Eurovision 2023: Edinburgh submits bid to become Eurovision host city - day before shortlist is announced

Edinburgh has submitted a bid to host Eurovision 2023 – the shortlist for which is set to be announced tomorrow.

Edinburgh council had previously said it was considering mounting a bid to host the competition last month, after it was revealed that it would be held in the UK rather than Ukraine due to the Russian invasion.

Today, one day before the shortlist of host cities is set to be announced, council leader Cammy Day said he was “very excited” to have submitted a bid.

"It is, of course, of great regret that this year’s winners Ukraine aren’t able to host the 2023 contest in their own country, but we would be honoured to step in – not least with Kyiv being our cherished sister city and Edinburgh having become home to many thousands of Ukrainians in recent months,” he said.

Kalush Orchestra, Eurovision winners from Ukraine, performing their first UK gig at Shangri-La's Truth Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Picture date: Saturday June 25, 2022.

"I have no doubt we’d do them proud.”

The Capital is no stranger to hosting Eurovision, with the event having been held at the Usher Hall 50 years ago.

In a similar situation, the winners of the year before, Monaco, had been unable to host the competition – this time due to not having a suitable venue.

Mr Day said: “The Capital, of course, became the first city outside London to host the event in 1972 and more recently, fictionally, in the Netflix film “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga!”

"But the opportunity to host in 2023 is a once in a generation chance to welcome our friends from participating countries for the iconic song contest, showcasing the Capital’s world class culture, heritage and history.

“Hosting an event on this scale is a complex undertaking but something the Capital has lots experience in and I’m sure, working with partners across the city, we’d host a show in-keeping with the Eurovision legacy. We look forward to finding out if we’ve made it through to the next stage.”

The host city will be selected in a two-stage process, with the shortlist set to be announced by the BBC – who broadcast the contest in the UK and will make selection alongside the European Broadcasting Union – as part of the Radio 2 breakfast programme.

Glasgow and Aberdeen also submitted bids last month.