The EBU has announced its decision to look for alternatives to hosting Eurovision 2023 outside Ukraine.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be "possibly" held in the United Kingdom in 2023, as its organizers decided against holding it in Ukraine.

Although the winning country has traditionally hosted the competition next year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced "with deep regret" that it has decided to seek an alternative to 2023 due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The EBU said in a statement: "Following the victory in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in May, the EBU has considered the options for hosting next year's competition with the Ukrainian public broadcaster UA: PBC, which had previously organized the event in 2017 and 2005 ".

"It has become a tradition that the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest will host the competition next year, provided that certain criteria are met, including ensuring the viability of the event and the safety of all participants, including the public," he continued. .

"Given the ongoing war following the Russian invasion of this year's victorious country, the EBU has taken the time to conduct a full assessment and suitability study with both the UA: PBC and third-party experts, including security and defense experts," he said. .

"The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most complex television productions in the world, with thousands of employees and participants in the event and a required preparation time of 12 months," the EBU said.

Kalush Orchestra - Eurovision 2022 - trophy
After an objective analysis, the Reporting Team, the board of directors of the Eurovision Song Contest, concluded "with deep regret that, given the current circumstances, the security and operation guarantees required by a broadcaster for hosting, organizing and producing of the Eurovision Song Contest, according to its rules, can not be covered "by Ukraine.

With Sam Ryder finishing second, behind the Kalush Orchestra, in the May competition, the EBU now intends to discuss with the BBC the possibility of hosting the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom.

The statement continued: "The EBU would like to thank UA: PBC for their full cooperation and commitment to the study of all scenarios in the weeks following the Kalush Orchestra's victory on May 14 in Turin and to share its sadness and frustration. next year 's competition can not be held in Ukraine. "

"The EBU has supported UA: PBC in a wide range of areas since the invasion. "We will ensure that this support continues, so that UA: PBC maintains the necessary services it provides to the Ukrainians."

"As a result of this decision, in accordance with the rules and to ensure the continuity of the event, the EBU will now begin discussions with the BBC, as the second of this year 's event, on the possible hosting of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in the United Kingdom. ", It is revealed.

"It is our absolute intention for Ukraine's victory to be shown on next year 's shows. "This will be a priority for us in our discussions with potential hosts," the EBU said in a statement.