List of Eurovision Song Contest host cities

Amsterdam's RAI Congrescentrum, Edinburgh's Usher Hall, and the Liverpool Arena

The tradition of the winning broadcaster hosting the following year's event was established in 1958.^[77][78][79] A number of exceptions to this rule have occurred since, typically when the winning broadcaster had already hosted the event in the recent past. These exceptions are listed below:

• 1960: hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London when the Netherlands' Nederlandse Televisie Stichting (NTS) declined due to expense, having previously hosted the 1958 contest. The BBC was chosen to host after finishing in second place in 1959.^[80]
• 1963: hosted by the BBC in London when France's Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF) declined due to expense, having previously hosted the contest in 1959 and 1961. The second- and third-placed in 1962, Monaco's Télé Monte Carlo (TMC) and Luxembourg's Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) also declined when offered hosting duties.^[81]
• 1970: hosted by Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) in Amsterdam following a ballot to determine the host, after the 1969 contest produced four winners.^[25][82]
• 1972: hosted by the BBC in Edinburgh when Monaco's TMC was unable to provide a suitable venue. The second- and third-placed in 1971, Spain's Televisión Española (TVE) and Germany's ARD also declined when offered hosting duties. The EBU invited the BBC to host the event due to their previous experience.^[83]
• 1974: hosted by the BBC in Brighton when Luxembourg's CLT declined due to expense after staging the 1973 contest.^[6]
• 1980: hosted by NOS in the Hague when Israel's Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) declined due to expense after staging the 1979 contest. The Dutch offered to host the contest after several other broadcasters, reportedly including runner-up Spain's TVE and the BBC, were unwilling to do so.^[84]
• 2023: hosted by the BBC in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine's Suspilne, after the EBU decided that Ukraine would not be able to host the event due to security concerns caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[85] The BBC was chosen to host after finishing in second place in 2022.^[86]

With Australia's invitation to participate in the contest in 2015, it was announced that should it win the contest, Australian broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) would co-host the following year's contest in a European city in collaboration with an EBU member broadcaster of its choice.^[87][88]

The host city insignia is a rotating trophy awarded to cities hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, proposed jointly by the city of Helsinki, the Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio (Yle) and the EBU in conjunction with the 2007 edition, and was used annually until 2025.

The insignia takes the form of a large key ring to which the host cities can attach their city key or other symbol representing the city. The insignia exchange usually takes place in conjunction with the semi-final allocation draw. The insignia is then traditionally put on display in a public place, such as the city hall or another venue of local significance, for the remainder of the year.^[89] The insignia's concept and fob were designed by the Anteeksi group, while the key ring was designed by jewellery designer Taru Tonder. Hand-engraved on the ring are the following texts: "Eurovision Song Contest Host City", all host cities up until 2006, and a "Helsinki 2007" stamp with the initials of the insignia designers. Additionally, the fob has a picture of the Helsinki Senate Square attached to the ring.^[90][91][92]

From 2025 onwards, the host city handover is symbolised by a "friendship gift" from the preceding host city to its successor, which stays permanently in each city.^[93]

Since the introduction of the two semi-finals system in 2008, a draw has been held to determine in which semi-final a country would participate, as well as in which semi-final a country would vote in. Each year, either five or six countries are exempt from the drawing for competing in the semi-finals: the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the host country, if the host is not one of the "Big Five". In 2015, the number of countries exempt was seven, as Australia joined the other six exempt countries as a special guest contestant.

Regardless if a country is exempt from competing in the semi-finals, all participating countries are allotted a semi-final in which to vote.

Previously, the running order was determined at a dedicated event. This has been made redundant following the implementation of producer-created running orders in 2013.

An official opening ceremony with a red carpet procession has been held since 2009 at a venue in the host city. Prior to that, a welcome reception was typically held for all participating artists and hosted by the mayor of the host city.^[121]

Table key

• List of Junior Eurovision Song Contest host cities