The long journey to selecting the host city for Eurovision 2019 is nearing its end. Israeli media is reporting that host broadcaster KAN has recommended Tel Aviv as the host city for Eurovision 2019 and that the EBU is “expected to accept” the recommendation.

Local newspaper Israel Hayom reported today that senior officials of KAN have recommended Tel Aviv as the host city, with the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds as the venue for the song contest.

The paper reports that the European Broadcasting Union is “expected to accept” their recommendation.

Members of the EBU have recently been on the ground in Israel, where they have assessed the potential host cities. From that, the city of Eilat was ruled out as a potential host, leaving only Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

However, EBU Executive and Supervisor Jon Ola Sand had a clear message that hosting Eurovision without having the possibility to work on Saturday is impossible. This suggested that Tel Aviv would win the honour of hosting the contest as it’s more secular than Jerusalem, which is the centre of the country’s Ultra-Orthodox population.

Israel Hayom also reports that two potential date ranges are being considered. The most likely option will have the grand final on Saturday, May 25th 2019, however, organisers are also considering having it one week earlier, on May 18th. Either way, the dates have not yet been confirmed, so don’t go booking non-refundable flights or hotels.

Why Tel Aviv?

Tel Aviv’s hosting bid has gained a lot of momentum in recent weeks. The reported location is Pavilion 2 at The Tel Aviv Convention Center (also known as the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds), which can hold around 10,000 people.

The mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai has stated that if Tel Aviv is selected to host the contest, The Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality will cover the costs of the venue. Huldai also stated that the Eurovision Village for ESC 2019 in Tel Aviv would be larger than the one and Lisbon and would include bars, restaurants, and shows running during rehearsals.

It’s been rumoured that the Eurovision Village venue that the city of Tel Aviv has in mind is Charles Clore Park, a thirty-acre park directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The park is dotted with art and sculptures and the view from the park of the sun setting into the Mediterranean is truly breathtaking. Charles Clore Park is also the site of the annual Tel Aviv Pride Parade’s concluding celebration.

What do you think? Should the EBU go with Tel Aviv? Leave your comments below!

Read more Israel Eurovision news

78 Comments
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Jo.
Jo.
6 years ago

SAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago

I really think it would be a cool idea to make 3 episodes (for both semis and the grand final) that will have Nadav showing Tel Aviv to the viewers :3 (like Sweden when they had the nerd nation, to pass the time and give people time to vote)

Manic
Manic
6 years ago

NOW DANCE,

DANCE,

DANCE,

DANCE!

Joe
Joe
6 years ago
Reply to  Manic

Ok, we’ve got to go! Three minutes! (TEETH)

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago

I wish it was Haifa, it would be very interesting to see the contest far away from controversial Jerusalem and shoe box in Tel Aviv. So sad.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

what shoe box? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wtw1MzwLKc This looks far far from a shoebox to me troll.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

and if you are denying the facts by sayings its not pavillion 2 despite the video clearly showing it, the description translates to: ‘Last year, at the Fairgrounds, we launched Music Arena.
The performances all of them talk about, in a standard unlike any other in Israel.
The performances took place every day for a whole month in Pavilion 2.’
Pavillion 2, you understand that? Youre too foolish to realise that all the info and pictures you were posting was of pavillion 1 -facepalm-

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Yeah, I also think this is the same venue.

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Are you blind? Only this picture is true (along with pictures from the outside):

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Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

LOL, Thank you. It’s so clear that those are different venues that don’t look even remotely look like the actual pavilion 2. But the guy saw a description. Does it say anywhere in the description that the footage in the video was taken from the venue itself?

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Ana

I’ve found this picture, this is Pavillon 2:

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PS: I wanna apologize for that picture of Pavillon 1 down below, I was wrong and I don’t have a problem to accept it. But as you can see now on this photo, there is no much difference between them.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Ana

yes it does. the description is in hebrew and when translated to english on google translate it said these were all the events that were held in pavillion 2. all those images toke place in pavillion 2 the video and the description said. Cant argue with facts. x

Yuv
Yuv
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

This has certainly taken place in pavillion 2: https://youtu.be/D-BX3NqbNHk
Keep in mind that there are several options to organize the seets in the pavillion so it does not necessarily represents the situation in the eurovision show…

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago

GOD, thank you! Finally. (I mean unless the EBU will now make a move like: ,,Jk lol it’s Haifa. You’ve been played!”)

Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Haifa didn’t place a bid..

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

Nadav Guedj, our tour guide throughout the whole show! 🙂

Bring it on!!

Rose
Rose
6 years ago

Who’s excited for Tel Aviv?

Esc Vegi
Esc Vegi
6 years ago

Hostcity: Tel Aviv 2019
Slogan: Take the passion!

MasHiel
MasHiel
6 years ago
Reply to  Esc Vegi

I mean, that’s not even English

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

This is like the second time I read an article about Tel Aviv 2019 rumors. Can they just confirm it cuz they spoiled the surprise.

Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

A surprise? That was the only acceptable candidate for months already, no one sane thought that the EBU would risk the show by picking up such a messed up place as Jerusalem. Eilat was a joke from the beginning.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

That would be a good idea because Tel Aviv is full of entertainment and open-minded people, and it’s the gay capital of the world basically. Jerusalem is only 30 minutes away and it’s worth spending over a week there alone.

Rick
6 years ago

Obvious choice! if anyone has doubts about the venue, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wtw1MzwLKc should help! Tel aviv 2019 will be amazing!

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

These are not pictures from inside Pavillon 2.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

yes it is lol its all the events they have done in pavillion 2, if you dont believe it then click the link in the bio of the video. x stop trolling and spreading false info.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

You do not realise it’s just promo where they used the pictures of the previous venues to announce the next show or whatever it is?

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

lmao what r talking about? It is promo for events they have already had in pavillion 2, it says all of this in the link in the bio so read it.

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

It’s not Pavillon 2. It was opened in 2015. There is only one render of inside Pavillon 2, around 0:15 and believe me, even the render is bigger than it is in reality. I’ve been once in Pavillon 2. during a high-tech conference. It’s really a tiny venue. This video is the announcement for TLV Summer 2015. Pavillon 2 is 6,700 m2 but in reality it is 4,500 m2 as it is stated in video (don’t count lobby etc.) Kiev International Exhibition Centre is over 28,000 m2. Excluding press room, dressings rooms, props room etc., it was used around 11,000-12,000… Read more »

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

that is pavillion 2 in black and white. Nobody cares about your false facts. If pavillion 2 wasnt big enough the ebu wud have ruled it out like eilat and it didnt so stop trolling and spredding false information.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

You are spreading false information, it’s not Pavillon 2, I know what am I talking about and my source IS NOT a Youtube video. This is Tel Aviv’s Pavillon 2:

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Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

This is also not pavilion no 2, it is pavilion no 1 with the low ceiling (does this look like 20 m to you?). Gosh, how hard it is for you guys to verify an image?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcuKCy5nDEk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Pavilion No 2 has white walls and high ceiling, it’s not that hard to recognise.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Ana

I beg your pardon, I was wrong but despite that:

Pavillon 2: 7,000 square meters
Pavillon 1: 5,100 square meters

http://www.fairs.co.il/conference-halls/

You can see how small it is even in that Instagram photo.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

are you finished trolling and spreading false info? Get a life and be happy. Its tel aviv so get over it.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

At least my source was not a ridiculous promo video with the pictures of previous venues, you even could see how they show more than just one arena. It was Pavillon 1, which is not so far away from the truth.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

what are you talking about? its on the official youtube channel, its facts in black and white that u are clearly denying just cause u want jerusalem. Your sources are all wrong, mine are right. get over it.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Hahaha it’s not Pavillon 2!

gom2011
gom2011
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

it LITERALLY says in the video title “???? ??????? ???? 2” which translates to “Exhibition Center Pavilion 2”

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  gom2011

ikr lol these people are mad. This is proof that its pavillion 2 and it says everything in the bio but these trolls are still insistent to spread false info about pavillion 2 being smaller than 2017, which the video proved that couldnt be further from the truth. These trolls have a lot of time on their hands.

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  gom2011

IT’S NOT PAVILLON 2, for God’s sakes! This is:

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Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

no, that is not pavillion 2.

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

This is Pavillon 2 during high-tech conference I mentioned earlier:

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

that is not pavillion 2

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

Of course it’s not – haha.

gom2011
gom2011
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

https://youtu.be/vlQJzPZXKIQ then what is this? it looks quite big the Wiener Stadhalle in Vienna, although did have a very high roof, wasn’t as big ass this

Lindon
Lindon
6 years ago
Reply to  gom2011

The largest Hall D in the Wiener Stadthalle has 10.000 squaremeter and a 17 meter height.

Dor
Dor
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

I believe those are from the newer part of pavilion 2 which is much much smaller than what is needed to Eurovision (around 4.5k) so I doubt it’ll happen there.

Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Dor

There are no ”parts” to this building. It has one hall of 6.5 k square meters. It can be devided into smaller halls with its movable accoustic walls system, but its not relevant anyway.

Blanc
Blanc
6 years ago

I hope it is Jerusalem because then they will just incite an already burning flame on Israel if it is not .Right now we need friend for Europe not enemies and this could only worsen relationships. It is just one week , why are people making a big deal about Jerusalem. The are treating Israel a bit harsher than they did with Russia or Ukraine.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

As a song once said, “I don’t know about you, but that sounds good to me.”

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

“That Sounds Good To Me”, Josh Dubovie, UK 2010?! 😀 😀

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

That sounds terrifying tbh, hopefully not!

Joe
Joe
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

I mean, it’s a crap song, but the lyric is applicable here at least

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

@Joe: I really liked this song XD The staging with that special stairs was brilliant 😀

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I was talking about Pavillon 2 as the potential venue, nothing about song. 🙂

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
6 years ago
Reply to  Brendan

@Brendan: Yes, you talked about Tel Aviv being “terrifying”. But why? If will be a great event in an LGBT-friendly city! <3

Israel
Israel
6 years ago

Great another esc in a tiny boring venue. It will suck just like in 2017

Loin dici
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

Let’s wait together to see Israel make something small into something huge, I believe our 2019 show will be full of surprises!

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

Perhaps, but now I’m really sure. Eurovision Jerusalem would be a state issue. Eurovision in Tel Aviv is just an event. If you ask Israelis on the street, they will say the we need Eurovision in Tel Aviv like a rash on the face. Just too expensive. This is why the government doesn’t want to pay any shekel for it. KAN is constrained by its own budget and they had to take a loan in order to pay a deposit.

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

Totally agree. 10k in Pavillon nr 2 is a dream and simple PR trick. It will fit max 6,5-7k people (with greenroom in the adjacent pavillon). It’s a shoe box venue indeed and Eurovision is huge undertaking. Only props and stuff like that during last year edition in Lisbon took almost 2/3 space of Pavillon 2. I’ve been there once during hi-tech conference. It’s perfect place for such events. Remember that Pavillon 2 is half the size of Kiev venue in 2017 and I don’t even count Hall nr 2 where the press room, dressing rooms and props had their… Read more »

gom2011
gom2011
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

First of all the Menora Mivtachim Arena is even smaller than the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds, if they wanted to even fit the a stage they’d have to remove the lower rows only leaving 5k seats. Secondly the greenroom doesn’t have to be always adjacent of the stage, in 2013 it was in another hall so the EBU could use the other pavilions for it. I don’t see any issue in Tel Aviv hosting, the less than large venue imo shouldn’t be an issue & the EBU + the staging/design team (most likely Florian Wieder + M&M Production Management) will find… Read more »

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  gom2011

You look just at the capacity. And why Wieder + M&M is always there by default. Every Eurovision is now the same. It can take place in Lisbon, it can take place in Stockholm and noone will see a difference.

gom2011
gom2011
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

Literally look at this picture, what are they supposed to fit in there. It’s not even a shoe box the Menora Mivtachim Arena is even smaller.comment image

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

nope, thats all lies. This is the tel aviv venue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wtw1MzwLKc

Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Harel

Oh just stop already, it’s not like your life depend on it. You are not convincing anyone. There are proffecional teams that have huge experience in producing Eurovision that visited physically the potential venues. If they felt it is ”a shoe box” they would never pick it up as a venue for the show, especially when there’s a bigger option. So stop screaming and let the proffecionals do their job.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel
Ana
Ana
6 years ago
Reply to  Rick

Dude, the video contains footage from other venues, it was produced before there were any concerts were held in the pavilion. Only the drone footage of the empty venue is the real P@vilon 2. It’s a promotion for future concerts.

Rick
6 years ago
Reply to  Ana

If you watched the video, in the description it says: ???? ?????, ????? ???????, ????? ?? ???? Music Arena. ??????? ????? ?????? ?????, ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????. ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? 2. ?????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????. That translates to: ast year, at the Fairgrounds, we launched Music Arena. The performances all of them talk about, in a standard unlike any other in Israel. The performances took place every day for a whole month in Pavilion 2. We decided to remind you in the video of the madness that took… Read more »

Brendan
Brendan
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

Hopefully it’s gonna be Jerusalem.

Denis
Denis
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

You probably will watch it in front of your TV like the rest of us, so why does it matter?

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

The Kyiv Convention Center looked huge on camera though.

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  James

Yes, because they used around 12,000 m2 for stage and audience. Overall Kyiv venue is 28,000 m2 (the rest of venue was used for press room, dressing rooms, props etc.). Pavillion 2 is just 6,700 m2 from which 4,500 m2 can be used for stage and audience (the rest is lobby, stairways, bathrooms, smaller conference rooms etc.). It is really tiny for Eurovision standard. These numbers are the fact. I can agree that there are professional teams who will try to squeeze as much lemon juice as it is possible form this small lemon, but we still they will face… Read more »

Israel
Israel
6 years ago
Reply to  James

Are u serious? It looked tiny

Harel
Harel
6 years ago
Reply to  Israel

So just imagine Eurovision taking place in a venue half of its size. Seriously, I’m not trolling here. I’m just giving the numbers, facts. I get them from official websities. I really don’t imagine nowadays Eurovision in such a venue. Don’t look just at the audience. I can fit 50 people in my apartment too, but it would be like sardines in can. Just hink about camera angles and stuff like that. It’s still a television show. They will try to do their best, but reserved space for stage and audience in Kyiv was over twice as big. Remember also… Read more »

Maya G
Maya G
6 years ago

Start getting used to this song, It’ll probably be the unofficial anthem of the 2019 ESC
https://youtu.be/srOFki9PGM0

Shlomi Arbeytman
Shlomi Arbeytman
6 years ago

Fake News! the Eurovision will be in Jerusalem get ready!
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TLV
TLV
6 years ago

Netanel Maccabi will be your host

Manic
Manic
6 years ago

I couldn’t find any reliable sources.

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago

I have read in other webs that is The EBU who has recommended tel aviv and KAN who is “likely” to accept, not viceversa.

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanuatu

ok, ty for the clarification