Eurovision Song Contest Unveils Live Tour to Celebrate 70th Birthday
The Eurovision Song Contest has announced a live tour to commemorate its 70th anniversary, set to commence after this year's grand final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) revealed that the new show will showcase some of the most iconic performers from the competition's seven decades.
While specific artists participating have yet to be confirmed, the organization assured that the tour will also feature performances by 10 of this year's entrants. The tour kicks off at London's O2 arena on June 15 and will travel to nine other European cities.
This announcement comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the contest. The row over Israel's participation during the war in Gaza has led to withdrawals from Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland. In December, a majority of members voted for reforms that would allow Israel to remain in the contest.
Thomas Neuwirth, the 2014 winner as Conchita Wurst, recently stepped away from his Eurovision association, citing a focus on other professional projects. Meanwhile, Polish artist Karolina Czarnecka, alongside her band Brutto Szkła, withdrew from the competition to find Poland's 2026 entrant, expressing opposition to the suffering of another human being.
The tour's lineup will be unveiled after this year's contest, suggesting that only the top-performing artists or those delivering memorable performances will be selected. The EBU emphasized that the live tour offers fans who couldn't secure contest tickets a chance to experience the contest's scale, spectacle, and spirit.
The tour will visit Hamburg, Milan, Zürich, Antwerp, Cologne, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, and Stockholm. The Eurovision Song Contest, which began in May 1956 in Switzerland, has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting 175 million viewers worldwide last year. This year's contest will take place in Vienna on May 16, following Austria's win in 2025.
