The Eurovision Song Contest is marking its 70th birthday with a brand-new live tour, starting right after this year’s grand final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the tour will feature some of the most memorable performers from the contest’s seven-decade history.
The tour kicks off at London’s O2 Arena on 15 June and will continue to nine other cities across Europe, including Hamburg, Milan, Zürich, Antwerp, Cologne, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris, and Stockholm.
The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over Israel’s participation while the conflict in Gaza continues. Countries like Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland have decided not to take part this year, following a vote in December that approved reforms allowing Israel to remain in the contest.
Some past Eurovision stars are also stepping back. Thomas Neuwirth, who won in 2014 as Conchita Wurst, said he wants to focus on other projects. Polish artist Karolina Czarnecka, along with her band Brutto Szkła, withdrew from Poland’s selection process, saying they could not “consent to the suffering of another human being.”
During the tour, artists will perform their own Eurovision songs and also cover some of their favorite hits from the contest’s history. Eurovision director Martin Green said the goal is to create a “unique and special” experience that celebrates the contest’s past while looking toward the future. He added that the tour will let fans who missed out on contest tickets enjoy the Eurovision magic live.
Since its start in May 1956 in Switzerland, Eurovision has grown into one of the world’s biggest music events. Last year, 175 million people watched the contest worldwide. This year, the event will take place in Vienna on 16 May, following Austria’s 2025 win.
