While the biggest musical event of the year took place back in May, preparations are already underway for next year’s contest. This year, Ukraine won with Stefania by Kalush Orchestra after a united voting effort by viewers throughout the continent in support of the country following the Russian invasion.

According to custom, the winner would be given the opportunity to host the competition the following year. But the competition’s organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), stated that it had come to the “very regrettable” conclusion that it would not be feasible to offer the security and operational assurances necessary to run the competition in Ukraine. The United Kingdom stepped in after it was concluded that it would be ‘unviable to host the contest in a country under constant bombardment’. Ukraine will now automatically qualify for the Grand Final alongside the ‘Big 5’