The dates for the 58th annual Eurovision Song Contest have already been set, so get on those hotel booking sites quickly, folks. Sweden will be hosting the event for the first time since 2000, and it’s bound to be one big-ass party. The two semi-finals will take place May 14 and May 16, with the Grand Final on Saturday, May 18.

During Loreen’s winner’s press conference on May 26, Christer Björkman, the head of Sweden’s delegation, made it clear that the Swede have not decided on the location for Eurovision 2013. He said the only guarantee is that “Sweden will host Eurovision next year.” He also claimed that there are “a number of options in Sweden.” Um, we don’t know who he thinks he is fooling. The arenas in Gothenburg and Malmö just don’t stack up. They look like high school gymnasiums compared to Baku’s beautiful Crystal Hall Arena, and Dusseldorf’s Espirt Arena. Fortunately Stockholm will celebrate the opening of the 65,000-seat Friends Arena, pictured above, in October this year. That makes Stockholm is the prime candidate to host. And in the worst case scenario, the Globen—which has been the home to Melodifestivalen in recent years—will have to do the trick.

In any case, get ready for an unforgettable event in Scandinavia next year! Team Wiwi is going to Ikea to celebrate!

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SwedenRules
11 years ago

Christer Björkman isn’t trying to fool anyone. We do have a number of arenas with different capacaties. How it looks on the outside isn’t the most important part… I agree with you that I think it should be held in Stockholm in Friends Arena, cause the Globe isn’t available… But don’t you try and bring falsities on this great country! We are the third largest music exporter in the world after US and UK. So I think we can put on a hell of a show to match that!

Lynsey
Lynsey
11 years ago

We are booking our hotel NOW for STockholm! We Cant wait to come and see you!

Alecrai
Alecrai
11 years ago

Actually, it couldn’t ever be held in the Globe because there is a major ice hockey match on the dates already fixed up.

Martina
Martina
11 years ago

The Globe is, for all I know, not an option, given that Sweden is also the arrangers for the hockey that year. So my guess is Friends arena, and I sincerely hope that there is where they hold it since I live in beautiful Stockholm.

Anyways, Se you all in Sweden next year. It’s going to be a year to remember, belive me 😉
Love <3