How To Celebrate The Eurovision Song Contest In Liverpool
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The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is the upcoming 67th edition of the international song competition, and will be taking place in one of the world’s leading music cities, Liverpool.
The vibrant North West city is hosting one of the most exciting global music events this May on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.
No matter if you’re studying here, you’re a Merseyside local or you’re coming from near and far to visit, there are an abundance of Eurovision-themed celebrations occurring this month.
From the EuroFestival to The Eurovision Village to EuroCamp, there is so much to do and see for this music extravaganza.
Our guide will give you a rundown on how to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool this may, so you can get planning a memorable experience!
When And Where Is Eurovision 2023?
The excitement is building for fans across the world with the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 celebrations kicking off on May 9th with the first semi-final, followed by the second semi-final two days later on May 11th, and the final taking place on May 13th.
Liverpool is host for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and the much-loved event will be held at the city’s 11,000 capacity venue the M&S Bank Arena, set on the World Heritage Waterfront.
How To Watch Eurovision 2023?
The semi-final and final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer.
So, if you’ve missed out on tickets to the show, you can still gather with your friends for an incredible experience in the comfort of your student home.
The presenting and commentary line-up include Graham Norton, Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon, Timur Miroshnychenko, Sam Quek, Mel Giedroyc, Scott Mills, Rylan and Claire Sweeney.
All live shows of the competition will be available to watch on the official Eurovision Song Contest YouTube channel if available in your region.
How To Celebrate Eurovision In Liverpool
If you’ve missed out on tickets to The Grand Final on Saturday 13 May or the Semi-Finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May, then don’t worry, there’s still so much you can get involved with for the Eurovision Song Contest.
For how to celebrate Eurovision in Liverpool, carry on reading!
1. EuroFestival
The EuroFestival has launched in Liverpool and will last for two weeks from the 1st May to the 14th May ahead of the global music event.
As the UK was chosen to host the music contest on behalf of Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict occurring in the country, Liverpool’s EuroFestival will pay homage to Ukrainian culture, music and heritage.
Across the span of two weeks, there will be a huge programme of 24 commissions across the city, 19 of which are collaborative projects of UK and Ukrainian artists.
There are a variety of attractions and events you can explore, including the thought-provoking Soloveiko Songbird sculptures, which is the national bird of Ukraine and a symbol of song and happiness.
Across different locations in Liverpool City Centre, you can explore 12 illuminated birds from different Ukrainian regions, with each sculpture decorated with a different design.
If you’re in Liverpool for Eurovision, make sure to check out the programme of art and culture.
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2. The Eurovision Village
Eurovision will be returning to the UK for the first time in 25 years, so as you can expect there are tons of exciting things taking place across Liverpool.
For those wanting to get in the party mood, there’s nowhere better to head to than the Eurovision Village.
The Eurovision Village will be held at the Pier Head on Liverpool’s vibrant waterfront with the events kickstarting on Friday 5th May and finishing on Saturday 13th May.
What can you expect? The official fan zone will have multiple stages, live performances from artists and DJs, street food from across Europe, special guest appearances from Eurovision icons and a whole host of fun things to get involved with.
There will also be an area called Discover Ukraine which will focus on shining a spotlight on Ukrainian creatives against the amazing backdrop of the waterfront, so make sure to head on down.
The first 8 days of the Eurovision Village will be free to attend, but the Grand Final Party on the 13th of May is ticketed at £15.
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3. The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome
There’s no better way to get your Eurovision celebrations started than dancing along to some live music and singing your heart out, and one place to head to is The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome.
Hosted by AJ Odudu at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall, this 90 minute outdoor show will see incredible artists take to the stage including Liverpool legends Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Atomic Kitten, The Lightning Seeds, The Real Thing, Jamala, and tons more.
Although, tickets to this outdoor show have sold out so we’re super jealous of any of the 30,000 people who will be attending this one!
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4. EuroCamp
If you’re looking to embrace all things Eurovision in Liverpool, one way you can celebrate for free is by heading to EuroCamp, an LGBTQI+ focused festival at Chavasse Park.
Organised by LGBTQI+ arts organisations Homotopia and DuoVision, EuroCamp will feature drag acts, performances from over 50 national and international artists, choreography, vogue, music, carnival, circus and more, all in the heart of Liverpool ONE.
Expect to showcase your karaoke skills with over 50 performances to dance and sing along to, from old and new Eurovision hits to queer anthems, this festival is not one to miss out on.
Everyone is welcome to celebrate at EuroCamp, so make your way there to see what it’s all about between the 8th to the 10th May!
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5. EuroClub
Calling all party lovers, EuroClub is not one to shy away from if you’re looking to celebrate in style this May.
Camp and Furnace, a popular nightlife spot in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, will be bringing a whole week of amazing activities for you to experience.
Organised by OGAE UK, Euroclub will be on every night from Friday 5th May until Saturday 13th May, and will see performances from some of the UK’s and the world’s best Eurovision DJs.
You can gather with your besties and enjoy music experiences like no other with Jedward, Jemini, Linda Martin, Conchita Wurst and many more names taking to the stage, along with special guest appearances from past and present Eurovision royalty.
Some events have sold out but tickets are available for a select few dates, make sure to check out the official website.
Trust us, when it comes to how to celebrate Eurovision in Liverpool, the EuroClub events are not ones to miss out on!
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6. Storyville Live
As host city for Eurovision 2023, Liverpool will deliver a fantastic array of events with something for everyone to enjoy. For the film lovers out there, you should check out Storyville Live.
Liverpool’s Everyman Cinema will be showcasing a curation of the very best international documentaries as part of a two day mini-film festival, offering visitors a chance to learn more about Ukraine’s rich cultural history on Thursday 11th May.
The second day Friday 12th May will focus on music with showings of classic and modern documentaries.
Both of these events at the Everyman are free to attend but you do need to get a ticket in advance!
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7. Floating Earth
As we await the start of the Eurovision Song Contest, Liverpool has brought an impressive 10-metre art installation to its Royal Albert Dock.
Created by artist Luke Jerram, the Floating Earth is a six metre replica of Earth and will be displayed in the water of the dock and illuminated after dark from 12pm until 10pm on Friday 28th April all the way up until Thursday 18th May.
The Royal Albert Dock is also home to cultural giants like the Tate Modern who will be hosting an exclusive screening of the Eurovision final, as well as bars and restaurants who are hosting their own Eurovision inspired events.
After spending some time admiring the wonder that is the Floating Earth, why not make an evening out of it to enjoy some food and drinks with friends?
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8. Eurovision Quiz
Are you a Eurovision superfan wanting to put your knowledge to the test? Then head down to Ten Street Social on Friday 12th May for their quiz.
If you fancy a night out to get the excitement flowing for the final, this Regent Street bar and restaurant is the place to be to battle it out.
Gather your team together for a fun-filled night of trivia, challenges, games and live music, the winning team even gets a cash prize – who could say no to that!
Tickets are on second release for this one, so be quick if you do want to go…
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Liverpool is jam packed with exciting things to do for Eurovision 2023, and hopefully our guide has helped you to get planning your celebrations!
Whether it’s experiencing a cultural fix at The EuroFestival, watching some spectacular live music performances at The Eurovision Village, dancing the night away at the Euroclub parties or checking out installations across the city, there is so much going on to get you in the Eurovision mood!
Remember, you can still gather with friends in your student flat to watch this incredible musical experience as it will be broadcasted live by the BBC.
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