Brussels and RTBF are open to Song Contest 2023: ‘Nice signal as European capital’
It is not yet clear where the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in 2023. Brussels would come into the picture more as a host city. Both Brussels and the RTBF have already announced that they are open to this.
Normally the festival is held in the country that has the competition. That would therefore be Ukraine, but the umbrella organizer European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced last week that that will not be the case.
Given the current war, the EBU does not consider it safe to host the event in Ukraine. However, the aim is that the Ukrainian victory (this year) will be the focus of next year’s show.
The EBU has not decided which country will host the competition, but is targeting the two, namely the United Kingdom. British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder flowers silver with the song ‘Space man’. The EBU is now planning talks with the British broadcaster BBC.
Brussels is a contender
There is also a chance that it will take place in Brussels, nothing has been officially confirmed yet. The Guardian reported this earlier this week. The Minister of Media and Culture of the Wallonia-Brussels federation, Bénédicte Linard (Ecolo) has not closed the door to the possibility of holding the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Brussels, but has established agreements with the parties involved.
The city of Brussels does not rule out anything either. “The decision rests with the EBU, but we are certainly ready to give our support to Ukraine for the organization,” said Alderman of Culture Delphine Houba (PS). “As the capital of Europe, it is a nice signal to the Ukrainians. Moreover, the song contest is one of the few events that all Europeans watch and really brings people together.”
According to Houba, the city can certainly handle that organization. “We have the infrastructure, just think of Paleis 12. Moreover, we have a lot of experience with large events and we have a lot of knowledge with Brussels Major Events.”
RTBF informed Le Soir that it was open to that option. “The general decision at the EBU,” said director Jean-Paul Philippot. “If it were, we want to organize it together with other media.” VRT does not wish to respond yet.