Which Are Some of the Best Eurovision Host Cities and Venues?

When Eurovision began, the United Kingdom was not included in the line-up, as it was busy hosting its own music competition, but since then, the UK has hosted Eurovision eight times. Here are the years and venues where Eurovision was held in the UK:

• 1960 - Hosted at the Royal Festival Hall in London, a world-renowned concert venue. The Royal Festival Hall has hosted many notable events throughout its history, including the first-ever performance of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" in 1962.
• 1963 - Eurovision was held at the BBC Television Centre in London, which was also the main headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Sadly, this venue closed in 2013.
• 1968 - This year the festival was hosted at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which then became one of the most famous concert halls in the world. Many will remember Bob Dillon, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd’s performances. The Royal Albert Hall also hosted Champions Tennis.
• 1972 - This was the year when the UK hosted Eurovision in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the famous Usher Hall, home of the Scottish National Orchestra since 1970. Usher Hall has seen performances by many famous musicians and artists over the years.
• 1974 - Eurovision was held at the Brighton Dome, a beautiful concert venue with over 2,000 seats located in the seaside town of Brighton. This venue was originally a stable block for the Prince Regent's horses in the early 1800s, but was later converted into an events centre. 
• 1977 - Eurovision was hosted at the Wembley Conference Centre, in London. This venue was purpose-built to host conferences, and exhibitions, with a capacity of 3,000 people.
• 1982 - Eurovision was held at the Harrogate International Centre in the town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. A large conference and exhibition centre with over 2,000 seats, Harrogate has hosted many events over the years, including political conferences, trade shows, and music concerts.
• 1998 - Eurovision was hosted at the National Indoor Arena, in Birmingham. On the 15th April 2020, this venue was renamed Utilita Arena. The largest indoor arena in the UK at the time, the National Indoor Arena can seat over 15,000 people.

What Was the Largest Venue for the Eurovision?

In 2009, Russia hosted Eurovision, after Jelena Tomašević feat. Bora Dugić won the music competition in 2008. Eurovision was held at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, which is known to be the largest venue in the world for the Eurovision music competition. With a capacity of up to 35,000 spectators, this was the first time Russia won Eurovision, so they spared no expense. 

This was the first time in Eurovision history that the contest had different hosts for the Semi-Finals and Grand Final. Supermodel Natalya Vodyanova and TV host Andrey Malakhov presented the semi-final, while the final was hosted by the singer Alsou and TV star Ivan Urgant. 

Our Favourite Top 3 Eurovision Hosting Cities

With its unique format, countries from across Europe (and more recently Asia) send a musical act to represent their country in Eurovision, which is always aired live from one of the best Eurovision cities in the world. Here are our top three Eurovision Hosting cities:

Vienna, Austria (1967)

Vienna hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967 at the Festival Hall of the Hofburg Palace. We have chosen this as one of our favourite venues because of its exquisite decor. There were three mirrors revolving on the stage with an extravagant staircase entrance in the centre.

Kyiv, Ukraine (2005)

Ukraine has always been very successful in the competition and has never missed a Grand Final. The Semi-Final and Final were held at the Palats Sportu in Kyiv, an event centre that hosts rock concerts, plus international basketball and hockey games. Despite some challenges, the Kyiv edition was praised for its innovative staging and warm hospitality. 

Lisbon, Portugal (2018)

Portugal joined Eurovision in 1964 and didn’t win until 2017, when Salvador Sobral competed with his song Amar Pelos Dois, and won first place. In 2018, Portugal hosted Eurovision at the Auditorio José Afonso in Setubal, near Lisbon.

Which City Hosted the Eurovision When It Was Last Held in the UK?

Although London has hosted Eurovision four times, it was Birmingham that last saw the competition grace its NIA venue, as noted above, back in the late nineties. Liverpool plays host to the show this year, at the M&S Bank Arena.

Can You Bet on Which Host City Is Next Going to Be Selected?

Not for 2023, as this has already been decided. However, many bookies have bets available on different aspects of Eurovision, from who’ll win through to which city might host it in 2024. Check your favourite bookmaker site to see what they have to offer.