Eurovision 2023 was set to be a milestone, bringing new twists to the voting process. Fans in the United States and Canada following Blanca Paloma’s bid to join Liverpool may find the changes particularly stirring. Spain’s entry began as a strong contender, ranking among the top favorites and sitting fifth in many bookmakers’ lists, far from the obvious favorite, the Swedish act Loreen, who previously triumphed in 2012 with Euphoria and later teased a return with Tabu.
As tradition dictates, the so‑called big five Spain, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom alongside the host country—for 2023, the host city was Liverpool due to Ukraine’s inability to stage the event—advanced directly to the final. The semi finals served as the arena where many nations fought for ten coveted spots that would join the big five and Ukraine in the grand final. Two semi finals were held at 21:00 local time, one on 9 May and the other on 11 May, with the winners earning their place in the final lineup.
Ukraine, the winner of Eurovision 2022, would normally have hosted the festival again. The ongoing war on Ukrainian soil prevented that, shifting the venue to the 12,000‑seat M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, United Kingdom. The shift underscored a sense of global solidarity while keeping the spectacle intact for audiences across North America and beyond.
Voting Rule Changes
The most notable modification affected the semi‑finals for the 2023 edition. In those rounds, the expert jury’s vote would not be counted unless special circumstances arose. This meant that viewers would decide the ten countries advancing from each semi final to the final in the earlier stages.
In the Grand Final, however, the jury’s input would still factor into the final outcome. The organizers cited four reasons for this balance. First, the change aims to sharpen the overall quality of the finalists. Second, maintaining jury ties with each participating country is said to help broadcast the voting in real time. On the other hand, this change reduces the influence of diaspora and cultural voting, while also heightening suspense since the ultimate winner could be determined only near the end of the tally. It was a move designed to preserve emotional momentum and ensure a dramatic finish.
Another update intended to reflect the global reach of Eurovision was the online voting option for viewers in countries that do not participate in the festival. Their votes would be combined with those from participating nations, all weighted equally in the final tally.
Eurovision Executive Auditor Martin Österdahl described the changes as returning power to the audience while recognizing the show’s enormous international appeal. The adjustments were framed as a way to keep the competition accessible and exciting for fans around the world, including North American viewers who tune in for every dramatic moment.
White Dove
Spain’s representative generated early buzz and drew strong odds from bookmakers. Initially pegged to finish near the podium, the Elche contestant’s position shifted as the final weeks drew closer, briefly rivaled by Norway’s Alessandra. Loreen remained the clear favorite in many markets, the Swede known for her 2012 victory and the signature song Taboo. Other acts, such as Cha Cha Cha from Finland and Käärijä, were seen as potential surprises capable of challenging Loreen for the top spots. With three Scandinavian acts occupying a leading quartet of favorites, the field reflected a blend of seasoned Eurovision veterans and rising stars. Ukrainian duo Tvorchi, performing Heart of Steel, aimed to make a strong run, though many still judged their chances to win as slim.
As the event approached, audiences could anticipate watching the finals live at 9:00 p.m. on 13 May, with strong encouragement for Blanca Paloma to capture the imagination of viewers and perhaps spark a memorable surprise in Liverpool.