Yahoo News Eurovision 2024: Date and host city announced
Next year's event will be in Sweden, after its entry won this year
Malmo has been picked to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, it has been announced.
Sweden won the right to host when its entry Loreen won this year – becoming the first woman to triumph twice after her 2012 success - as it is customary for the winner's country to be home to the following year’s show.
Gothenburg and Stockholm were among the contenders but it has now been announced that the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in the southern Swedish city of Malmo.
Read more: Sweden's Loreen makes Eurovision history after her song Tattoo triumphs at Eurovision
The location was chosen by host broadcaster SVT and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
It has also been announced that the Grand Final will be held on 11 May at the Malmo Arena ,with Semi-Finals earlier the same week on 7 May and 9 May.
Martin Osterdahl, executive supervisor of the contest, said they were “thrilled” that Malmo had been selected.
“Malmo holds a special place in the history of the contest, having successfully hosted it firstly in 1992 and then in 2013 - following Loreen's last win,” he said.
“We're excited to be returning to this vibrant and dynamic city which has demonstrated it has the venues and infrastructure that are perfect for staging the world's largest live music event.
“Malmo's commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and innovation aligns perfectly with the spirit of the competition.”
Ebba Adielsson, SVT’s executive producer of the contest, said they had received “strong, compelling, and creative proposals from several cities” and that Malmo met all the criteria.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 competition so this year’s event should have been in Ukraine.
However, it was moved amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, and ended up being held in the UK in Liverpool.
Read more: Mae Muller ‘proud of everyone’ after finishing second-bottom in Eurovision
There had been high hopes for the UK’s entry Mae Muller and her track I Wrote A Song, but she ended up second to last.
Watch: Nothing will stress Mae Muller 'ever again´ after Eurovision
