Sweden has won the 2023 Eurovision song contest and now equals Ireland’s record for the most wins. 

Singer Loreen sang the pop anthem Tattoo and received 583 points - beating Nordic neighbours, Finland, by 57 points. 

"This is so overwhelming," Loreen said as she was handed the victor’s trophy. 

"I'm so grateful. I'm so thankful.

"In my wildest dreams, I didn't think this would happen."

Loreen - Tattoo! 🇸🇪 The winner of #Eurovision 2023! pic.twitter.com/h74edfVS1h

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 13, 2023

This is the second time Loreen has won Eurovision for Sweden - having previously come first in 2012. 

Her success means she now rivals Ireland’s Johnny Logan - who won twice in the 1980s - as one of the greatest stars in the history of the competition. 

Loreen of Sweden draws lots after the Eurovision 2023 Semi-final 1 at Liverpool Arena in Liverpool, England on May 9, 2023. Photo: Sanjin Strukic/PIXSELL Credit: Pixsell/Alamy Live News

Europe with Ukraine

This year’s competition was hosted in Liverpool following the EBU’s decision that it would be too dangerous to host it in war-torn Ukraine. 

Ukraine won the contest in 2022 following a landslide in the public vote section of the competition and, as the runner up, the United Kingdom was chosen to host instead. 

Belfast made the short-list of the seven final cities but was passed over for a variety of reasons; organisers were concerned by the absence of a functioning Assembly, the venue was too small and Liverpool had superior experience hosting large public events. 

Still, despite its British location, the competition had solidarity with Ukraine at its heart; blue and yellow flags were everywhere, Croatia's Let 3! sang a song that referred to Putin as a "crocodile psychopath" and Czechia’s entry included a lyric in Ukrainian which translates as, "We're with you in our hearts".

Tvorchi, who performed on behalf of Ukraine, sang a song about the siege of Mariupol and, while they were singing, Russians began bombarding their hometown of Ternopil. 

President Zelenskyy had hoped to address the contest but was barred by the EBU on the grounds it would politicise the event.

Main image: Sweden's Loreen. Picture by: Alamy.com