Kyiv confirmed as host city of Eurovision 2017 - what next?

Over the coming weeks the European Broadcasting Union will continue to meet with representatives of NTU, the host broadcaster of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Last week the Reference Group, the governing body of the Eurovision Song Contest, met in Berlin to discuss the plans for the 2017 event. Ukraine's national broadcaster NTU updated the group on their plans for the upcoming contest. Following the meeting, representatives of the EBU and its partners travelled to Kyiv, the main purpose of the visit was to introduce the core team at the EBU to partners in Ukraine. Representatives from the City of Stockholm were also present and shared their experiences of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. 

The Eurovision Song Contest has changed since Kyiv last hosted; there are now two Semi-Finals as well as a full fortnight of rehearsals. These evolutions in the event have to be factored into the planning for the Eurovision Song Contest. As Jon Ola Sand, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest explained in Berlin last week, "The city really needs to be behind any bid to host the competition. From security, to transportation and other logistics, the city is crucial when producing an event such as the Eurovision Song Contest".

Key milestones 

The Eurovision Song Contest is much more than a television show, it has grown into an event in its own right with key ceremonial milestones.

In November the Reference Group will meet again and NTU will present their latest plans for the Eurovision Song Contest. 

In January the traditional Semi-Final Allocation Draw will take place to determine which country will participate in which Semi-Final of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. It is also the point when the previous host city, Stockholm, will officially hand over the Host City Insignia to its successor, Kyiv.

The Reference Group will also meet again in January where key decisions concerning the contest will be taken. 

Proposed event locations in Kyiv

During the event week itself, the Official Opening Ceremony for the Eurovision Song Contest will take place following a Red Carpet procession by the participants. The proposed location for the 2017 event in Kyiv is the St Sophia Cathedral. Nadja Burkhardt, the Event Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, described the location for the Opening Ceremony as the perfect setting. 

Euro Club is one of the traditional elements of the Eurovision Song Contest. It is open usually for participants, delegations, the media and other accredited people to relax and mingle. The proposed location for Euro Club in 2017 is near the Mariyinsky Palace, at the Parkovyy Centre. 

The final decision on the various locations in Kyiv, including that of the Eurovision Village, will be taken in February 2017.

Next steps

NTU will continue to work closely with the EBU and the city authorities in Kyiv to assemble the core team. Once this is in place, work on the production will begin, including the design of the theme artwork which is usually unveiled at the Semi-Final Allocation Draw in January. 

Once the stage design and the indoor configuration of the arena are complete, the official ticketing partner will then begin the process of selling tickets to the Eurovision Song Contest. As in previous years, it is likely that there will be a standing zone for fans as well as seats in stalls.

The 2017 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Kyiv, Ukraine on 9th, 11th and 13th May.