PHOTO: EBU / CORINNE CUMMING

The BBC will reveal the shortlist of Eurovision 2023 host cities that are still in the race on Friday morning at 08:30am during the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show with Zoe Ball.

Ahead of that, it’s time to quickly review the results of the flash poll we launched earlier this month, asking y’all which UK city should host Eurovision 2023.

We received a total of 8,209 votes…and the results are in.

  1. Glasgow: 21.44%: 1,760 votes
  2. Manchester: 14.46% 1,187 votes
  3. London: 11.62% 954 votes
  4. Liverpool: 7.94% 652 votes
  5. Cardiff: 5.92% 486 votes
  6. Edinburgh: 5.68% 466 votes
  7. Birmingham: 5.37% 441 votes
  8. Belfast: 4.95% 406 votes
  9. Bristol: 4.12% 338 votes
  10. Leeds: 3.76% 309 votes
  11. Newcastle: 3.07% 252 votes
  12. Sheffield: 2.80% 230 votes
  13. Brighton: 2.77% 227 votes
  14. Aberdeen: 2.05% 168 votes
  15. Nottingham: 1.77% 145 votes
  16. Wolverhampton 0.93% 76 votes
  17. Leicester 0.76% 62 votes
  18. Sunderland: 0.61% 50 votes
Total Votes: 8,209
 
Mirroring the results on our informal Twitter and YouTube polls, Glasgow has once again come out on top — this time with more than 21% of the vote. The city’s OVO Hydro Arena remains a fan favourite — partly because of its appearance in the Netflix hit Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga — but also because Scotland hasn’t hosted Eurovision since 1972 (and that time it was in Edinburgh). The city proved its ability to hold large-scale events at last year’s COP26 summit.
 
In second place with our readers is Manchester, home to the world-famous Manchester Arena, which has hosted everyone who is anyone in pop music. The BBC recently moved its Eurovision production hub to the BBC’s facilities in Salford, just outside the city. AJ Odudu even delivered the UK’s 12 points from the area last year. But Manchester Arena is currently undergoing major renovation work. Would that have to be delayed in order to host Eurovision?
 
And in third place with our readers is London — among the world’s most-visited cities and the host city of the 2012 Olympic Games. London has it all — from the massive O2 Arena to an endless supply of hotels to technical infrastructure to convenient public transport. Many feel that it might be a bad look for the BBC to give the capital yet another big event…especially since it has already hosted ESC four times already. Of course, those were a long time ago — in 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1977. What could the city pull off all these decades later?
 
Please note: We have scratched out Cardiff and Nottingham in the results. They recently announced that they were scrapping their planned bids. 
 

How will the Eurovision 2023 host city be chosen?

Here’s a reminder of how the BBC has described the host city selection process.

“It is a two-stage process and to be considered, any potential candidates must meet a set of minimum standards that demonstrate they have the capacity, capability and experience to host an event of this scale and complexity.”

“The final decision on selecting the Host City will be based on a city or region’s capacity and capability in meeting the BBC’s and the EBU’s requirements, as well as availability of resources and general experience in hosting a large and complex event such as the Eurovision Song Contest.”

“For example, last year the EBU’s Host City criteria was based on providing a venue able to accommodate at least 10,000 spectators (as well as a press centre), that should be within easy reach of an international airport and with ample hotel accommodation.”

“There will be two rounds. Once we have received applications, we will shortlist cities based on their ability to meet the requirements and their responses around capability and experience.”

15 Comments
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Stephanie
Stephanie
1 year ago

Glasgow all the way!!! Beautiful city, friendly people….and it’s Scotland!!! What more do you want?!

Vladimir P.
Vladimir P.
1 year ago

Definitely voting for Scotland to host!

Esc addict
Esc addict
1 year ago

I wonder how many cities will be on that shortlist and what is the BBC’s criterias to be on this list. I think the race is between 5 cities now, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London but maybe there will be only 2 cities on the shortlist….my hopes are on Liverpool more than ever.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Esc addict

I also hope they choose Liverpool. It’s home to Beatles and was designated as UNESCO City of Music. It’s also home to popular English football club. They seem to be the most passionate about hosting Eurovision and I think it would be great occassion to host Eurovision as a song contest in such city. Let’s go!

Esc addict
Esc addict
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

I’m with you on that.

Wilson James
Wilson James
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

It could be said that EVERY major city in England is “home to popular English football”. To claim Liverpool as being the home is simply not true.

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago

It’s gonna be between Manchester and Liverpool

Darren
Darren
1 year ago

Belfast would probably be the closest ever to a home Eurovision I’ll ever get, living in Ireland, equidistant to both Dublin and Belfast. But to be honest, I wouldnt like to see Belfast as host. A) for my own reasons, I’d feel personally uncomfortable with a UK flag representing Belfast, and yeah yeah I know it’s a UK city etc but that’s just my personal view. B) sectors of Northern Irish society, particularly the DUP/TUV/UVF etc will use the opportunity of NI hosting to politicise the competition. And trust me, if you don’t know these groups, a simple Google, or… Read more »

Dndndndjd
Dndndndjd
1 year ago
Reply to  Darren

Although it could be used to help share the peace if you get what I mean it’s kind of hard to say but the relations are similar between the two islands and Russia and Ukraine and now there’s peace (for the most part) in north Ireland and I think it would represent Ukraine the best

Darren
Darren
1 year ago

Gotta be Manchester. Everything about Manchester as a host city just feels right. Music scene – check, culture- check, nightlife – check, BBC being located there – Check,

Glasgow is cool too, but I just think Manchester has that edge about it. Lovely bien of industrial heritage and modernity, gay village, the music scene.

Azuro
Azuro
1 year ago

BBC has less time than normal to get organised so should pick the easy option of London. Leave one of the other cities for when UK wins outright, to show off the local area, city etc. Admittedly, Italy didn’t do much to show off Turin.

UpinSpaceFan
UpinSpaceFan
1 year ago
Reply to  Azuro

This is one of the weirdest takes I’ve seen. Why London? If anything London would take *more* time to organise.

Esc addict
Esc addict
1 year ago
Reply to  Azuro

Why BBC would have less time? They are already literally on a way to select a city and there are still 9 months before Eurovision. RAI announced Turin very late last year in October and still had enough time after to organise the contest, BBC will be quicker I think so no they have no less time than the others.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
1 year ago
Reply to  Azuro

Less time than normal? Italy also decided on autumn. They’re right on track. I don’t see how hosting the contest would be easier for them in a london venue than any other concert hall.

Luke B
Luke B
1 year ago

I’m starting to think the host city is unpredictable. So many cities seem like great options.