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Our guest performances for the Grand Final in Liverpool

17 April 2023 at 11:00 CEST
Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin in 2022 Katrin Oleynik
A star-studded lineup of Eurovision Song Contest legends has been unveiled, as the BBC announces the guest performers we can look forward to seeing at the Grand Final of the 67th Contest in Liverpool.
Mahmood has competed at Eurovision twice for Italy Luigi & Iango

The Grand Final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is set to be a celebration of the music of our beloved Contest, as well as of the world-renowned songbook of the host city.

The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will see live performances from 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra, 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder, a Flag Parade packed with Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest icons, and a big-scale celebration of Liverpool’s musical heritage - featuring yet more big names from the Contest's history.

Sonia represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision 1993 with the song 'Better The Devil You Know'

Voices of a New Generation

The Grand Final for this year’s Contest, hosted in Liverpool on behalf of 2022 Contest winners Ukraine, will open with last year’s winners Kalush Orchestra and a powerful performance titled Voices of a New Generation. Kalush Orchestra captured the hearts of Eurovision viewers around the world last year – and so they're back to kick off the 2023 Grand Final with a performance that will include their smash-hit winning song Stefania.

Go_A represented Ukraine in both the 2020 and 2021 Contests

The Flag Parade

During the Flag Parade of all 26 Grand Finalists, viewers will be treated to a unique performance by some iconic past Ukrainian participants of the Eurovision Song Contest. Get ready for a new twist on their Eurovision entries weaved with British classics, as Go_A, Jamala, Tina Karol and Verka Serduchka take to the stage and remind us all precisely why they became Eurovision Song Contest favourites.

Verka Serduchka (and her dear old mum)

Sam Ryder

For the first interval performance, during which voting across Europe and the world takes place, the United Kingdom’s very own spaceman Sam Ryder will make his triumphant return to the Eurovision Song Contest stage after last year leading the United Kingdom’s biggest success at the Contest for over two decades. 

With his long list of achievements since his stratospheric 2022 Contest performance of SPACE MAN including a UK number 1 debut album, a nomination for Best Breakthrough Act at the BRITs, and a spot on the lineup for the Platinum Party at the Palace for last year’s Platinum Jubilee, Grand Final viewers can expect an incredible performance guaranteed to surprise.

Sam Ryder came second for the United Kingdom in Turin in 2022 Rio Carciero

The Liverpool Songbook

The final interval act is called The Liverpool Songbook; a celebration of the host city’s infamous contribution to the world of pop music. The BBC have brought together six iconic acts from Eurovision Song Contests past – Italy's Mahmood, Israel's Netta, Iceland's Daði Freyr, Sweden's Cornelia Jakobs, Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands – plus Liverpool's very own Sonia, celebrating 30 years since she finished second at the 1993 Contest. 

Liverpool has produced some of the world’s most famous and beloved songs in history: these Eurovision Song Contest legends will all put their own spin on some classic hits.

Daði Freyr took part in Eurovision 2020 and 2021 with his band Gagnamagnið

Also at the Grand Final, as well as the Semi-Finals, Merseyside-born Spice Girl Melanie C will bring a Scouse welcome to the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, as she will provide the voiceover that will welcome our Contest hosts onto stage during each of the three live shows.

Eurovision Song Contest 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra say: 

“We've been looking forward to performing in Liverpool ever since it was announced as host last year. The city has a world-renowned musical heritage and we're delighted to finally be able to announce what an honour it will be for us to be there.

While we're sad that we couldn't bring the Eurovision Song Contest back to our home country, we're really grateful to the UK for hosting this party on our behalf. We will perform for everyone in Ukraine to remind us that better days and our country’s victory is ahead, as well as to show the world what Ukraine is fighting for.”

Runner-up of the 2022 Contest Sam Ryder says: 

“What an honour to be invited back to the Eurovision stage for a second time! I can’t wait to be back amongst the beautiful chaos of it all and to watch the incredible artists perform this time around, while bringing you a special performance of our own. Big love!”.

You can read more about the guest performances planned for the Semi-Finals of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest right here.

You can listen to all 37 songs of Eurovision 2024 via your favourite streaming service or watch the music videos on our YouTube channel.

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden on Tuesday 7 May (First Semi-Final), Thursday 9 May (Second Semi-Final) and Saturday 11 May (Grand Final) 2024.

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