
The United Kingdom will once again host Eurovision in a matter of months, but there is still much to be done in the meantime.
The United Kingdom will serve as host because last year’s champions, Ukraine, are unable to do so.
In October, Liverpool was selected as the host city for the song contest, and as of now, 31 countries have confirmed their participation.
The dates of the semi-finals, May 9 and 11, have already been set; on Tuesday, however, we shall learn which nations will be playing on which nights.
At 6 p.m., BBC Two will air the ceremonial Handover Ceremony and Allocation Draw from St. George’s Hall in Liverpool, anchored by Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu.
This follows today’s unveiling of the official teaser video, logo, and catchphrase.
While it may be too soon to purchase tickets, Eurovision fans may use the draw to attempt to plan travel to one of nine live performances.
How does the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest Allocation Draw work?
Participating countries in the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will finally learn when they will take the stage this week.
The Allocation Draw will determine whether countries participate in the first semi-final (Tuesday May 9) or the second semi-final (Thursday May 11).
It is also decided at random whether a country will play in the first or second half of a semi-final.
Although neither the host country nor the defending champion, the United Kingdom, nor the current champion, the Ukraine, nor any of the other four members of the so-called “Big Five” participating countries (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), compete in the semi-finals, it will be randomly decided which semi-final their respective domestic audiences can vote on.
The allocation draw will include local schoolchildren and members of the Ukrainian community who have relocated to Liverpool since the conflict broke out.
What is the Eurovision Handover Ceremony?
Tonight also marks the Handover Ceremony, in which the previous year’s Eurovision Song Contest host city officially passes the baton to the year’s chosen successor.
The Mayor of Turin, Italy, Stefano Lo Russo, will present the keys to the competition to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, in 2022.
How to watch the Eurovision allocation draw?
On January 31 at 7 p.m., BBC Two will screen a live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Handover and Allocation Draw.
After its initial broadcast, the 30-minute episode will be made accessible on BBC iPlayer.
The Eurovision Song Contest airs May 13 on BBC One.