in full swing, and countries have 3 months to choose their participant either by way of a national final (such as Portugal’s Festival da Canção, Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, or Lithuania’s Pabandom Iš Naujo) or an internal process. The deadline for confirming a participant with the EBU is in March.

During April acts tend to hit the promo trail, taking part in Eurovision parties across the continent, and appearing on the international chat show circuit. More details about the shows are revealed around this time, and stage construction gets underway in the venue.

We’re then in May and ready for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest…. Wherever that may be!