The Eurovision Song Contest grand final is upon us, and fans of the competition across the continent are getting ready to don costumes and bring out the snacks in celebration of the grand event. With the UK cheering Mae Muller on in preparation for her big performance of I Wrote A Song - read more on Mae here - you may be wondering exactly what time you can tune into the big event.
Well, the entire competition is broken down into three parts: two semi-finals commentated on by Radio 2's Scott Mills and The X Factor's Rylan Clark and hosted by Britain's Got Talent's Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, and a grand final. The best 10 countries from each semi-final have been chosen to progress to the grand final, joining the Big Five countries: Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the UK, as well as 2022 winners, Ukraine.
Read more: Mae Muller: Who is the Eurovision 2023 UK entry and what is her song?
Stepping away from tradition for this year, the 2022 runner-up, the UK, who placed second with Sam Ryder, is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest this year on behalf of Ukraine, who won it last year. Usually, it's the winning country that hosts the next contest and it's likely that for 2024 it'll return to standard procedure. With 26 countries now competing for first place in the grand final, here's everything you need to know about when it's on and how you can watch it.
When is the grand final of Eurovision 2023?
Following the two semi-finals held on Tuesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 11, the 67th Eurovision Song Contest will culminate in a grand final that will take place in Liverpool at the city's M&S Arena on Saturday, May 13. It will kick off at 8pm and will, as in previous years, last until midnight, shortly after which time a winner is announced.
Where can I watch the Eurovision grand final?
As with the semi-finals, the BBC will be broadcasting the grand finale on BBC One, BBC iPlayer as well as BBC Radio 2 and BBC sounds. Alternatively, it will also be available to live-stream on the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel on the night.
Who has qualified for the grand final?
The Big Five plus last year's winners
- UK: Mae Muller - I Wrote A Song
- Germany: Lord of the Lost - Blood & Glitter
- France: La Zarra - Évidemment
- Spain: Blanca Paloma: Eaea
- Italy: Marco Mengoni - Due Vite
- Ukraine: TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel
From semi-final 1:
- Croatia: Let 3 - Mama ŠČ!
- Moldova: Pasha Parfeni - Soarele și Luna
- Switzerland: Remo Forrer - Watergun
- Finland: Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha
- Czechia: Vesna - My Sister's Crown
- Israel: Noa Kirel - Unicorn
- Portugal: Mimicat - Ai Coração
- Sweden: Loreen - Tattoo
- Serbia: Luke Black - Samo mi se spava
- Norway: Alessandra - Queen of Kings
From semi-final 2:
- Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje
- Cyprus: Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart
- Estonia: Alika - Bridges
- Belgium: Gustaph - Because of You
- Austria: Teya & Salena - Who The Hell Is Edgar?
- Lithuania: Monika Linkytė - Stay
- Poland: Blanka - Solo
- Australia: Vogayer - Promise
- Armenia: Brunette - Future Lover
- Slovenia: Joker Out - Carpe Diem
Who are the hosts of the grand final?
This year sees the return of Graham Norton as host and commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 alongside a shiny new roster of familiar faces. The Irish talkshow veteran has been the British commentator of the show since 2009 and this year is stepping up to host the main event as well as co-commentating with Mel Giedroyc.
Fronting the prestigious competition - which skyrocketed acts like ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, Lulu, Julio Iglesias, Celine Dion and others into the music industry - are Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina - the three women also hosted the two semi-finals earlier in the week.
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