Book your flights and get the hotel sorted. Ukrainian media are reporting that following a meeting today, the EBU has confirmed that Kyiv will definitely be hosting Eurovision 2017. This comes after the contest seemed to be under threat of being moved away, due to delays in preparation.

Alexander Harebin NTU acting head kyiv eurovision
Alexander Harebin, NTU Acting Director
Back in November, Ukrainian broadcaster NTU’s acting director, Alexander Harebin, spoke out about the issues with hosting Eurovision. At one point, Harebin said, Ukraine were three months behind in their preparations in October.

The broadcaster had apparently moved to only being a month behind by the end of October, but further issues appeared. Former head Zurab Alasania resigned due to budget issues in November, which was the first real insight in to the issues facing NTU. The St. Sofia Cathedral, earmarked as the opening ceremony location, was also pulled due to religious leaders objecting to its usage.

At the time this news initially came out, however, Harebin seemed confident, saying:

While the team of NTU and the team of the EBU work and fight, and this is a struggle, a daily struggle with the system, sabotage, corruption and nepotism, all is well. We can handle it.

It now seems Harebin’s confidence was warranted. Whilst the EBU have yet to comment, we’ll be expecting some words from them in the next few days, as is customary when they visit the host city. At least, this draws to a close the long running saga that has been the host city selection process. Y’all, we can celebrate!

Are you glad to see Ukraine and Kyiv remain as hosts for Eurovision 2017? Let us know your thoughts about this in the comments section below!

Follow all of our Eurovision 2017 news here

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Lex
Lex
7 years ago

Can someone say if EBU has actually confirmed anything? It says in the article that we could be expecting some official statement from them in a couple of days, a couple of weeks gone by and I’ve not read any progress

O x a n a
O x a n a
7 years ago

wiwi, Russian speaking media call you journalists, not just bloggers. you have to decide for yourself who are you – just bloggers who share anything but facts or journalists with sound work ethics. When you intentionally like about Ukraine and its “issues” regarding ESC you’re contributing to money loss that will experience our broadcaster after the event (because it’s been settled to fund NTU from revenues). What it means? Talented kids won’t attend contests and music fests to showcase their talent because there will be no funding next year. Grannies won’t see good movies or old fashioned concerts to cherish… Read more »

Riva
Riva
7 years ago

C’mon, Oxana, Wiwi ain’t prepaid Amnesty International, and let’s face the reality – your country has definately got drama-producers who are fluent in media. I just assume that about what rest of world can read about you from prepaid-carried media and how your country resists that (it doesn’t, tbh).

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

Kungen
got burnt at the bottom part? 🙂 I’m stating this post is a lie and slanders and I’m proving my point. if after that you’re calling me like that you must be the one who is dumb son of a chicken

Kungen
Kungen
7 years ago

Oxana, you crazy dumb bit?h

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

dear Nika, because they can’t for various reasons. then it will be too obvious who’s their master and what is their assignment for the rubles they get from mama Russia. see, it is dilemma. they are paid to trash Ukraine on every occasion or they are stupid or mentally disabled to do so for free. From what I can see they are not stupid, then what? 🙂

Daniel Bengtsson
Daniel Bengtsson
7 years ago

Yes, I have already bought a flight to Kiev and I have never dout it would be Kiev in the end. When Ukraine won I hesitated to go to Ukraine, but now I have got used to the thought.

Nika
7 years ago

Dear WIWI, why won’t you ban this shame of Ukraine (Oxana) once and forever?

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

Now, why head of NTU (broadcaster) have resigned. as per his words, because of budget but not because there’s no money for ESC, it’s the opposite situation, can you believe it? he said he refuced to agree to budget where their company had to receive less money from country budget in favor of big amount for Eurovision. does it sounds like issue that can prevent ESC from happening for money issue? and what is the problem actually? broadcaster who sucks money from country budget will get less money for their year to operate – so what? you must be kidding… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

our PM Groysman and Ruslana (former ESC winner and member of ESC team now) stated just the same. If you had any shame or any work ethics maybe you can avoid such things in future? find some translation tool and read carefully what Ruslana said. currently we have more money secured in Swiss bank account than we had in 2005, in addition we have money from city, from EBU and from other sources, along with streamlined legislation. https://www.facebook.com/ruslana.lyzhychko.5/posts/1280622078666666 don’t you think it is a poor decision to make slanders about nation you’re about to visit, wiwi? if you’ll say someone… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

for those who will bring in euros or other currency check Ukrainian exchange rates before you’re landing in country (we have misterious 5-10% difference in euro/USD exchange rate here, I’m not sure what it will be in May but usually it difefrent from European rates). do not exchange currency in airport as it can be worse rate than if you’ll use ATM or any bank cashier. our ATMs work with USD, they will convert your amount in USD by national bank rate or some crazy banks can convert it to hryvnya, then to USD so you’ll be out of some… Read more »

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

fikri, definitely there will be no political songs this year. only because the surroundings can pull any joke instead. be prepared for marching crowd with funny songs and for various flash mob events 🙂 I’m already excited, waiting to have fun. No one ever told there’s a slight possibolity to move contest to another hosting city/country. Yellow press at work, or how do you call such media who picks up nonexistent “news” and then “makes an update” on it? wiwi, ESC representative said in interview he satisfied with the progress and there’s no money issue. everything is settled and supposed… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Really EBU, are you absolutely sure? Because once we book the hotels and transport there’s no going back on this decision. I hope it goes well.

Randomsage
Randomsage
7 years ago

@Kris

:O And we will be watching intently. lol I’m so down for season 2 EuroDrama.

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

i guess it’s safe to say that ukraine won’t send a political/”personal” song next year because god forbid they will accidentally win and go thru this mess all over again.

beccaboo1212
7 years ago

Ok, phew! I was so worried!!! 😮

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Fantastic news. I might be going there for Easter, so I hope the city is cleaned up for the contest!

Steve
7 years ago

Thank goodness! Hotel and flights booked already. This will be my second year! Been excited since May haha

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

Oh, the drama ain’t finished “ya’ll”. There will be new episodes. 😉

Kris
Kris
7 years ago

Ah……cool…….as of songs released till today it is getting more n more likely

Chris
Chris
7 years ago

@Kris, they do indeed, Stockholm 1975, Gothenburg 1985, Malmö 1992, Stockholm 2000, Malmö 2013, Stockholm 2016, it is indeed Gothenburg’s turn again!

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

@Kris

Well there is no policy but as a new arena will be finished in Gothenburg next year I would say that if Sweden wins any time soon, Gothenburg stands next in line to host.

Kylie
Kylie
7 years ago

I want a western country to host next year.

Romb'bomb
Romb'bomb
7 years ago

It’s nice that all the Europe will have the possibility to see Ukraine’s real face next year.

AzeriBoy96
AzeriBoy96
7 years ago

The best! Thank God!

Kris
Kris
7 years ago

Why Gothenburg?? Does Sweden have a policy of changing host cities?

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

Thank God.

Should have been Odessa, though. All this politics.

Move on, Gothenburg 2018!