(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 14, 2022 members of the band "Kalush Orchestra", Oleh Psiuk, Tymofii Muzychuk, Ihor Didenchuk, Vitalii Duzhyk, Oleksandr Slobodianyk and Vlad Kurochka, representing Ukraine, arrive onstage during the presentation of participating finalists, during the final of the Eurovision Song contest 2022 at the Pala Alpitour venue in Turin. - Britain said on July 25, 2022 it had reluctantly agreed to host next year's Eurovision song contest, after organisers said there was no prospect of the event going ahead in war-torn Ukraine. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)

The UK will step in as the host country for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2023 in place of Ukraine. Thanks to overwhelming support from the audience, the Ukrainian band “Kalush Orchestra” won the ESC final in May with their song “Stefania”. Briton Sam Ryder came in second. Germany came last.

Normally, the Siegerland is the host of the ESC in the following year. Because of the Russian war of aggression, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not want to organize the next competition in Ukraine for security reasons.

In July, Britain, as the second-placed country, agreed to step in as alternate hosts. But Ukraine is automatically set for the final.

Next year the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in one of the following cities:

These seven British cities prevailed in the original field of 20 applicants and made it onto the shortlist for the 2023 ESC venue.

Which city will host the international music competition is to be decided in the fall. The Eurovision Song Contest website said: “Eurovision.tv will visit the seven locations over the coming weeks and invite the cities to present themselves at their best”. All applicants have already shown how they want to reflect Ukrainian culture, music and community.