Malmö to host 68th Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 following Sweden's victory

The city of Malmö has been selected to host the 68th Eurovision Song Contest next year, as announced on Friday. The decision comes after Sweden's triumph in Liverpool in May, with Malmö winning the bid over Stockholm after extensive discussions with multiple cities, according to the organizers.

Key Dates and Venue

The highly anticipated music event will take place at the Malmö Arena, with the semi-finals scheduled for May 7 and 9, 2024, followed by the grand final on May 11.

Loreen's Victory and Malmö's History

Sweden's Loreen emerged victorious in Eurovision 2023 with her captivating pop anthem "Tattoo." This marked her second win in the competition, previously winning in 2012. She faced a close battle against Finland's Käärijä, resulting in a thrilling voting process.

Malmö's Selection Process

Malmö was chosen to host Eurovision 2024 after an extensive city bidding process. The evaluation took into consideration the city's venue facilities and its ability to accommodate the large number of delegations, crews, and fans that would be attending the event.

Excitement from Eurovision Organizers

Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, expressed the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) excitement about Malmö hosting the event for the third time. Österdahl highlighted Malmö's significant role in Eurovision's history, having successfully hosted the contest in 1992 and 2013 following Loreen's previous victory.

He praised the city's vibrant atmosphere, excellent venues, and infrastructure that make it ideal for hosting the world's largest live music event. Malmö's bid demonstrated a remarkable passion for the contest, according to Österdahl.

Sweden’s Hosting Legacy

Sweden, the birthplace of Eurovision legends ABBA, will be hosting the event for the seventh time. This record-setting number of hostings is only surpassed by the United Kingdom, which has hosted the contest nine times. This year, the UK organized the event due to Ukraine's inability to host as the previous year's winner, following Russia's invasion.

The Eurovision Song Contest attracts a massive audience, with an estimated half a million people visiting the host city, Liverpool, in connection with the event. While the UK's Mae Muller did not replicate the success of 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder, finishing in 25th place, the event provided an opportunity for artists from across Europe to showcase their talent and foster cultural exchange.

As preparations for Eurovision 2024 in Malmö get underway, fans and participants eagerly anticipate another spectacular celebration of music, creativity, and unity on the Eurovision stage.

FAQs

Q1:When was the first Eurovision?
On May 24, 1956, the contest commenced at 21:00 CET (20:00 UTC) and lasted approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Lohengrin Filipello took on the role of hosting the event, delivering his duties in Italian.

Q2:Who is the founder of Eurovision?
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) devised the Eurovision Song Contest as a live television broadcasting experiment and a cost-effective means of generating programming for national broadcasting organizations.