Support grows For Belfast To Host 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

Belfast is one of the cities in the running to host the Eurovision Song Contest next year after it was confirmed the 67th edition will be held in the United Kingdom.

An alternative venue was sought after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed 2022 winners Ukraine would not be able to host the event on safety grounds and the search is now under way for a host city after this year’s runners-up were given the nod to step in.

The last time Belfast hosted something to this scale was the 2011 MTV EMA Awards.

Glasgow City Council have already expressed an interest in hosting the event and they have also received the backing of former winner Lulu, who described the city as ‘music mad.’

They have been chalked up as 6/5 favourites with BoyleSports to win the race to stage the contest, but Belfast has also taken some early interest in the betting as it was clipped into 12/1 from 14/1 amid calls for Belfast City Council to throw their hat in the ring.

Manchester and Liverpool are joint second favourites at 3/1 with former host cities London and Birmingham at 7/1 and 8/1 respectively.

Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports said: “Glasgow has enjoyed a lot of the early speculation surrounding the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and we have to make it the early frontrunner. But the idea of the event making its way to Belfast has clearly struck a chord with some punters and we’ve had to cut the odds already, so it’s certainly in the mix at this stage.”

2023 Eurovision Host City Polls 👇

6/5 Glasgow

3/1 Manchester

3/1 Liverpool

7/1 London

8/1 Birmingham

8/1 Leeds

12/1 Belfast

16/1 Cardiff

20/1 Bradford

25/1 Brighton

25/1 Edinburgh

25/1 Aberdeen

25/1 Bristol

33/1 Dundee

33/1 Newcastle

50/1 Swansea

50/1 Hull

66/1 Wrexham

Check out the most watched Eurovision performances of all time:

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• eurovision2023
• sam ryder