Where Can I Watch the Eurovision Song Contest in the US?
Eurovision features dancers, video screens, pyrotechnics, bizarre props, the occasional hologram, and 4% of the world's glittery confetti supply. If you're in the United States, here's how you can watch Eurovision and see what Europe is up to these days.
When is the Eurovision Song Contest?
The 67th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Liverpool, England. The shows will be held:
- First Semi: Tuesday, May 9
- Second Semi: Thursday, May 11
- Grand Final: Saturday, May 13
All shows are live and begin at 9pm CET / 3pm US Eastern / 12pm US Pacific.
How can I watch Eurovision on TV?
The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest is currently available through streaming on Peacock on both Premium and Plus tiers. The service will also be carrying the 2023 Contest live and make the videos available for on-demand streaming. Johnny Weir will be returning to provide commentary for the 2023 edition.
Is Eurovision streaming anywhere else?
A livestream of both semi-finals and the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be available on Eurovision's YouTube channel. However, since 2016 this content has been geoblocked due to music rights issues. Blerg.
Here are some workarounds if you need another source to watch the shows live:
Access a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A virtual private network is a method of encrypting and protecting your online activities. While on a VPN, your IP address is hidden and prevents bad actors from accessing your data. If you're accessing public wifi, such as at a coffee shop or airport, you should be doing that through a VPN. Seriously.
Another quirk of VPNs: since your IP address is obscured, your location would also be obscured. That means content that is only available for certain geographic regions, or "geoblocked", may now become available. This is incredibly helpful when trying to watch Eurovision on YouTube, as individual performances and full broadcasts have been geoblocked since 2016. AtlasVPN is a freemium service that caters to fans of live international TV events. Plus, you still get the security and privacy that VPNs offer.[1]
Hashtags + Active Imagination
The Eurovision community on Twitter is quite active and hashtags such as #Eurovision or #ESC2023 can be fun throughout the year and while watching the show. It's not the best substitute for watching the show, but since the semis happen during the US work day it may be the only option available until you can watch the playback.
Participating Country Broadcasters
One of the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest is that each participating broadcaster must broadcast the semi they are participating in (most will broadcast both semis) and the Grand Final. Many broadcasters will make that available through their normal livestream and some even offer the Contest on-demand. Here is a list of broadcasters and their livestream channels:
How can I watch past Eurovision Song Contest finals?
Eurovision (the organization) and the fan community have done an excellent job in preserving the Contest on YouTube. Following the cancellation of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest, a project called #EurovisionAgain began as a way for fans to sync up and rewatch an old Contest and tweet along. The event was a smash and the EBU got involved to remaster video to HD quality and work with broadcasters to restore and make available Contests prior to 2003 (again, rights issues).
#EurovisionAgain ran for 15 Saturdays from March through June 2020. Season 2 took place the third Saturday of the remaining months of 2020, with the December edition featuring songs from the history of semi-finals that did not advance. We chatted with #EurovisionAgain founder Rob Holley in Episode #85.
Can I watch the national selection finals?
Yes! From December to March, several countries will have competitions to select their Eurovision representatives. Most (if not all) will be streamed online, either through that country's broadcaster website, YouTube channel, or some other legitimate venue.
Just a heads up: the shows will probably be conducted in that country's language. You should be able to follow along since singing competition formats are pretty universal. We keep a calendar here with links to where you can watch:
Where can I watch the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga?
Will Ferrell's comedy about the Eurovision Song Contest debuted on Netflix in June 2020. Netflix subscribers can find the movie here. We talked about the movie's music in Episode 89 of the podcast and its Hugo Award nomination with author Seanan McGuire in Episode 124.
What is the EuroWhat? Podcast?
We are a pair of Americans trying to make sense of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Throughout Eurovision season (December-ish through May) our weekly episodes check in on the news, recap selection shows from around Europe, and review the entries as they are selected. As the Contest draws closer, we re-examine the songs as competitors. It's sports, but with pop music, spreadsheets, and Google Translate.
During the off-season, we dive into topics directly and tangentially related to the history of the Contest. Topics have included: drag queens, the movie The Apple, flags, the Iceland Airwaves festival, intersectionality, the origins of telecommunications technology... did I mention we're a bit nerdy?
Episodes drop Tuesdays on your favorite podcast provider.
[1]Disclosure: If you subscribe to AtlasVPN using the link provided, we may earn an affiliate commission.