London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Mar 29, 2026

Eurovision 2023: Final batch of ticket sell in an hour

Eurovision 2023: Final batch of ticket sell in an hour

The majority of a final batch of tickets for next month's Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool have sold out, the BBC has confirmed.

A "limited number" of tickets for three live shows and six production previews went on sale at 12:00 BST.

Just over an hour later, the BBC said only a small number remained available.

These are mostly single seats and hospitality packages for previews and rehearsals. Both of the semi-finals and the grand final are now sold out.

In March the initial batch of tickets was snapped up in 90 minutes, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.

On Monday, many waited again in an online queue, hoping to get their hands on the last remaining tickets.

In a post on Twitter at 13:25 BST, BBC Eurovision said: "The majority of Eurovision 2023 tickets that went on sale today have now been sold.

"A small number of tickets are still available to purchase for some shows.

"For those of you with tickets, we'll see you in Liverpool. And to everyone else, we'll see you on BBC One!"

A mock-up of how Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena is expected to look hosting the Eurovision Song Contest


It will be the first time the has UK hosted the annual competition in 25 years.

About 6,000 fans will be inside the arena for each of the shows. Prices ranged from £90 to £290 for the live semi-finals and from £160 to £380 for the live grand final.

Preview shows ranged from £30 to £280.

A preview show is a full run-through of the TV broadcast that doubles up as a production rehearsal, with all the acts performing live in the arena.

There are six preview shows and three live shows.


How do the semi-finals work?


All competing broadcasters pay a fee to take part in Eurovision (see below for more details); but with only 26 slots available in the grand final, there has to be a knock-out stage. That takes the form of two-semi finals, which this year take place on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11 May.

Ten songs from each of the two qualifying rounds go through to the final.

A handful of countries, known as the big five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK), automatically get a place in the final because they contribute more money to the staging of the contest.

Last year's winner also qualifies without participating in the semi-finals. This year, that honour goes to Ukraine.


What if I didn't get a ticket?


The city of Liverpool has announced multiple events around this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

There will be a two-week festival taking place, including a submarine parade and a rave which will take place simultaneously in Kyiv.

Liverpool's Pier Head will host the official Eurovision village


Close to the M&S Bank Arena will be the Eurovision village, the official fan zone of the contest for thousands of people.

During the televised live shows, fans will be able to watch both semi-finals and the final (which is ticketed) on big screens there.

It is also where some of the acts will perform on stage across the week.

There will also be extensive coverage across the BBC.


Who pays for Eurovision?


The UK government has put forward £10m towards the cost of hosting the song contest for things like security and visa arrangements.

It says the vast majority will be spent on "showcasing Ukrainian culture" but would not give further details. In comparison, the Italian government did not pay anything towards the event last year.

The King and Queen Consort will unveil the Eurovision stage for the first time on Wednesday 26 April


Local authorities in Liverpool have also pledged £4m for the event, which is £6m less than officials put forward in Turin in 2022.

The bulk of the cost will fall to the BBC which is expected to put forward between £8m and £17m as host broadcaster.

The 37 broadcasters taking part all pay a fee to enter, which in recent years has totalled a combined sum of about £5m. The BBC does not make its contribution public.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Thousands Rally in London to Oppose Rise of Far-Right Movements
Hong Kong Official Rejects Allegations of Surveillance Orders Targeting UK-Based Dissidents
PayPal Expands Cryptocurrency Services to Allow UK Users to Buy and Sell Bitcoin
UK Minister Challenges Reform Party’s ‘Pro-Family’ Agenda as Debate Intensifies
Concerns Grow Over Meningitis Risk Among UK Students Amid Warning Signs of New Outbreaks
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, UK Start Times and Full Broadcast Details
Electric Vehicles Seen as Strategic Solution to UK Fuel Reserve Concerns
Rise of Lone-Actor Threats and Online Radicalisation Drives New Wave of Antisemitic Attacks in the UK
Canada Advances Plan to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations in Election Campaigns
UK Faces Looming Medicine Shortages as Iran Conflict Threatens Supply Chains
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in the U.K. Highlights Urgent Need for Vaccination
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
UK Museums House More Than 260,000 Human Remains, New Report Reveals
Surging UK Gilt Yields Reflect Inflation Pressures and Fiscal Uncertainty
UK Issues Updated Guidance on Children’s Screen Time with Focus on Balance and Wellbeing
UK Migration Figures Show Shifting Trends Across Asylum, Visas and Channel Crossings
UK Watchdog Launches Probe into Five Firms Over Alleged Fake Reviews and Ratings
Jaguar Land Rover Halts Production at UK Plant Amid Supplier Disruption
UK Police Reverse Position, Confirm Arrests Will Resume for Palestine Action Protests
UK Small Businesses Face Europe’s Steepest Cost Pressures, New Survey Reveals
US Envoy Urges UK to Proceed with King’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities
FTSE 100 Drops Over One Percent as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Markets
UK CO2 Plant Set to Reopen as Authorities Move to Safeguard Supplies Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Urges Stronger Defence Investment as He Questions Allied Naval Capabilities
New COVID Variant Detected in UK Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Effectiveness
FTSE Russell Moves to Standardise Free-Float Rules for UK and International Listings
HBO Max Launches in UK and Ireland, Marking Major Step in Global Streaming Expansion
UK Signals Readiness to Seize Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Escalating Middle East Conflict Seen as Major Threat to UK Economic Stability
Early Challenges Mark Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit
UK Government Rejects Cover-Up Claims After Theft of Former PM Aide’s Phone
Cyprus Opens Strategic Talks with UK Over Sovereign Base Areas
UK Faces Risk of Sharp Inflation Surge Despite Stable Pre-Crisis Figures
UK Police Arrest Two Over Suspected Antisemitic Arson as Iran Link Investigated
UK Inflation Holds at Three Percent Ahead of Oil Price Shock from Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Face Upward Pressure as Global Oil Trends Raise Cost Outlook
Girlguiding UK Sets September Deadline for Membership Policy Change Affecting Trans Participants
Germany and UK Accelerate Wind Power Expansion to Strengthen Energy Security
UK Moves to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations to Political Parties Over Foreign Influence Concerns
UK and Turkey Finalise Major Air Defence Agreement Worth Billions
Apple Introduces Mandatory Age Verification for iPhone Users in the UK
Diverging Views Emerge Over Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
×