After months of build-up, Liverpool finally takes the reins as official host of this year's Eurovision Song Contest
Countries discovered which semi-final they will be in and who their rivals will be for a place in the final
The handover ceremony was hosted by AJ Odudu and Rylan in the city's St George's Hall
Ukraine won last year and should be this year's host - but the war means they cannot - so the UK will host on their behalf
The semi-finals, and the final, will be held in the city in May
Drum roll please!
Germany, Italy and France will vote in the first semi-final.
Ukraine, the UK and Spain will vote in the second semi-final, Rylan reveals.
Image source, BBC StudiosChildren from a local school picked the semi-finals that the 'big five' will vote in
Fans across the world are watching in excitement as the season kicks off with the draw.
A lot of the conversation is about the aesthetics of the show, with Matthew from Ireland saying: "The production value for this is already so much better than any other allocation draw ever".
Others are reflecting on the importance of Ukraine being represented in the competition.
Aaran from the UK said: "I’m so glad they’ve got a whole segment with comments from Ukrainian people as I was worried the Ukrainian identity might be lost."
Image source, Mark Hugo LopezMark is watching from Washington DC, in the US
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
The UK doesn't compete in the semi-finals. But it does get to vote and the British public will have a say in which 10 songs from semi-final 2 will qualify to the grand final.
We've just got wait to find out which countries will be in that group.
A big cheer, even though we don't know who UK viewers will get to vote for yet.
Everyone likes to clap in Eurovisionworld.
I'm clapping now.
Image source, BBC StudiosAs part of the symbolic handover Liverpool receives the keys to Eurovision.
Next we look back to where Eurovision is at right now.
Scott Mills - who has been part of the BBC's commentary team for years - notes all of the massive global hits Eurovision has given us.
He says it all starts with the semi-finals - the songs to dance and cry to as well as the ones which leave us thinking what to do.
We are about to find out the all important semi-final line up.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
Image source, BBC StudiosThis is a significant moment. One city hands one of the biggest cultural events in the world to another.
Turin's Mayor is standing on stage next to Liverpool's.
It's about to officially become Liverpool's Eurovision.
"A little bit of advice," Turin's Mayor says. "Welcome everybody".
This will be the ninth time Eurovision has been held in the UK - but it's slightly different to the times when the UK won it - as Liverpool is hosting on behalf of Ukraine.
A rapture of applause breaks out inside St George's Hall as we break to clips of messages from Ukrainian celebrities all reflecting on the conflict which broke out nearly a year ago.
One remarks that they know Liverpool knows how to party. Another that any win means something when your country is on fire.
Soaking up the atmosphere is drag artist Lady Seanne, also known as Shaun McKenna.
She’s dressed to impress in green sequins and a pink feather boa and cheers loudly when the BBC director general Tim Davie praises Liverpool’s ability to party.
Lady Seanne has been part of Liverpool's Cabaret scene since the late 80s.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
Image source, BBC StudiosThis is the moment Liverpool gets the keys to the Eurovision Song Contest. It's the first time in 25 years the UK will play host.
Rylan and AJ - our hosts for the evening - have just arrived on stage to a huge applause from everyone packed into St George's Hall for this special evening.
Claire Hamilton
Reporter, BBC Radio Mersesyide
It's a party atmosphere at St George's hall. The director general of the BBC acknowledges the city is famous for partying in his speech. And music of course.
John, a taxi driver dropping a fare off outside the building tells me, "Eurovision is a huge injection for our economy- like the garden festival in 1984 and Capital of Culture in 2008. This is the next big one!".
The mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson pays tribute to Liverpool's friends and partners in Ukraine. She's built a friendship with the mayor of Odesa, Liverpool’s twin city.
The audience have filed through to the ornate concert room now, a place where Charles Dickens famously delivered Ha'penny readings.
Sam's pointing to it! Click the play button at the top of the page.
It’s also available on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 1900 GMT - don’t forget you can rewind iPlayer if you’re late to the party.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
The main event tonight is the draw to decide which countries will take part in each semi final.
Here's how it works:
There’s a fee to participate and a handful of countries, known as the big five (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) automatically get a place in the final because they pay more to take part.
Ukraine, this year, also qualifies without having to compete in the semi-finals because it won last year.
The remaining 31 acts will compete in two semi-finals - they'll call that draw tonight.
Ten from each of those qualifying rounds go through to the final.
So the final will see 26 countries compete on the 13th May.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
Image source, PA MediaLike all major international events, there’s a significant cost and the bill is shared.
Local government in Liverpool has committed to £4m for attractions around May’s contest. It will go towards things like a fan village with big screens and stages for live music, as well as other city-wide events.
On top of that, the UK government says it will also contribute financially (but it hasn’t said how much) - claiming a lot of money will be made back by hosting the event.
Officials in Turin told me around £10m was spent on hosting Eurovision in 2022 but they got that figure back “seven times”, mainly from the hospitality industry.
Image source, ReutersHost Laura Pausini performs during the final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin
It will have been 25 years since the UK last threw Europe's biggest party (in Birmingham) - and the event has a changed a lot.
The Italian city of Turin hosted it last year - and it's a big deal - here are a few figures that give an idea of the scale:
Gem O'Reilly
BBC News
In 2001 the Guinness World Records declared Liverpool the"City of Pop" because of the amount of number one hits that had come from the city.
Since then Liverpool has continued to be a treasured destination for live music. The Cavern Club, external boasts memories of past rock and roll bands but also breeds artists of the future. Made famous by The Beatles, it continues to attract tourists from around the world.
But how has Liverpool become so well known for its music and who are the bands responsible for that?
The most synonymous with the city is of course The Beatles. They had 17 UK number singles and 20 in the US.
The Beatles changed the course of music history in Liverpool
Many other bands and artists have helped to craft Liverpool’s sound and fame across the world.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s punk rock and post-punk started to emerge. Bands like Echo & the Bunnymen, A Flock of Seagulls, Teardrop Explodes, OMD and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, were part of this era.
Some of the 1990s bands that enjoyed music success were the La’s, Cast and the Real People. Since 2000 bands like the Coral and the Wombats havefound prominence on the music scene.
More recently the Circa Waves, Jamie Webster and The Cheap Thrills have joined the list of popular artists from the city.
The music in Liverpool has created such an impact that in 2008 a museum, external was created, showcasing the city’s musical successes over the years.
The Beatles writing was integral to music development in 1960's
Claire Hamilton
Reporter, BBC Radio Mersesyide
This city knows how to throw a party. It also knows how to stand in solidarity with people going through tough times.
St George's Hall has seen great joy - like the opening of the city's Capital of Culture year celebrations in 2008) and great sorrow - like in 2012 when the city marked the findings of the Hillsborough independent panel report with a vigil.
So it's fitting that this magnificent building sees the handover of the Eurovision host title.
The £2m the council is spending on the event has been criticised by some, others - like local restaurants - say Eurovision is a lifeline and will genuinely stop some businesses from going under.
Diana Kuryshko
BBC News Ukrainian
Ukraine held a concert to choose its 2023 act in Kyiv at the underground metro station Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square).
Tvorchi will compete in Liverpool with their song Heart of Steel, written after the war started and inspired by events that took place at the Azovstal steel plant. The duo have promised to represent Ukraine with dignity.
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision song contest. Out of 17 appearances, it has three victories, two second places and has qualified for the final every time.
This year, Ukrainians are taking inspiration from Liverpool’s most famous musical sons, The Beatles.
Gem O'Reilly
BBC News
Image source, Luke HardwickLuke says he's beyond excited for tonight's handover ceremony
I've been speaking about the importance of tonight with super fans from all over the world.
Kjet from Germany said: "The handover ceremony always makes it feel like Eurovision is finally arriving in a new city.
I always find it so exciting to see which semi-finals my favourite countries or artists get drawn into."
Luke from the UK describes it as "a preview of how this year's contest will shape out with the running order of countries and our first taste of what this year's Eurovision production is going to be like."
Svajune from Lithuania says tonight is worth noting: "As a Eurovision fan, every little thing about it is worth celebrating."
Mattieu from France says the draw "allows us to get to know the host city better". And Matthew from Ireland says Eurovision and every moment of it "can connect so many people".
Liverpool will be the first Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the UK for 25 years - it was chosen from a number of cities across the UK that had wanted to host the contest.
The Liverpool M&S Bank Arena is on a former dock on the banks of the River Mersey - next to the vibrant Albert Dock, and near the historic "Three Graces" (the Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building), which dominate the waterfront.
In short, it will look great on TV.
The facilities probably helped its bid too - it's next to a convention centre and an exhibition centre, which will be handy for hosting things like the press centre and other facilities, and has a couple of hotels on site.
It's also a short walk to the city centre's other hotels and rail links, and eight miles from John Lennon Airport.
Daniel Rosney
Eurovision reporter, BBC News
I should introduce myself properly. I'm the BBC’s Eurovision reporter and one of the hosts of Eurovisioncast which has launched today.
It’s presented by BBC Breakfast’s Nina Warhurst, Radio Merseyside’s Ngunan Adamu, 2015’s Swedish winner Måns Zelmerlöw, and me.
If you’re more interested this year because the contest’s being held in the UK, and want all the backstage insights and gossip as you walk the dog, then our weekly episodes are for you. As well as for fans (like me) who live and breathe Eurovision 12 months a year.
It’s on BBC Sounds now, where we want to hear your memories of Eurovision, and to answer your questions, so feel free to slide into our inbox: eurovisioncast@bbc.co.uk
Image source, EPAThe Eurovision Song Contest 2022 was held in Turin, Italy, and won by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra.
Their song Stefania beat the UK’s Sam Ryder, who came second place with Space Man, and Spain’s Chanel took third with her song SloMo.
Ukraine’s entry had been predicted to take the title as support rose following Russia's invasion, but Kalush Orchestra trailed Sam Ryder after the jury stage and were in fact in fourth place.
However, Ukraine’s act surged to the top spot after they received the highest ever vote from the public.
After the competition, it was decided that Ukraine would not host the following year’s contest because of the war. And the band, Kalush Orchestra sold their trophy for $900,000 (£712,000; €838,000) to raise money for to help.
The UK is instead hosting Eurovision 2023, in Liverpool, on behalf of Ukraine.