With the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 final fast approaching on Saturday 13th May, fans are eagerly anticipating the live show in Liverpool. However, some are wondering if it’s too late to get tickets for the grand final. Here we look at the latest ticket availability and prices for the Eurovision 2023 final.
What’s the venue capacity?
The Eurovision final will take place at the Liverpool Arena, which has a maximum capacity of around 11,000 for concert events. Not all of these will be available for the Eurovision final, as the stage, press area and production facilities take up a significant amount of space. The exact number of tickets released is usually only confirmed closer to the event.
When did tickets go on sale?
Tickets for the Eurovision 2023 final first went on sale in October 2022 via the official Eurovision website. Pre-sale tickets were made available first to Liverpool residents before going on general sale. There were two main stages of the ticket sales:
- Pre-sale – Limited number of tickets on sale for Liverpool residents only from 12th October 2022
- General sale – Remaining tickets on sale to the general public from 14th October 2022
What ticket categories are available?
Tickets have been split into a number of pricing categories:
Category | Description | Approx Price |
---|---|---|
Category 1 | Closest seated tickets to the stage | £250-£350 |
Category 2 | Front section seated tickets | £175-£200 |
Category 3 | Rear section seated tickets | £125-£150 |
Standing | General admission standing tickets | £75-£100 |
There are also accessible tickets and packages available with extras like official programmes and snacks.
When did tickets start selling out?
Demand for Eurovision final tickets has been extremely high from the outset. The limited number of pre-sale tickets for Liverpool residents sold out within hours. When general sale opened, tickets started selling fast.
The first ticket categories to sell out were the high demand floor standing tickets and premium Category 1 seated tickets closest to the stage. These were largely exhausted during the initial days of sale.
By the end of October 2022, around a month after tickets first went on sale, availability was very limited. Most of the more affordable rear seated tickets had been snapped up along with remaining standing tickets.
What tickets are still available?
As we get closer to the contest, ticket availability is now extremely limited. At the time of writing in mid February 2023, these are the only ticket types still listed for sale on the Eurovision website:
- A small number of Category 2 seated tickets
- Accessible seating tickets
- A small number of restricted view seating tickets
However, these are likely to sell out fast as remaining demand continues. All floor standing tickets and the best Category 1 seated tickets closest to the stage are now completely sold out.
Where can I buy any remaining tickets?
The only official ticket seller for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) via the official Eurovision website:
https://eurovision.tv/tickets
This is the only way to guarantee legitimate and valid tickets. Viagogo is operating as the official ticket exchange partner but availability here relies on ticket holders reselling.
Are there other ways to get tickets?
As the official ticket sales near sell-out levels, some desperate fans may look to unofficial or unofficial sources. However, there are major risks buying tickets from unauthorised sellers:
- You could be sold invalid or fraudulent tickets
- Tickets purchased through unofficial channels may not grant entry
- Excessively inflated prices are often charged
Event organisers strongly advise only buying tickets through official channels for your own protection and enjoyment.
Can I still realistically get tickets?
With only the least desirable ticket categories now available directly, it is looking very unlikely for fans to still be able to buy tickets at this late stage.
Your only chances are:
- Buying any last minute tickets released closer to the contest (unlikely)
- Using an official ticket exchange or resale platform to buy tickets from existing buyers
- Entering any radio or newspaper competitions for last minute tickets
But overall, chances are now extremely slim unfortunately of securing tickets through official means unless you are able to pay inflated resale prices.
How much are tickets reselling for?
On official ticket exchange platforms like Viagogo, Eurovision final tickets are reselling for well above original prices:
Ticket Type | Original Price | Resale Price Range* |
---|---|---|
Category 1 Seated | £250-£350 | £400-£700+ |
Category 2 Seated | £175-£200 | £300-£500+ |
Standing | £75-£100 | £150-£200+ |
*Approximate price ranges observed on Viagogo as of February 2023, subject to change.
As you can see, tickets are selling for well above face value and up to double the original prices. This is driven by huge demand from fans against very limited availability.
Will more tickets be released?
In previous years of the contest, small contingents of additional tickets have sometimes been released much closer to the live shows after production requirements are finalised.
However, given the unprecedented demand this year, it looks highly unlikely that any significant amount of extra tickets would be released this close to the event.
Some media outlets may run ticket giveaways, but these will likely only be a handful of tickets at most.
Are there other ways to watch Eurovision?
Given the very slim chances now of securing actual tickets, fans still wanting to get into the Eurovision atmosphere have some other options:
- Watch the live final on TV at a Eurovision party – many bars and venues will hold special events
- See if your city hosts a public outdoor screening
- Travel to the Eurovision host city to soak up the atmosphere
- Watch the live final at a packed venue in Liverpool
The benefit of Eurovision is that the entire show will be broadcast live and free to air, letting fans across Europe get caught up in the excitement.
Summary – What are your chances now?
To summarise the key points on Eurovision 2023 final ticket availability:
- Tickets went on initial sale in October 2022 and sold out extremely fast
- The most in-demand standing and front section seated tickets all sold out within days
- By February 2023, only restricted view or isolated seats remain for sale
- Buying tickets from unofficial sources is risky and not recommended
- Resale prices on official platforms now exceed £400+ per ticket
- Further ticket releases closer to the final are very unlikely
- Chances of securing tickets now through official channels are extremely low
So in summary – yes, Eurovision 2023 final tickets have to all intents and purposes sold out completely based on the original ticket allocations. Fans’ only hopes are checking resale platforms obsessively or entering any competitions. But the chances of getting tickets are now very slim without paying over the odds unfortunately.
Conclusion
Eurovision 2023 is set to be the most in-demand contest in recent memory, with the UK hosting for the first time in 25 years. Avid fans have snapped up tickets in record time, with all initial allocations now virtually exhausted.
There is little chance of further tickets being released at this late stage. Prices on resale sites have skyrocketed for those still trying to secure seats.
For most fans, the more realistic option will be to enjoy the live final through televised screening at home or at special public events. But the atmosphere and excitement of Eurovision will still be palpable wherever you experience it.
All eyes will be on Liverpool in May to see if the UK can continue its Eurovision resurgence after Sam Ryder’s success last year. And while being there in person now looks near impossible, the 2023 contest promises to be another magical celebration of music that the whole continent can savour.