It's official: The U.K. will host next year's Eurovision contest on behalf of Ukraine
Officials approached the U.K., this year's runner-up, after concluding that Russia's war makes Ukraine unfit to hold the competition. This isn't the first time the U.K. has stepped in to host.
Ukraine's Eurovision Song Contest win earlier this summer was a triumph for the war-torn country, with its folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra taking first place and shining a spotlight on Ukrainian culture.
It also posed a logistical challenge: How, if at all, might Ukraine be able to plan and produce next year's contest — as is customary for first-place winners — while defending itself against Russia's invasion?
A panel of public broadcasters and security experts that it won't be feasible for Ukraine to host the famously elaborate TV event — which requires 12 — given the security issues posed by Russia's war.
