Eurovision Watch party & Sweepstake 2023
Eurovision returns to the UK - what better time to organise a watch party & sweepstake?
Millions will be watching the music contest and celebrating peace and unity - are you organising your own watch party & sweepstake? Use our toolkit and support EU citizens in the UK.
This year's slogan "United by Music" feels more important than ever. With Ukraine being unable to host the contest until peace prevails, in these unprecedented times, celebrating unity and solidarity is crucial.
At the3million, we represent millions of EU citizens living in the UK. Eurovision 2023 means a lot to us. It's a symbolic moment when we can celebrate EU communities and our contributions to the UK. It marks the departure from divisive rhetoric and towards a brighter future where the UK and the EU have a positive relationship.
Join us in celebrating EU communities in the UK!
We want to shine a light on EU citizens and communities who have made the UK our home. As millions will be watching across the country, what better time to find out more about people from different countries participating?
We've put together a toolkit with everything you need to organise a memorable watch party: sweepstake sheets, delicious and easy-to-make European recipes and lots of tid bits of information to help you learn more about EU communities in the UK. Combined with the ever entertaining acts from Eurovision contestants, what more could we ask for? Join us!
How to host a memorable Eurovision watch party
With the contest entering its 67th edition, we’ve learnt to expect entertaining and flamboyant acts from Eurovision’s contestants as well as on-the-mark commentary from Graham Norton!
On top of that, you can use our toolkit to add some more fun to your watch party:
1. Use our Sweepstake Sheet to assign a country to each of your friends or colleagues.
There will be 37 countries participating this year in the semi-finals held on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th May: 26 countries will perform in the final on Saturday 13th May. Cut up the sheet, fold the pieces and get everyone to draw a country each, or more than one country each if there are fewer of you participating.
Or use a free online Eurovision Song Contest Sweepstake Generator to assign countries to everyone before your party.
2. Gather your pot
Everyone can make a contribution to join the sweepstake - it can be a few pounds per country, or whatever you'd like. Make sure you collect the money before the first semi-final starts and before the countries are drawn! If you’ve picked a country that doesn’t make it to the final… well, tough luck.
3. Get into the spirit of supporting your allocated country
Throughout the contest, learn more about the country you’ve picked, especially what that country’s community looks like in the UK. You can find inspiration for delicious and easy-to-make recipes from each participating country in our toolkit, so you don’t turn up to the watch party empty handed and get to connect with your allocated country even more!
4. Enjoy the show!
5. Award your winner
The winner can take the jackpot - or do so on a sliding scale (e.g. 50% for first place, 30% for 2nd place, 20% for 3rd place). Consider donating half the winnings to a charity like the3million (we support EU citizens in the UK to secure our rights after Brexit) or to a charity supporting Ukraine.
6. Post a picture from your watch party
Tag us on social media: @the3million
Support the3million during your Watchparty
The show is coming to an end, the winner is about to be announced, you enjoyed tasting food from across Europe’s cuisines and you learnt a bit more about the lives of EU citizens in the UK: stories of the richness we add to British society as well as stories of hardship and injustices…
So, here’s how you can support the3million tonight and beyond:
- Make a one off donation from your sweepstake pot, so we can continue to advocate for the rights of EU citizens in the UK.
- Set up a regular donation to continue to support EU citizens in the longer term: www.the3million.org.uk/donate
- Follow us on social media @the3million
- Sign up to receive our newsletter
- Know of any local organisations run by and for EU citizens? Tell them about us!
How we will put your donations to use:
- £10 could go towards the cost of maintaining our website which provides crucial information to EU citizens, including what to do if you are struggling to prove your Settled Status due to technical issues.
- £20 could go towards maintaining our email and Zoom accounts, essential to enable us to bring our diverse EU communities together, organising our campaigns and initiatives with people across the country.
- £30 could go towards keeping our annual accounts in order, ensuring we remain transparent, accountable and fulfil our obligations.
