Image credits: Nick Robinson / BBC

General data

  • Host broadcaster: BBC
  • Venue: Liverpool Arena, Liverpool
  • Dates: 9, 11 e 13 de maio de 2023
  • Set designer: Julio Himede
  • Hosts: Alesha Dixon, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham e Julia Sanina
  • Executive supervisor: Martin Österdahl
  • Executive producer: Andrew Cartmell
  • Multicamera directors: Nikki Parsons, Richard Valentine e Ollie Bartlett
  • Slogan: United By Music
  • Participating countries: 37
    • Returning: None
    • Withdrawals: Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia
  • Winner: Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo, with 583 points

 

Informations

The ESC 2023 was held on May 9, 11 and 13 at the Liverpool Arena in Liverpool (England, United Kingdom). As usual, the format comprised two semi-finals and the grand final. The stage was designed by Julio Himede, under the “principles of togetherness, celebration and community”.

The slogan, United By Music, reflected the uniting power that music has. It can be read on the official website: “The new slogan demonstrates the unique partnership between the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Host City Liverpool to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to audiences across the globe and the incredible power of music to bring communities together. It also reflects the very origins of the Contest, developed to bring Europe closer together through a shared television experience across different countries”.

Ukraine was the winner in 2022, but due to the war the event couldn’t be held in the country. The United Kingdom was chosen and BBC is the host broadcaster, but worked with the Ukrainian counterpart UA:PBC, with a strong Ukrainian presence throughout the event. Including in the hosts lineup. The main quartet were Alesha Dixon, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham and the Ukrainian artist Julia Sanina, from the band The Hardkiss. Claire Sweeney, Mel Giedroyc, Sam Quek, Scott Mills and Timur Miroshnychenko were also involved.

As has been the case since 2020, Martin Österdahl was the Executive supervisor, while Andrew Cartmell was the Executive producer and the directors were three: Nikki Parsons, Richard Valentine and Ollie Bartlett. There were 37 participating countries, three lass than last year due to the withdrawals of Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

The format had a fundamental change: in the semi-finals only the public voted, while in the grand final the public had a weight of 50.6 percent and the jury 49.4 percent. This was due to the introduction of online public voting, including in non-participating countries – which formed a separate set of scores with the same weight of each one of the 37 competing countries.

 

Hosts

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 had a quartet of hosts: three from the United Kingdom and one from Ukraine: Alesha Dixon, Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina.

Alesha Dixon was part of the band Mis-Teeq and, besides her solo career, she is an experienced television presenter on BBC. She conducted Comic Relief and The Greatest Dancer, and was also juror in the Strictly Come Dancing and in Britain’s Got Talent.

A very-well known Eurovision personality of the United Kingdom, Graham Norton has been the commentator since 2009. In addition, he has vast television experience and his show The Graham Norton Show is a BAFTA winner. The presenter also won the Special Recognition Award at National Television Awards.

As for Hannah Waddingham, an actress who won an Emmy for her role in Ted Lasso, she has also participated in Hocus Pocus 2, Game of Thrones, Sex Education and in several West End and Broadway musicals.

Julia Sanina was the Ukrainian hostess of the quartet. Finalist of Dancing with the Stars and an X-Factor juror in her country, the artist is also known for integrating The Hardkiss. Julia Sanina was one of the jurors of Vidbir 2023, Ukraine’s selection for ESC 2023.

Opening and interval acts

As usual, the ESC 2023 featured a long list of opening, guest and interval acts in each one of the three shows. This year, the organization invited renowned artists, as well as former participants in the event, both from the United Kingdom and Ukraine (and beyond).

 

First semi-final, May 9

    • Qualified

1st. Finlândia/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 177 points
2nd. Suécia/Loreen – Tattoo: 135 points
3rd. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 127 points
4th. Chéquia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 110 points
5th. Moldávia/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 109 points
6th. Noruega/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 102 points
7th. Suíça/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 97 points
8th. Croácia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 76 points
9th. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 74 points
10th. Sérvia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 37 points

    • Eliminated

11th. Letónia: Sudden Lights – Aijā: 34 points
12th. Irlanda: Wild Youth – We Are One: 10 points
13th. Países Baixos/Mia & Dion – Burning Daylight: 7 points
14th. Azerbaijão/TuralTuranX – Tell Me More: 4 points
15th. Malta/The Busker – Dance (Our Own Party): 3 points

 

Second semi-final, May 11

  •  Full report here

(Click on the song titles to watch the performances)

    • Qualified

1st. Austrália/The Voyager – Promise: 149 points
2nd. Áustria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 137 points
3rd. Polónia/Blanka – Solo: 124 points
4th. Eslovénia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 103 points
5th. Lituânia/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 110 points
6th. Arménia/Brunette – Future Lover: 99 points
7th. Chipre/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 94 points
8th. Bélgica/Gustaph – Because of You: 90 points
9th. Albânia: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 83 points
10th. Estónia/Alika – Bridges: 74 points

    • Eliminated

11th. Islândia: Diljá – Power: 44 points
12th. Geórgia/Iru – Echo: 33 points
13th. Grécia/Victor Vernicos – What They Say: 14 points
14th. Dinamarca/Reiley – Breaking My Heart: 6 points
15th. Roménia: Theodor Andrei – D.G.T. (Off and On): 0 points
16th. São Marino: Piqued Jacks – Like an Animal: 0 points

 

Final, May 13

  •  Full report here

Results

(Click on the song titles to watch the performances)

1st. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 583 points
2nd. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 526 points
3rd. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 362 points
4th. Ittaly/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 350 points
5th. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 268 points
6th. Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 243 points
7th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 182 points
8th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 168 points
9th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 151 points
10th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 129 points
11th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 127 points
12th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 126 points
13th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 123 points
14th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 122 points
15th. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 120 points
16th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 104 points
17th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 100 points
18th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 96 points
19th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 93 points
20th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 92 points
21st. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 78 points
22nd. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 76 points
23rd. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 59 points
24th. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 30 points
25th. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 24 points
26th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 18 points

 

Jury results

1st. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 340 points
2nd. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 177 points
3rd. Italy/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 176 points
4th. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 150 points5th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 146 points
5th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 130 points
7th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 127 points
8th. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 104 points
9th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 95 points
10th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 94 points
11th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 81 points
12th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 69 points
13th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 68 points
14th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 61 points
15th. Ukraine: TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 54 points
16th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 54 points
17th. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 52 points
18th. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 43 points
19th. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 33 points
20th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 20 points
21st. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 17 points
22nd. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 15 points
23rd. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 14 points
24th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 12 points
25th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 11 points
26th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 3 points

 

Public results

1st. Finland/Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha: 346 points
2nd. Sweden/Loreen – Tattoo: 243 points
3rd. Norway/Alessandra – Queen of Kings: 216 points
4th. Ukraine/TVORCHI – Heart of Steel: 189 points
5th. Israel/Noa Kirel – Unicorn: 185 points
6th. Italy/Marco Mengoni – Due Vite: 174 points
7th. Croatia/Let3 – Mama ŠČ: 112 points
8th. Poland/Blanka – Solo: 81 points
9th. Moldova/Pasha Parfeni – Soarele şi Luna: 76 points
10th. Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – Duje: 59 points
11th. Cyprus/Andrew Lambrou – Break a Broken Heart: 58 points
12th. Belgium/Gustaph – Because of You: 55 points
13th. Armenia/Brunette – Future Lover: 53 points
14th. France/La Zarra – Évidemment: 50 points
15th. Lithuania/Monika Linkytė – Stay: 46 points
16th. Slovenia/Joker Out – Carpe Diem: 45 points
17th. Czechia/Vesna – My Sister’s Crown: 35 points
18th. Switzerland/Remo Forrer – Watergun: 31 points
19th. Estonia/Alika – Bridges: 22 points
20th. Australia/The Voyager – Promise: 21 points
21st. Austria/Teya & Salena – Who The Hell is Edgar?: 16 points
22nd. Portugal/Mimicat – Ai Coração: 16 points
23rd. Serbia/Luke Black – Samo Mi Se Spava: 16 points
24th. Germany/Lord of the Lost – Blood & Glitter: 15 points
25th. United Kingdom/Mae Muller – I Wrote a Song: 9 points
26th. Spain/Blanca Paloma – Eaea: 5 points

 

(Last update: May 14, 2023)