Malmö will host the 68th Eurovision Song Contest

Malmö will host the 68th Eurovision Song Contest

It was announced, this afternoon, that, after eleven years, Malmö will once-again host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024, following Sweden’s historic victory in Liverpool.

Malmö was selected from the four Swedish cities that bid to host the contest: Malmö, Stockholm, Gothenberg and Örnsköldsvik. Next year will be the city’s third time hosting the contest, following Malmö 1992 and Malmö 2013. It will be Sweden’s seventh hosting overall.

The Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place at Malmö Arena (which also hosted in 2013) on Saturday 11 May 2024, with the semi-finals on Tuesday 7 May 2024 and Thursday 9 May 2024. It will be the first Grand Final ever to have been hosted on 11 May.

The EBU is thrilled that Malmö has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Malmö 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.

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.

Malmö’s commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and innovation aligns perfectly with the spirit of the competition. Furthermore, its compact size and well-developed transport infrastructure means everyone involved in the Contest, including delegations, media, and fans will be able to navigate the city easily.

Its commitment to sustainability and green initiatives also aligns perfectly with our own values, making it an ideal Host City for the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

Malmö’s bid demonstrated a huge passion for the Eurovision Song Contest, and I have full confidence in their ability to create an unforgettable experience that will bring together fans, artists, and viewers across the globe. Together with Host Broadcaster SVT, we will create an extraordinary celebration of music, unity, and diversity that will captivate the world in May next year.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest

While Stockholm was SVT’s original preferred choice, issues surrounding the Avicii Arena’s renovation, the football tenants of the Tele2 and Friends Arenas and a Taylor Swift concert at the Friends Arena on 18 May, made Stockholm’s bid difficult to approve. There was an attempt to bid with a planned temporary arena, like those utilised at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but SVT didn’t think this would be practical in the circumstances.

Gothenberg lost out due to the unsuitability of it’s venue, which hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 and was constructed over 50 years ago. It’s roof would have had to be reinforced for the contest, as it’s currently unable to hold the weight required for the camera and lighting rigs, which would’ve host SVT millions and would have to have been done in a very short timeframe.

The underdog of the race, Örnsköldsvik, was probably the closest to a second option that SVT had, after Malmö. The venue would have been capable of hosting the contest and it would have been available and free during the time required, however, Örnsköldsvik was unable to meet the standards of a host city, with very little hotel rooms and incredibly poor transport links… we’re talking about 2 flights a day, carrying 50 people each, and a 10-hour train journey from Malmö levels of poor.

Therefore, Malmö seems to have won the bidding race by default. There wasn’t really any other option for SVT. If there was another option, SVT probably would’ve taken it, as there were several issues with Malmö, eleven years ago, which, then, Executive Producer, Martin Österdahl, has expressed his frustration about in the past. The biggest issue is that Malmö Arena is just a 12 minute €10 train ride from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Malmö is a significantly smaller city than Copenhagen and therefore most fans travelling to the contest in 2013 booked to stay in Copenhagen and contributed heavily to the economy of Denmark, not Sweden. While Malmö made a lot of money from the contest, it was just a fraction of what Stockholm managed to make three years later. If this announcement benefits anyone, it’s Denmark.

When we finally had all the options, we did an overall assessment to consider all factors involved in organizing this huge event. Malmö was eventually chosen as it met all the criteria and provides a location with great venues and is a city where all those attending the Eurovision Song Contest can move around easily. Malmö is also firmly committed to providing both those visiting and living in the city a chance to participate in the festivities.

Ebba Adielsson, Executive Producer of Eurovision 2024

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place on 7, 9 and 11 May 2024.