that of 2023 will be a somewhat unusual contest at the Eurovision Song Contest due to international geopolitics. There armed war waged on Ukrainian soil After Russia decided to attack its territory for the first time in February 2022, it continues to wreak havoc in the heart of Europe and has done that, even though it was the group Kalush Orchestra that was proclaimed the winner in Turin on behalf of Ukraine, their country was not the ambassador of the festival this year.

In its place, the United Kingdom will be the host country, after the second place for Sam Ryder in ItalyAl Eurovision Song Contest 2023 which will be held at the Liverpool Arena in the city of Liverpool between May 9 and May 19 this year.

Thus, the United Kingdom will exceptionally become the host as a direct consequence of the Ukrainian war in the world of music and culture while, at the same time, Russia will continue to see how its representative is banned in the contest for the same reason following the line of what happened last year.

Of course, although Ukraine is not the country in which artists from all countries travel to defend their Eurovision candidacies, from the UK’s public television, the BBC, they assured that in as organizers, they will try to ensure that the winning country of the 2022 competition is at the center of the event and will share with it the title of guest of the great European musical event.

Fall of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria

Another notable change in this 2023 edition is that North Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria will not participate in the Liverpool edition. The three countries announced a few months ago that the high costs involved for the coffers of public television in their country of sending one or more artists to represent them at Eurovision, expenses which have inevitably increased in reason for the departure of Russia, whose annual contribution is now distributed among the participating countries—have forced them to temporarily withdraw from the competition.

UK and Ukraine: two hosts and two draws

As there are two host countries, last March the traditional draw took place in Liverpool in which the position in the grand final that this country will occupy will be decided twice. On the one hand, it has been established that Ukraine, led by the TVORCHI duo, take the stage in 19th position while Mae Muller will be responsible for closing the Grand Final on behalf of the United Kingdom, acting in the extension number 26 of the final on May 13.

Kalush Orchestra and Sam Ryder will be there

Finally, it should be noted that everything indicates that, although Ukraine is not the venue for Eurovision, it will be the members of the Kalush Orchestra who, in accordance with tradition, will hand over the crystal microphone to the new winner of the contest .

In this regard, the BBC made no statement. However, given that the Ukrainian artists are one of three special guests at the final gala along with Sam Ryder himself and the Italians Mahmood, it would only make sense for them to do the honours. Of course, what they’ll be delivering won’t be their own mic, as the band auctioned it off in May 2022 to raise 838,000 euros they invested to help their country supply Ukrainian soldiers.

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