New-look of the Liverpool sign gets unveiled at Liverpool ONE for Eurovision countdown

The official countdown to the Eurovision Song Contest kicks off Tuesday 31 January, as the new-look of the Liverpool sign gets unveiled at Liverpool ONE.

The giant Liverpool sign, located on Thomas Steers Way near to the Hilton Hotel, has been given a fresh design ahead of the iconic event taking place in the city in May, emblazoned with hearts beating together to reflect the “very origins of the contest”, according to organisers at the BBC.

Liverpool ONE sign for Eurovision. Picture by Gareth Jones

The new artwork has been revealed ahead of the official handover ceremony, hosted by Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu, which will be broadcast from Liverpool’s St George’s Hall this evening at 19:00 GMT on BBC Two.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:

“We’re thrilled to be part of the excitement in the run up to the Eurovision Song Contest here in Liverpool. We’re honoured to be part of the city team involved in hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.

“Giving the Liverpool sign a fresh look in collaboration with Culture Liverpool and BBC is just the beginning of our plans to celebrate Eurovision being hosted in the city, so we’re looking forward to announcing what we have in store very soon!”

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool will have the slogan “United by Music”, with its artwork showing hearts beating together.

The BBC said it “reflects the very origins of the contest”, which was originally created as a broadcasting experiment to bring Europe together.

This year’s event will be held in the UK because it is too dangerous to stage it in Ukraine, which won in 2022. Both country’s flags have been used as inspiration for the colour scheme.

An official handover ceremony, hosted by Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu, will be broadcast from Liverpool’s St George’s Hall at 19:00 GMT on Tuesday on BBC Two.

Most participating countries will also find out which semi-final they will compete in. Local school pupils, as well as members of the Ukrainian community who have settled in Liverpool since the war began, will be involved in the allocation draw.

The semi-finals on 9 and 11 May will see 31 competitors whittled down to 20 acts by the public – in a change to the rules – ahead of the grand final on 13 May.