Eurovision announces viewers across the rest of the world can vote in next year’s contest

Eurovision Song Contest organisers have announced major changes to the voting system before next year’s competition.

Liverpool will host the show, with the grand final taking place on 13 May.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said on Tuesday that only viewers’ votes will decide which countries make it to the finals.

Other changes include viewers in non-participating countries being able to vote online – and the grand final result being decided by combining jury and global audience votes.

Martin Osterdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s executive supervisor, said the change will “give more power to the audience” after 67 years of performances.

He added: “In 2023 only Eurovision Song Contest viewers will decide which countries make it to the grand final and, reflecting the global impact of the event, everyone watching the show, wherever they live in the world, can cast their votes for their favourite songs.

“By also involving juries of music professionals in deciding the final result, all the songs in the grand final can be assessed on the broadest possible criteria.

“We can also maintain the tradition of travelling around Europe and Australia to collect points and ensure a thrilling voting sequence with the winner only revealed at the very end of the show.”

The online votes of those countries not in Eurovision will be converted into points that will have the same weight as one participating country in both of the semi-finals and the grand final.

Liverpool was announced as next year’s host last month.

Although Ukraine‘s Kalush Orchestra won this year’s contest, organisers ruled it would be unsafe for the event to take place in the war-torn country due to the Russian invasion.

The UK’s Sam Ryder came second, with the BBC stepping in to offer to host the contest instead.