Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Staging the Nation: The Politics of Eurovision Host Stages

  • Lara Kipp*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Prifysgol Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The Eurovision stage is the unsung star of the world’s largest live televised event and analysing it gives insights into international politics and nations’ self-perception. This is particularly interesting in cases where controversy or debate surrounds the host nation. Understanding how the presentation and manipulation of space through the stage works, gives readers insights into the political power of scenography. This chapter analyses several instances of Eurovision that featured international debates about that year’s host. Specifically, the chapter considers Baku 2012 in Azerbaijan, Tel Aviv 2019 in Israel, and Liverpool 2023 in the United Kingdom, hosting on behalf of Ukraine. The chapter discusses how each host nation staged a particular image of national identity through the spatial configurations of the arenas, including the semi-finals and finals opening, and interval acts.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDesigning Eurovision
Subtitle of host publicationPerformance Scenography on an International Stage
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Pages216-242
Number of pages27
ISBN (Electronic)9781040512203
ISBN (Print)9781032718774
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jan 2026

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Staging the Nation: The Politics of Eurovision Host Stages'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this