On Sat 13 May 2023, the UK will host the Eurovision finals for a record ninth time, having already hosted more times than any other country in the competition’s history. Our Euro-scholar Amy Wild has a historical rundown of the UK’s hosting history for you; plus, how and where to join the 2023 Eurovision party right here in Wales, whether you’re going out to a watch party or staying in and playing a drinking game.
The UK’s Eurovision hosting history, from 1960 to 2023…
WHEN & WHERE? 29 Mar 1960, London’s Royal Festival Hall
WHY? Norway won the previous year, but they declined to host.
WHO SANG? Bryan Johnson with Looking High, High, High came in second.
WHO WON? France won with Jacqueline Boyer’s Tom Pillibi.
WHEN & WHERE? 23 Mar 1963, BBC Television Centre in London
WHY? France, the previous year’s winner, refused to host.
WHO SANG? Ronnie Carrol sang Say Wonderful Things, placing fourth.
WHO WON? Denmark won with Dansevise by Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann.
WHEN & WHERE? 6 Apr 1968, London’s Royal Albert Hall
WHY? The UK had finally won with Sandie Shaw’s Puppet On A String!
WHO SANG? Cliff Richard’s Congratulations got the UK second place.
WHO WON? Spain clinched the crown with La, La, La by Massiel. Notably, this was the first time the competition was filmed in colour.
WHEN & WHERE? 25 Mar 1972, Usher Hall in Edinburgh
WHY? Monaco couldn’t host, making it the first time the UK hosted the competition outside of England in Edinburgh.
WHO SANG? The UK placed second (again!) with The New Seekers’ Beg, Steal Or Borrow.
WHO WON? Luxembourg won with Apres Toi by Vicky Leandros.
WHEN & WHERE? 6 Apr 1974, The Brighton Dome
WHY? Luxembourg declined due to the expense of hosting the event in 1973.
WHO SANG? Olivia Newton-John’s Long Live Love came fourth.
WHO WON? Swedish superstars Abba won with their iconic song Waterloo.
WHEN & WHERE? 7 May 1977, Wembley’s Conference Centre
WHY? The UK won with Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood Of Man in 1976.
WHO SANG? Lynsey de Paul, Mike Moran, and their Rock Bottom got second place.
WHO WON? France won with L’Oiseau Et L’Enfant by Marie Myriam.
WHEN & WHERE? 24 April 1982, Harrogate’s International Centre in Yorkshire
WHY? The UK won after Bucks Fizz’s skirt-revealing shocker, Making Your Mind Up.
WHO SANG? Bardo’s One Step Further came seventh.
WHO WON? Germany won with Ein bißchen Frieden by 17-year-old Nicole Holoch.
WHEN & WHERE? 9 May 1998, Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena
WHY? The UK won with Love Shine A Light by Katrina & The Waves.
WHO SANG? For the fifth time in hosting history, the UK placed second with Imaani’s Where Are You.
WHO WON? Israel’s Dana International with Diva, becoming the first trans performer to snatch the title.
WHEN & WHERE? 13 May 2023, The Liverpool Arena
WHY? The UK is hosting Eurovision this year on Ukraine’s behalf after their win with Stefania by folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra.
WHO WILL SING? Mae Muller is the UK hopeful with the meta I Wrote A Song. How do you think we’ll do this year?
Going out for Eurovision 2023? Here’s where to party in Wales…
House Of Deviant at WMC
Join House of Deviant for a queer and inclusive Eurovision experience with cocktails, queens, chaos, energy, and, of course, drinking games.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 13 May
Tickets: £15. Info: here
Tŷ Pawb watch party
Tŷ Pawb’s Eurovision night comes with prizes for the best fancy dress, as well as two big screens to watch the content on, bingo, and food and drink.
Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham, Sat 13 May
Tickets: £5. Info: here
Glory Stores / Elephants Ear watch party
Cardiff’s wine-and-dining joint is getting in on the European action too. Enjoy a glass of fizz and European snacks; costumes are encouraged.
Glory Stores, Cardiff, Sat 13 May
Tickets: £28pp. Info: here
Wales’ official screening in the Depot
Choose your country when buying tickets and dress to match; Ukrainian nationals go FREE.
Depot, Cardiff, Sat 13 May
Tickets: £8. Info: here
The Fizz
A nostalgic chunk of 80s cheesiness is being plated up at The Lyric, courtesy of original Bucks Fizzmembers Cheryl, Mike and Jay.
Lyric Theatre, Camarthen, Fri 28 May
Tickets: £28.50/£26.50. Info: here

Staying in? Grab a bevvie for our Eurovision 2023 drinking game, and take a sip every time there’s:
- Fake fire
- Fake rain
- KEY CHANGE!
- A contestant wearing feathers
- A contestant wearing sequins
- A glitter cannon
- Host country is thanked for a wonderful evening
- A wind machine
- A clappy bit
- Someone is wearing a hat
- The UK gets ONE point from a jury vote
- A song about love (aww)
- A song about peace
- There’s rapping
- A song that sounds like last year’s winner
- Somebody winks at the camera
- Somebody cries
- A fake instrument is (obviously) being played
- The host changes their outfit
words AMY WILD
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