Liverpool has been shortlisted to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
The city will go head-to-head with six others across the United Kingdom bidding to be named the official venue for next year’s showcase event.
London, Belfast, Aberdeen and Darlington were among those who failed to make Friday’s seven-city shortlist vying to be named Eurovision’s next venue.
The European Broadcasting Union confirmed on Friday that Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield joined Liverpool in the running.
A final decision on the UK’s Eurovision host is expected to be made in the autumn after the BBC analyses the details from each prospective host city.
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: “Eurovision is made for this city and I’m so pleased Liverpool has been shortlisted.
“When we heard the sad announcement that Ukraine would be unable to host, Liverpool stepped forward and offered to stage the event in solidarity with, and in tribute to, this amazing country and its people.
“A huge amount of work is already going on behind the scenes to make Liverpool’s vision and ambition a reality.
“There are a number of complexities in staging a show of this scale.
“But we have one of the best event teams in the world, and one of the best cities in the world to act as a backdrop to Eurovision 2023.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “The Liverpool City Region is the UK’s cultural capital – home to a flourishing music scene that has been entertaining and inspiring the world for decades.
“It is a massive part of our identity, and we are a proud UNESCO City of Music. It’s safe to say that Liverpool wouldn’t be Liverpool without music – and music wouldn’t be music without Liverpool.
“No region in the UK has had more number one hits – and nowhere can throw a party quite like us. I can think of nowhere more qualified, more experienced or more fitting to host the Eurovision than the Liverpool City Region.”