List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition, held every year by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. This page is a list of cities and venues that have hosted the contest, one or more times.
Having hosted the contest six times, Dublin holds the record for having hosted the contest most often. It is followed by London and Luxembourg (each hosted 4 contests), then Copenhagen and Stockholm (each hosted 3 contests).
Host cities[]
Contests | Country | City | Venue | Years | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | United Kingdom | London | Royal Festival Hall | 1960 | [1] |
BBC Television Centre | 1963 | [2] | |||
Royal Albert Hall | 1968 | [3] | |||
Wembley Conference Centre | 1977 | [4] | |||
Edinburgh | Usher Hall | 1972 | [5] | ||
Brighton | Brighton Dome | 1974 | [6] | ||
Harrogate | Harrogate International Centre | 1982 | [7] | ||
Birmingham | National Indoor Arena | 1998 | [8] | ||
7 | Ireland | Dublin | Gaiety Theatre | 1971 | [9] |
RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion | 1981, 1988 | [10][11] | |||
Point Theatre | 1994, 1995, 1997 | [12][13][14] | |||
Millstreet | Green Glens Arena | 1993 | [15] | ||
6 | Sweden | Stockholm | Stockholm International Fairs | 1975 | [16] |
Ericsson Globe | 2000, 2016 | [17][18] | |||
Gothenburg | Scandinavium | 1985 | [19] | ||
Malmö | Malmö Isstadion | 1992 | [20][21] | ||
Malmö Arena | 2013 | [22] | |||
5 | Netherlands | Hilversum | AVRO Studios | 1958 | [23] |
Amsterdam | RAI Congrescentrum | 1970 | [24] | ||
The Hague | Nederlands Congresgebouw | 1976, 1980 | [25][26] | ||
Rotterdam | Rotterdam Ahoy | [27][28] | |||
4 | Luxembourg | Luxembourg City | Villa Louvigny | 1962, 1966 | [29][30] |
Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg | 1973, 1984 | [31][32] | |||
3 | France | Cannes | Palais des Festivals | 1959, 1961 | [33][34] |
Paris | Palais des Congrès | 1978 | [35] | ||
Norway | Bergen | Grieghallen | 1986 | [36] | |
Oslo | Oslo Spektrum | 1996 | [37] | ||
Telenor Arena | 2010 | [38] | |||
Germany[c] | Frankfurt-am-Main | Großer Sendesaal | 1957 | [39] | |
Munich | Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle | 1983 | [40] | ||
Düsseldorf | Esprit Arena | 2011 | [41] | ||
Denmark | Copenhagen | Tivolis Koncertsal | 1964 | [42] | |
Parken Stadium | 2001 | [43] | |||
B&W Hallerne | 2014 | [44] | |||
Israel | Jerusalem | International Convention Centre | 1979, 1999 | [45][46] | |
Tel Aviv | Expo Tel Aviv | 2019 | [47] | ||
Italy | Naples | Sala di Concerto della RAI | 1965 | [48] | |
Rome | Studio 15 di Cinecittà | 1991 | [49] | ||
TBD | TBD | 2022 | [50] | ||
2 | Switzerland | Lugano | Teatro Kursaal | 1956 | [51] |
Lausanne | Palais de Beaulieu | 1989 | [52] | ||
Austria | Vienna | Hofburg Imperial Palace | 1967 | [53] | |
Wiener Stadthalle | 2015 | [54] | |||
Ukraine | Kyiv | Palace of Sports | 2005 | [55] | |
International Exhibition Centre | 2017 | [56] | |||
1 | Spain | Madrid | Teatro Real | 1969 | [57] |
Belgium | Brussels | Centenary Palace | 1987 | [58] | |
Yugoslavia | Zagreb[d] | Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall | 1990 | [59] | |
Estonia | Tallinn | Saku Suurhall | 2002 | [60] | |
Latvia | Riga | Skonto Hall | 2003 | [61] | |
Turkey | Istanbul | Abdi İpekçi Arena | 2004 | [62] | |
Greece | Athens | Olympic Indoor Hall | 2006 | [63] | |
Finland | Helsinki | Hartwall Arena | 2007 | [64] | |
Serbia | Belgrade | Belgrade Arena | 2008 | [65] | |
Russia | Moscow | Olympic Stadium | 2009 | [66] | |
Azerbaijan | Baku | Baku Crystal Hall | 2012 | [67] | |
Portugal | Lisbon | Altice Arena | 2018 | [68] |
Special events[]
Anniversary events[]
Anniversary | Country | City | Venue | Event | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
25th | Norway | Mysen | Momarken | Songs of Europe | 1981 |
50th | Denmark | Copenhagen | Forum Copenhagen | Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest | 2005 |
60th | United Kingdom | London | Eventim Apollo | Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits | 2015 |
Replacement events[]
Year | Country | City | Event | Replacing | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Netherlands | Hilversum | Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light | Eurovision Song Contest 2020 | COVID-19 pandemic |
Hosting traditions and exceptions[]
The tradition of the winning country hosting the following year's event was established in 1958, held in the Netherlands.[69][70][71] A number of exceptions to this rule have occurred since, typically when the winning country had already hosted the event in the recent past. These exceptions are listed below:[72]
- 1960—hosted by the BBC in London when the Netherlands' NTS declined due to expense, having previously hosted the 1958 contest. The United Kingdom was chosen to host after finishing in second place in 1959.[73]
- 1963—hosted by the BBC in London when France's RTF declined due to expense, having previously hosted the contest in 1959 and 1961. The second- and third-placed Monaco and Luxembourg also declined when offered hosting duties.[74]
- 1970—hosted by the NOS in Amsterdam following a ballot to determine the host after the 1969 contest produced four winning countries.[24][75]
- 1972—hosted by the BBC in Edinburgh when Monaco's Télé Monte Carlo was unable to provide a suitable venue. The Monegasque broadcaster invited the BBC to host the event due to their previous experience.[76]
- 1974—hosted by the BBC in Brighton when Luxembourg's RTL declined due to expense after hosting the 1973 contest.[6]
- 1980—hosted by the NOS in The Hague when Israel's IBA declined due to expense after staging the 1979 event. The Dutch offered to host the contest after several other broadcasters, reportedly including runner-up Spain's RTVE and the BBC, were unwilling to do so.[77]
With Australia's invitation to participate in the contest in 2015, it was announced that should they win the contest, Australian broadcaster SBS would co-host the following year's contest in a European city in collaboration with an EBU Member Broadcaster of their choice.[78][79]
Host City Insignia[]
Host City Insignia is a rotating trophy awarded to cities hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. The symbol is a large key ring to which the host cities can attach their city key or other symbol representing the city. The Host City Insignia Exchange usually takes place in conjunction with the Semi-Final Allocation Draw. The insignia is traditionally put on display in a public place, such as the City Hall or another venue of local significance.[80] Additionally, there is a fob with a picture of the Helsinki Senate Square attached to the key ring.
The idea of the rotating trophy was proposed jointly by the city of Helsinki, the Finnish broadcaster Yle and EBU in conjunction with the 2007 contest. Hand-engraved on the ring are the following texts: "Eurovision Song Contest Host City", all host cities up until 2006 and a stamp: "Helsinki 2007" with the initials of the insignia designers. The concept and fob were designed by the ANTEEKSI team and the ring by jewellery designer Taru Tonder.[81][82][83]
Semi-final allocation drawing venue[]
Since the introduction of the two semi-finals system in 2008, a drawing has been held to determine in which semi-final a country would participate, as well as in which semi-final a country would vote in. Each year, either five or six countries are exempt from the drawing for competing in the semi-finals: the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the host country, if the host is not one of the "Big Five". In 2015, the number of countries exempt was seven, as Australia joined the other six exempt countries as a special guest contestant.
Regardless if a country is exempt from competing in the semi-finals, all participating countries are allotted a semi-final in which to vote.
Year | Venue | City |
---|---|---|
2008 | Old Palace | Belgrade |
2009 | Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel | Moscow |
2010 | at | Oslo |
2011 | Esprit Arena | Düsseldorf |
2012 | Buta Palace | Baku |
2013 | Malmö | |
2014 | Copenhagen City Hall | Copenhagen |
2015 | Vienna Rathaus | Vienna |
2016 | Stockholm City Hall | Stockholm |
2017 | of Kyiv City State Administration | Kyiv |
2018 | Lisbon City Hall | Lisbon |
2019 | Tel Aviv Museum of Art | Tel Aviv |
2021[e] | Rotterdam |
Running order drawing venue[]
Previously, the running order has been determined at a dedicated event. This has been made redundant following the implementation of contest producer-created running orders.
Year | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|
1988 | Mansion House, Dublin | [85] |
1997 | Clarence Hotel, Dublin | [86] |
2012 | Buta Palace, Baku | [87] |
Receptions and Opening Ceremony venues[]
An official Opening Ceremony with a red carpet procession has been held since 2009 at a venue in the host city. Previously a welcome reception was typically held for all participating artists and hosted by the mayor of the host city.[88]
- Table key
Year | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|
1992 | Malmö City Hall | [89] |
1993 | Great Southern Hotel, Killarney City Hall, Cork |
[89] |
1994 | Dining Hall, Trinity College Dublin | [90] |
1995 | Royal Hospital Kilmainham | [91] |
1996 | Oslo City Hall | [92] |
1998 | ICC Birmingham | [93] |
1999 | Israel Museum | [94] |
2006 | Zappeion | [95] |
2007 | Finlandia Hall | [96] |
2008 | Palace of Serbia | [97] |
2009 | Central Manezh Exhibition Center | [98] |
2010 | Oslo City Hall | [99] |
2011 | Tonhalle Düsseldorf | [100] |
2012 | Baku Sports Palace | [101] |
2013 | Malmö Opera | [102] |
2014 | City Hall Square, Copenhagen | [103] |
2015 | Vienna City Hall | [104] |
2016 | Stockholm City Hall | [105] |
2017 | Mariinskyi Palace | [106] |
2018 | Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology | [107] |
2019 | Habima Square & Charles Bronfman Auditorium | [108] |
2020 | Rotterdam Cruise Terminal X | [109] |
2021 | Rotterdam Cruise Terminal | [110] |
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ In 1990 the former country of Yugoslavia hosted the contest in Zagreb, which is in present day Croatia. Croatia, as an independent country, has not yet hosted the contest. The map shows the countries that formerly made up the country of Yugoslavia, and cannot also simultaneously show Yugoslavia.
- ^ Contest cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ^ The 1957 and 1983 contests were held in what was then West Germany. The 2011 contest was in reunified Germany.
- ^ Now in present-day Croatia following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
- ^ The semi-final allocation draw for the cancelled 2020 contest was retained for the 2021 contest.[84]
References[]
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- ^ "London 1968". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "London 1977". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
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- ^ "Harrogate 1982". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
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- ^ "Rotterdam 2021". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
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Further reading[]
- O'Connor, John Kennedy (2010). The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History (2nd ed.). London: Carlton Books. ISBN 978-1-84732-521-1.
- Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
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External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venues of the Eurovision Song Contest. |
- The picture of the insignia on the page of the Eurovision Song Contest Moscow 2009
- A photo on the web pages of the biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat with description "Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen (left) and cultural director Pekka Timonen were in Belgrade on Friday to hand over the Helsinki Insignia to the city that will host next year's Eurovision Song Contest." (Helsingin Sanomat)
- Eurovision Song Contest related lists
- Lists of host cities
- Lists of cities in Europe