Back in August we told you about a think tank’s call for Ukrainian refugees and their host families to receive tickets to Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool. And while that hasn’t materialised, another version of helping recent arrivals from Ukraine has.
Organisers are putting aside around 3,000 tickets across the nine shows for Ukrainians living in the United Kingdom.
The tickets cost £20 thanks to a generous subsidy from the U.K.’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In order to apply, people will need to be on one of three government schemes: the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme.
The government has also announced £10 million of support “to help host Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine and showcase its culture and creativity.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
“Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine means the contest cannot be held where it should be. But we are honoured to be supporting the BBC and Liverpool in hosting it on their behalf, and are determined to make sure the Ukrainian people are at the heart of this event.
“Today’s announcement means that thousands of tickets will be offered to those displaced by war, so that they can take part in a show honouring their homeland, their culture and their music. As always, we stand together with the Ukrainian people and their fight for freedom.”
Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko said:
“The allocation of almost 3,000 tickets to displaced Ukrainians for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool will allow our compatriots here to enjoy the event and celebrate our country’s rich culture and music.
“The UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion has been exemplary and this gesture is another example of that commitment. The £10 million in funding to showcase Ukrainian culture is also greatly appreciated and will help to put on a collaborative show bringing people from around the world closer to each other.
“We are grateful to the UK Government, Liverpool City Council, and the BBC for their efforts to honour Ukraine’s culture and people through this event.”
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said:
“Ukraine is at the heart of all our Eurovision host city plans.
“Working with our Ukrainian community we are shaping a thought-provoking and powerful programme that is all-encompassing and representative of modern Ukraine – inspiring, poignant, funny, beautiful and moving.
“We’re delighted with the news that displaced Ukrainians are being given the opportunity to come to the city in May – this is their Eurovision after all. Our team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and we can’t wait to give them a warm Liverpool welcome and, fingers crossed, do them, the rest of the Ukraine and the UK proud.”
Are you happy that Ukrainians will get a chance to celebrate the contest in Liverpool? Would you like to see the number of tickets allocated to them increase? Let us know down below.
I can’t find information anywhere about exactly HOW Ukrainians can buy these tickets
In the morning I watch the happy reactions of Russians to the murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, and in the evening the angry reactions of Europeans to the news about a discount on a Eurovision ticket for Ukrainian refugees. What a wonderful world I live in. Sometimes it feels like absolutely everyone hates me and my country
What BBC and EBU will do in order these tickets won’t end at black market?
Turkey invaded Cyprus, no reaction.
Azerbaijan invaded Armenia, no reaction.
Why are you so sensitive about ukraine?
Come on Wiwibloggs dont censor comments
We don’t, we just hadn’t had time to approve all the pending comments before now 🙂
Hey people Turkey invaded Cyprus too but you are not so warm supporters for Cyprus.
There is a subset of this forum that is totally detached from reality. If the show is hosted on behalf of Ukraine, it is obvious that Ukrainians participate and enjoy the show.
Some comments make me wonder if we are dealing with narcissistic teenagers or just idiotic people without any hope of fixing.
The world helped a lot so far Ukraine. They didn’t do the same for other circumstances.
it 3,000 tickets spread through the shows, so pretty much a 1,000 per show. calm down.
I love this. It feels so right that displaced people get to see the country that rightfully one and have a blast and bask in pride.
I find this initiative pretty laudable, at the end we’re talking about people who didn’t ask to be invaded and displaced, so if the host wants to do this, I think it’s a nice present for the local Ukrainian community 🙂
By the way, you guys were rooting for small arenas like the Liverpool one so enjoy it now. Manchester or London should have hosted. Glasgow was good too!
London’s O2 arena would have been amazing with its 20k capacity and no complaints for low capacity. Manchester’s big arena would have been amazing too. Well…next time!
And what’s the problem? If the UK keeps being on a roll they’ll host in all of those cities when the time comes
That’s cool. I would be mad if the 3000 tickets were all allocated to the final but they will be spread across different shows. Some Karens here should not be so worried because not every Ukrainian in the UK wants to go to Eurovision (they need to find accommodation!) so I guess the Ukrainians in Liverpool and the area will attend the shows. Also remember that not every Ukrainian living in the UK qualifies to this scheme.
Wow. Imagine being upset because these people get a discount on Eurovision tickets after being displaced out of their homes due to their country being invaded by an aggressor… some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Put yourself in their shoes. I’m sure they’d rather be enjoying the show from the comfort of their own home.
Yeah reading these comments really makes me lose faith in humanity a little bit.
It will be different in the arena in May. Your faith will be restored!
We need to accept that this years Eurovision is and was always going to be somewhat political – It is their Eurovision after all- the UK has kindly offered to host it. The world voted the winner last year and no one can say at least part of the votes were politically motivated. The tickets for the refugees are simply a part of what will be a political push at ESC 2023 – there will be intermission acts from Ukraine who will spread a message of peace- there will be either Zylensky or his wife presenting recorded messages of peace… Read more »
In other words, a propaganda fest. Yeah, that’s a given.
Yes- it’s going to happen and either we accept it has to happen and move on as diehard ESC Fans and focus on all the increasingly good entries that will perform on the night or we get bogged down in the politics.
I find the word “politics” de-humanizing to the actual victims of this horrible atrocity.
So then maybe not politics- not sure what to call it…. propaganda? message ? Plea? Whatever it is called , messages will be delivered on the evening relating to this terrible war and people need to stop complaining about it- accept it and enjoy the most important part of the evening – the ‘why’ of the ESC…. the music,
The music, the unity… “tonight, we are one”, as Wild Youth might say.
Eurovision was created to unite countries after the war.
Currently it is uniting countries DURING a war.
It cannot be dismissed. The war has been going on for 366 days and counting. Ukraine still needs our support. My biggest wish right now is for the war to end before Eurovision even begins, but, sadly, it looks unlikely to happen, so we will need to support Ukraine and spread the word during the Eurovision as well. Ukraine is fighting for their own freedom, and potentially for the freedom of other countries neighboring Russia.
What, other than your own biased views on morality, makes this more of a propaganda fest than other contests? Hungary and Turkey has openly stated part of why it withdrew is due to LGBTQ+ “propaganda”. Israel’s participation puts off a return for Morocco as “propaganda.” Where does one draw the line on what suddenly is determined to be propaganda other than an admission that you’re only ok with some people being accepted and not others
And judging by Timur’s comments at UMK this evening about ‘the victory ahead’ I think we can confirm that- whether we want to call it politics, propaganda or plea- Music will need to take a back seat at ESC23 .
May I remind people that Ukraine won Eurovision last year. Letting some refugee fans get a chance to experience the contest is not a problem and I’m seriously concerned about the egos of some people to put themselves over those displaced by a war.
Racist much?
We got a cost of living in in the United Kingdom we got a rotten government food prices up I don’t get me wrong I am a big Eurovision fan I just wonder why are we paying for everything and now the slap in the face giving tickets to ukrainians we pay our TV licence not the Ukraine people
3000 tickets divided with 9 shows in total is very little, so stop complaining and grow a heart.
You dare to complain about food prices…and then have entitlement about eurovision tickets at same time like its essential in life, while any concert is a luxury……and cannot be compared to affording food.
If anything, we can say those ukrainian refugees probably cannot afford to go any concert at all for whatever price, so they need it more than someone like you.
Actually get your facts right actually the tickets are for the final only I am so outrage the ticket should be for genuine Eurovision fans not beggars
Where does it say they are for the final only?
Imagine calling Ukrainian Refugees beggars….
Do you still need to be reminded that Ukraine won last year, so its only natural that there would be ukrainians seeing the show too!
It’s for ALL shows, get your facts right. Did you vote for Brexit or what
Anne oyed
– You have chosen your own government.
– You have chosen to leave the EU.
– You have chosen to arrange ESC 2023.
– The Ukrainians didn’t chose to get invaded by Russia.
Stop complaining!
You’re complaining about food prices going up, while there is no food in many stores in Ukraine to buy.
The cost of living is because of Brexit and this corrupted Tory government. If the BBC did not want to host the show, then they would have turned down the EBU offer. Simply as that. There’s money to invest on hosting Eurovision so there’s no problem. Plus, tourism boost in Liverpool and the area (did you check the accom prices?)
Delegations have been told to bring their own tomatoes.
You could probably exchange them, and cucumbers, lettuce and peppers, for tickets.
What about me I’m a genuine Eurovision fan now I probably won’t get ticket
I think your focus is seriously wrong. What about being in the shoes of a Ukrainian refugee?
Classic whataboutism.
You seem rather like a troll, than genuine Eurovision fan.
How do we know you’re a genuine fan? I bet you wouldn’t find a ticket either way, Eurovision is a popular show and it always sells out. You can always find tickets if you have friends willing to wait in the queue to buy tickets for you or wait until a fan resales their tickets (only via secure websites). It happened last year in Turin.
Your actually vile
This is a very nice gesture but I feel like they should have only offered either free or cheap tickets for Ukrainian refugees just for the family shows and jury rehearsals as that would have made more sense to me.
They’re the most important people in the audience, not the least.
Why are they the most important? I get that they are refugees, but the show is already tributed to Ukraine. By the same analogy, we should also give some tickets to Syrian people. Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.
The UK is not hosting on behalf of Syria.
With you on that one. Wonder if any of these tickets will find their way to secondary websites? Ukraine had my full sympathies but there are other refugees who deserve the same treatment.
Jofty, don’t forget Ukraine won the contest…. that’s why they are getting this treatment.
Not disputing that. However, did 3,000 Monégasques get cheap tickets to the final in Edinburgh in 1972? I agree with the gesture, however, I think it’s going too far. Oh well, at worst I will meet a hot Ukrainian at the shows in May. I always look on the bright side.
Monaco declined to host in 1972. Ukraine can not host in 2023 due to war. Also, that was 51 years ago and three thousand people probably would not even fit into Usher Hall in Edinburgh. They’re not the same.
I agree. 3,000 is not enough!
A really heartwarm gesture!
What’s stopping Ukranians from buying the €20 ticket and then reselling them above face value?
That wouldnt be that major money profit
So if someone did that, it would mean they were really struggling financily, so let them do whatever they want with it.
Is this what you think of Ukrainians?
Maybe these tickets have their names so they need IDs/Passports. Also, anyone buying Eurovision tickets above face value and at ridiculously high prices is an idiot that deserves to be scammed.
Eurovision tickets used to be free. It’d be nice if they were again.
Ideal annual process, in normal times. Open submission process. The general public enter a lottery for tickets, for all shows, dress rehearsals included. Winners pay nothing, arena full for every show. Everybody equal, everybody welcome.
That’s back in the old days when the contest was about to sing in and out music in this day and age now it’s all a con
I think this is a nice gesture to the resided Ukrainian’s in the UK, is the offer extended to all of those displaced throughout Europe though to? Of course there is a tiny niggling thought that boo this might make it harder to get tickets when they are released, but it has been more of an uphill struggle every year for the last few to get hold of those golden magic tickets. I remember my first eurovision in Malmo, there was no issue getting a ticket for the final. My wish would be that eurovision would prioritise fans more by… Read more »
Went on a bit of a tangent there! My point was going ro be, I had such an amazing time in Kiev in 2017, the Ukranian people really embraced and loved having eurovision there. It was such a fun party atmosphere and I’m happy that this will be emulated here in the UK in May, and if anyone deserves to let there hair down and let loose it’s definitely them right now!
You raise an interesting question about arena capacity requirements. I see your point but remember that several countries doesn’t have many arenas which meet the requirements today! Norway, for instance has only one place in the whole country that meet arena requirements and hotel capacity. And Norway is not the smallest country taking part in ESC 😉
Yeh I was thinking that when I said it, but maybe when it’s in a country with large arenas available it could be a requirement. I also remember in Stockholm they had a eurovision screening in the arena next door for extra fan capacity, which was great. Still felt like you were part of the eurovision audience and had a great atmosphere.
Eurovision 2023 now a joke
pathetic.
The entitled complainers? I agree. They’ve been spoiled by past privilege.
Told unfair its in UK not Ukraine lost right one UK done show only ones get the for sure team at wiwibloggs rest of uss none
Is this sentence even English? What is the man trying to say?
Gosh! I hope these tickets won’t wind up on scalpers sites.
lol i just can’t at this people who won’t even attend the shows complaining about the tickets 😀
Actually, that’s not how social injustice triggers. For example, it doesn’t matter if your salary is around the middle/upper class, you can still feel empathy to those, who get the minimum wage.
i wasn’t talking about money
Thats really unfair!! What about the hardcore eurovision fans??
Your right told unfair shame on bbc and ebu
The issue is not the price, the issue is that the others won’t get the opportunity to be there since there will be few tickets for non-ukranians. The arena is even smaller than last year’s Pala Alpitour. Such a pity particularly for british people who might have a once in a life chance to be there.
I wonder if King Charles, Lady Camilla, the Beckhams will have to join the queue like the rest of us? They might be disappointed that the Trvllodge is sold out for Tuesday night.
I dont necessarily agree. Off course there will be more local interest when a certain country wins and therefore more locals will naturally attend the contest as result. At the same time with the point of eurovision being coming together and all you want fans from all over europe/the world to come and celebrate in your host town and see different countries represented in the crowd during the show. It would also become way less interesting and viable for cities to host otherwise. The ogae system needs to be evaluated I agree. Hypothetically speaking if you’re not a eurovision fan… Read more »
You really have a problem with somethin, don’t you?
I think this is a lovely gesture. Whilst it’s nice to see representation of Ukraine in the hosts, theme, interval acts etc, this move is actually more indicative of the core values of Eurovision rather than the ‘business’ aspect it has garnered over the past few years. It shows humanity, and on a slightly selfish note, that does make me proud to be from a country that thinks like this.
You’re really going to act jealous about war victims getting something nice over you?
Your attitude is what is disgusting, privileged brat. How happy would you be if you would have to leave your home, friends and relatives, their pets, just to stay safe and have comforts of modern life, opportunities of decent life for their children? Having discounted tickets is a moral support for Ukrainians, especially as they won last year, but are unable to host. The sense of unity helps them have hope they will be able to return home one day. Due to your comment and other similar comments, I wished only Ukrainians would be allowed int he arena, not a… Read more »
Capacity of arena is too low and it’s small i still can’t get it why not in Glasgow..
If it was held in Ukraine, the Contest would be held amongst rubble and dead bodies. Get a grip of yourself. Ukrainians in the UK are refugees. Helping support their access to tickets, so that there will be a Ukrainian audience at Eurovision, is a positive thing in an otherwise very grim situation.
(This was a response to a now deleted comment complaining about the ticket arrangement and suggesting that if Ukrainians wanted to attend Eurovision they should hold it in Ukraine).
No worries. Your comment still stands on its own.
While increasing the amount of locals in the audience is not a bad idea, it’s hard to do. In the EU, you can’t discriminate EU citizens based on their nationality, so you can’t set a pool of tickets aside for people from one member state.
My tickets for Kyiv 2017 cost around 50€ pp. It’s not Ukraine’s fault that the UK set their cost much higher.
The whole Euro fan community has really become horribly salty. Just reading these comments disappoints me, complaining, having digs at each other, feeling entitled, disrespecting one another. Never used to be like this. Guys we are here because we ENJOY eurovision and we have that as a common denominator. Have your own opinion but be nice. ??
to be fair they did a similar thing back in 2017 when Ukraine actually hosted, the ticket prices were the lowest in years, to encourage “locals” to attend the contest..
“Non political event”
I think the 3000 number is spread for all nine ticketed shows (so between 330 and 340 tickets per show if it is an even distribution). if so, then it’s 3000 of around 80,000 (70-75% of total normal concert capacity of the arena, multiplied by 9 as the number of all ticketed shows). it is not really a bad number and does not really kill chances of true Eurofans who really want to attend the shows.
What a good favor! Slava ukraini
A lot of people have booked their accommodation and flights just to be discriminated because they do not have the nationality of a particular country. I think it is great for Ukrainians to get a huge discount on tickets, but only after they manage to get them using the same website and having the even playing field.
Can you maybe just be happy that you aren’t a refugee? You will survive not getting a discount for Eurovision. That’s not discrimination.
You really need to work on your reading comprehension. I don’t care about the discount, I think that is unfair to get a ticket (discounted or not) just because of your nationality. I bet half of those people won’t care about Eurovision at all.
The show is already dedicated to Ukraine, why do real fans who have booked everything and paid upfront have to be discriminated?
Well, it’s not made for miserable people like you for sure.
Sweetie you cannot afford to go to a park yet to go to Eurovision.
Wow, you not only have no empathy towards the refugees, but also assume someone’s financial situation and make fun of someone not being able to afford to go to Eurovision.
And by the way, Ukrainians are huge fans of Eurovision, as a nation. Being a fan does not mean following every single selection and commenting on wiwibloggs. Anyone can enjoy the show, even if it is only for the Eurovision week. Remember – the die hard fans are the minority and don’t matter as much as the remaining 97% of viewers who tune in for the semis and the final.
They paid upfront because they are stupid. As simple as that.
Well said!
It will be interesting to see the breakdown of the 3,000 across the 9 shows. If it were evenly divided by 9, and given arena capacity, it would seem to be a small proportion of the overall crowd.
Hopefully a decent proportion are for the grand final. It’s only right that there be a big group of Ukrainians represented there on the night.
And I speak as someone non-Ukrainian who’s keen to get my hands on tickets!
I think that’s fair,but the best thing about it is that it must mean the full ticket announcement is imminent!
The words they used on the eurovision.tv was that news on the general ticket sales would be shared ‘in due time’.
I don’t know why but to my ears that sounds like it be quite a while and that if it would be the beginning of march something like ‘coming soon’ would be more logical. How do native English speakers think about that? xD