A variety of Eurovision events will be taking place across Darlington in May as the UK welcomes the singing contest to Liverpool.

Although Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine won last year’s competition, due to the ongoing war in the country the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) invited the UK to host on Ukraine's behalf because Sam Ryder was the runner-up in 2022.

Following its bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, Darlington has been announced by the BBC as one of the areas chosen to live stream this year’s extravaganza.

On the day of the Eurovision grand final on May 13, celebrations and entertainment will be spread across four central event spaces including Darlington Market Square, the Marquee, Market Hall and the Forum.

Eurovision events taking place in Darlington on May 13

A total of 10 warm-up acts from 12pm, including an ABBA tribute, Fusion Folk Balkan Party Band and Ukrainian Electric Violinist will perform ahead of the live screening.

There will also be activities and performances to mark solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including Heart of Letters, BBC Storyville screening and Fusion Feast.

The streets will certainly be dressed up for the occasion too as Market Square will be decorated in the Eurovision colour scheme of yellow, pink and blue.

The giant screen where people can gather around to watch the final will be supplied by local hire and production company, Artistic Solutions, while staging will be supplied and installed by Alrose Productions.

The event will be free to attend and you can find more information on the Tees Valley Combined Authority website.

Full schedule of Eurovision events taking place in Darlington on May 13

The Eurovision party will be taking place on the main stage at Darlington Market Square from 11.30am until late.

The full schedule includes:

  • 11.30am - Dandyism Performance by Patrick Ziza
  • 12.00pm - Welcome from Dan Westwood & Teesside Irish Dance Community Group
  • 12.40pm - ORLYK Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
  • 1.45pm - The Bavarian Strollers
  • 2pm - Salsa Sam Dance Performance
  • 2.30pm - Nadia Violin, Ukrainian Electric Violinist
  • 4pm - The Destroyers, Fusion Folk Balkan Party Band
  • 5.30pm - ABBA Tribute Band, Masters of the Scene
  • 6.30pm - DJ set
  • 7pm - Ooh Ahh Just a Little Bit of Eurovision Hits Tribute
  • 8pm - Eurovision Final Screening

Events at the Marquee in Market Square will run from 11am until 4pm.

The Northern Echo:

The full schedule includes:

  • Festival of Thrift: Thrifty Photobooth and Display 
  • Mini Pride: Eurovision Themed Craft Workshops
  • Tall Ships Hartlepool 2023 Pop-up Display
  • Ukrainian Inspired Crafts and Arts Drop-in 
  • Red Cross Charity: Supporting Ukraine pop up
  • Ukrainian Heart of Letters - write and decorate a postcard which will be displayed on giant 6ft Heart of messages and posted to schools in Ukraine
  • Selfie Station

There will also be ‘Taste of Africa’ entertainment in the Market Hall from 12pm until 4pm.

The full schedule includes:

  • Drumming and storytelling
  • Afrobeat performance
  • Spoken Word – Chiko
  • Drumming session

The North East’s biggest multicultural festival, Mela, will be running a Mini Mela festival at the Joseph Pease Statue from 12pm until 4pm also.

Eurovision events in Darlington during the week

In the run-up to the town centre Eurovision party, there will be a range of free arts and crafts workshops, learning sessions and community events in the town centre. This includes:

  • Storyville Curated Documentary - The Forum: Wednesday, May 10 from 6pm until 12am.

Cultural evening with screening of an award-wining Storyville Live documentary about Ukrainian music.

  • Fusion Feast – Market Square, Marquee: Friday, May 12 from 4.30pm until 7pm

Guests from across the town will be given the chance to share food from different cultures to show solidarity for the people of Ukraine including invited guests and members of DAR.

Tees Valley Combined Authority and Darlington Borough Council are working in partnership to provide this celebration for local residents.

Live screening is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and BBC.