The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition held by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. This page is a list of cities and venues that have hosted the contest one or more times.
The contest has frequently been held in a capital city. The six editions spanning from 2019 to 2025 (the 2020 edition having been cancelled) are to date the longest span of consecutive editions without a capital hosting the event. This record was previously held by the four editions between 1956 and 1959.
The tradition of the winning broadcaster hosting the following year's event was established in 1958.[76][77][78] A number of exceptions to this rule have occurred since, typically when the winning broadcaster had already hosted the event in the recent past. These exceptions are listed below:
1972: hosted by the BBC in Edinburgh when Monaco's TMC was unable to provide a suitable venue. The second- and third-placed in 1971, Spain's Televisión Española (TVE) and Germany's ARD also declined when offered hosting duties. The EBU invited the BBC to host the event due to their previous experience.[82]
1974: hosted by the BBC in Brighton when Luxembourg's CLT declined due to expense after staging the 1973 contest.[6]
1980: hosted by NOS in the Hague when Israel's Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) declined due to expense after staging the 1979 contest. The Dutch offered to host the contest after several other broadcasters, reportedly including runner-up Spain's TVE and the BBC, were unwilling to do so.[83]
2023: hosted by the BBC in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine's UA:PBC, after the EBU decided that Ukraine would not be able to host the event due to security concerns caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[84] The BBC was chosen to host after finishing in second place in 2022.[85]
With Australia's invitation to participate in the contest in 2015, it was announced that should it win the contest, Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) would co-host the following year's contest in a European city in collaboration with an EBU member broadcaster of its choice.[86][87]
Host city insignia
The host city insignia on display inside Vienna City Hall in May 2015.
The host city insignia is a rotating trophy awarded to cities hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, proposed jointly by the city of Helsinki, the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) and the EBU in conjunction with the 2007 edition, and was used annually until 2024.
The insignia takes the form of a large key ring to which the host cities can attach their city key or other symbol representing the city. The insignia exchange usually takes place in conjuction with the semi-final allocation draw. The insignia is then traditionally put on display in a public place, such as the city hall or another venue of local significance, for the remainder of the year.[88] The insignia's concept and fob were designed by the Anteeksi group, while the key ring was designed by jewellery designer Taru Tonder. Hand-engraved on the ring are the following texts: "Eurovision Song Contest Host City", all host cities up until 2006, and a "Helsinki 2007" stamp with the initials of the insignia designers. Additionally, the fob has a picture of the Helsinki Senate Square attached to the ring.[89][90][91]
From 2025 onwards, the host city handover is symbolised by a "friendship gift" from the preceding host city to its successor, which stays permanently in each city.[92]
Semi-final allocation drawing venue
Since the introduction of the two semi-finals system in 2008, a draw has been held to determine in which semi-final a country would participate, as well as in which semi-final a country would vote in. Each year, either five or six countries are exempt from the drawing for competing in the semi-finals: the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the host country, if the host is not one of the "Big Five". In 2015, the number of countries exempt was seven, as Australia joined the other six exempt countries as a special guest contestant.
Regardless if a country is exempt from competing in the semi-finals, all participating countries are allotted a semi-final in which to vote.
Previously, the running order was determined at a dedicated event. This has been made redundant following the implementation of producer-created running orders in 2013.
An official opening ceremony with a red carpet procession has been held since 2009 at a venue in the host city. Prior to that, a welcome reception was typically held for all participating artists and hosted by the mayor of the host city.[118]
↑ "Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Semi-Finals Lineup Confirmed". ebu.ch. EBU. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025. The new "friendship gift" has replaced the Insignias passed between each Host City between 2007 and 2024 and will remain in Basel after this year's event.
Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-065-6.
Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol.Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-118-9.
Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol.Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-163-9.
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