The race to host Eurovision 2024 in Sweden is set to kick off tomorrow, as bids are due to host broadcaster SVT today at 23:59 PM.
So far, we only know of two bids that have been submitted to SVT: one by Stockholm with plans to host in either Friends Arena or Tele2 Arena, and Gothenburg with plans to host in the Scandinavium. Stockholm has already hosted the contest three different times in 1975, 2000, and 2016 but the use of both venues for Eurovision are opposed by current occupants AIK Football, Djurgårdens IF Fotboll, and Hammarby Fotball. Gothenburg, who is trying to host for a second time after their 1985 hosting, also comes with issues as the arena was marked for demolition and reconstruction by the city council just last month.
Five other cities have indicated interest in hosting the contest, or have seen local groups advocating for their city to host. These cities are:
- Esjukstuna – Stiga Sports Arena which hosted the Second Chance Round of Melfest 2020
- Jönköping – Rumored to use Husqvarna Garden, host of Melfest’s 2007 hears
- Malmö – Host city of the 1992 contest, and host of the 2013 contest in the currently proposed Malmö Arena
- Örnsköldsvik – Proposing Hägglunds Arena, which has been used in the Melfest circuit five times in 2007, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2023
- Partille – Using Partille Arena, Host venue of Eurovision Choir in 2019
The city of Sandviken had expressed interest to host the contest in 2016 but has already stated that they will not submit for next year’s contest, while fellow 2016 bidder Linköping has not commented whether they will submit or not. Linköping has been featured on the Melfest tour numerous times using a variety of venues like the Cloetta Center in 2011, 2014, and 2017, the Sparbanken Lidköping Arena in 2019 and 2023, and the Saab Arena in 2020.
With the submission deadline being so early, it is likely that SVT will follow the same timeline as they used for the 2013 and 2016 contests. In both years SVT announced the host city on July 8th, much earlier than other contest years. The next earliest decision after these contests came in 2018 when the EBU and RTP announced Lisbon would host the contest on July 25th.
This year will be the seventh time that Sweden will host the contest, tying them as the winningest country alongside Ireland. Loreen is the first woman to win the contest twice, and irononically is the second person to win twice alongside Ireland’s very own Johnny Logan.
Where do #YOU hope we’ll go for Eurovision 2024? Let us know on social media @ESCUnited, on our discord, or on our forum page!
