Eurovision gains £10m in Gov funding as 3,000 tickets are set aside for displaced Ukrainians

The Government said it will provide £10 million in funding to help ensure the Eurovision Song Contest showcases Ukrainian culture.

The funding will support security, visa arrangements and other operational aspects of the contest, as well as Liverpool City Council’s schools, community and volunteering programmes. It said the money will also go toward the creation of a “collaborative show celebrating music and how it unites people from around the world”.

Around 3,000 tickets to the event are to be made available for displaced Ukrainians living in the UK. Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko said, “We are grateful to the UK Government, Liverpool City Council, and the BBC for their efforts to honour Ukraine’s culture and people through this event.”

Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said, “We’re delighted with the news that displaced Ukrainians are being given the opportunity to come to the city in May – this is their Eurovision after all. Our team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and we can’t wait to give them a warm Liverpool welcome and, fingers crossed, do them, the rest of the Ukraine and the UK proud.”