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What musicians from each country wore to kick off the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

Amanda Krause   

What musicians from each country wore to kick off the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest
Käärijä attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.Anthony Devlin/Stringer
  • The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is being hosted in Liverpool, England, starting on Tuesday.
  • Ahead of the event, contestants made daring fashion statements at the opening ceremony.

The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest is officially underway.

Each year, countries around the world choose a musical representative of their nation to perform in the contest hosted by the European Broadcasting Union. Multiple rounds and audience votes determine the year's best song, and the competition is then hosted in the winner's home country the following year.

Previous winners include Celine Dion, ABBA, Måneskin, and most recently, Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra.

This year's contest is being held in Liverpool, England — a spot chosen to avoid conflicts with Russia after Ukraine's 2022 victory — and will be streamed in the US via Peacock starting on Tuesday.

And to kick off the event, participants walked the turquoise carpet at Eurovision's opening ceremony on Saturday in standout outfits. Here's what the representatives of each country wore.

Mae Muller of the United Kingdom hit the red carpet in a periwinkle gown.

Mae Muller of the United Kingdom hit the red carpet in a periwinkle gown.
Mae Muller attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Her custom Agro Studio dress wrapped around her body to create a form-fitting skirt and a hood that extended from one of its long sleeves.

There was also an extra piece of fabric that draped down her hip into a short train.

The members of Ukraine's 2023 entrant Tvorchi wore color-block suits emblazoned with an important message.

The members of Ukraine
Tvorchi attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

On Instagram, the electronic music duo explained that the names and weights printed on their suit jackets were those of children born prematurely and underweight during the war in Ukraine.

The garments were a collaboration between the band and UNITED24, Ukraine's official fundraising platform founded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Remo Forrer of Switzerland kept things simple in a black-and-white outfit.

Remo Forrer of Switzerland kept things simple in a black-and-white outfit.
Remo Forrer attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

He wore a black, button-up top over dark trousers and a white, racing-style jacket with black stripes.

Forrer was also joined by dancers clad in black outfits with mesh detailing and cutouts, who seemingly hinted at his upcoming Eurovision performance.

Sweden's representative Loreen wore a flowing gown that showed her tattoos.

Sweden
Loreen attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Peter Byrne - PA Images/Getty Images

Her white, sleeveless gown was embellished with ruffles and a short slit in its skirt that revealed her platform heels.

Blanca Paloma of Spain looked like a warrior on the red carpet.

Blanca Paloma of Spain looked like a warrior on the red carpet.
Blanca Paloma attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

She wore a see-through, lace-embellished jumpsuit with white fringe hanging from its strapless neckline, and a ruffled cape with a long train that wrapped around her on the floor.

To complete the look, the singer added gold arm bands with red fringe hanging down each one.

Joker Out, a rock band from Slovenia, coordinated in mostly-black outfits.

Joker Out, a rock band from Slovenia, coordinated in mostly-black outfits.
Joker Out attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Some members of the band wore standout jackets, while others donned see-through blouses.

Luke Black represented Serbia while wearing one of this year's most popular fashion trends: floral appliqués.

Luke Black represented Serbia while wearing one of this year
Luke Black attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Ruffled flowers wrapped around one shoulder of his oversized, blue button-up shirt, which he wore with baggy, gray trousers and Oxford shoes.

The members of Piqued Jacks, a rock band from San Marino, all wore bold outfits.

The members of Piqued Jacks, a rock band from San Marino, all wore bold outfits.
Piqued Jacks attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Standout pieces of their outfits included a mesh robe, a leopard-print corset, a pajama-style suit, and a tulle bow tie.

Romania's entrant Theodor Andrei rocked zebra print for the occasion.

Romania
Theodor Andrei attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

He paired his black-and-white blazer with rolled shorts, knee-high socks, red sunglasses, and dark boots decorated with roses.

Mimicat from Portugal chose a glamorous gown and standout jewelry.

Mimicat from Portugal chose a glamorous gown and standout jewelry.
Mimicat attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Portuguese designer Dino Alves created her black gown, which had balloon sleeves that matched her puffed skirt. The latter also had tulle poking out at the bottom.

The singer completed the look with red heels, a statement gold necklace, and matching drop earrings.

Polish singer Blanka wore a prom-esque look in a neon-green shade.

Polish singer Blanka wore a prom-esque look in a neon-green shade.
Blanka attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Her outfit included a strapless bralette covered in crystals, green gloves, and a full, high-waisted skirt with the word "bejba" written in pink across its train.

The word means baby in Polish, and is one of the singer's nicknames.

Alessandra from Norway could have been mistaken for royalty in her sparkling crown that wrapped around her updo.

Alessandra from Norway could have been mistaken for royalty in her sparkling crown that wrapped around her updo.
Alessandra attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

She also wore a black, strapless gown with a thigh-high slit, a fringe cape, and lace gloves.

Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper of the Netherlands wore black and silver on the red carpet.

Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper of the Netherlands wore black and silver on the red carpet.
Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper attend the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Mia wore a chainmail-style piece over her strapless minidress, while Dion paired his pinstripe suit with layered chain necklaces.

Moldova's contestant Pasha Parfeni matched with his band in a gold outfit.

Moldova
Pasha Parfeni attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

He wore his shining outfit with a low-cut top and black sandals.

Members of The Busker, a pop band from Malta, wore unique suits for the opening ceremony.

Members of The Busker, a pop band from Malta, wore unique suits for the opening ceremony.
The Busker attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Their yellow and blue outfits featured a blend of ruching and textured fabric, and the band accessorized with everything from sunglasses to a saxophone.

Monika Linkytė represented Lithuania in a blue gown fit for a princess.

Monika Linkytė represented Lithuania in a blue gown fit for a princess.
Monika Linkytė attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

The off-the-shoulder dress, designed by UTA studio, had a corseted bodice and high-low skirt that flowed into a long train.

Latvian indie-rock band Sudden Lights kept their fashion very casual.

Latvian indie-rock band Sudden Lights kept their fashion very casual.
Sudden Lights attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

While one member wore a denim button-up tucked into jeans, another member went barefoot on the red carpet.

Italy's representative Marco Mengoni donned a leather getup ahead of the competition.

Italy
Marco Mengoni attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

He wore a black, sleeveless top tucked into leather pants, and a matching leather vest on top. He also wore gold jewelry and a belt with a thick, silver buckle.

Noa Kirel of Israel wore one of the night's most daring outfits

Noa Kirel of Israel wore one of the night
Noa Kirel attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

She wore a silver ensemble designed by Alon Livne. It featured an asymmetrical bralette and column skirt that slanted below her stomach.

Irish indie-rock band Wild Youth rocked black ensembles on the red carpet.

Irish indie-rock band Wild Youth rocked black ensembles on the red carpet.
Wild Youth attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Each member of the band took a different approach to their black outfits.

One wore a sparkling jumpsuit, while another donned a printed tuxedo. Another member sported pinstripes, and a fourth paired sneakers with his casual outfit.

Diljá from Iceland wore an optical-illusion outfit.

Diljá from Iceland wore an optical-illusion outfit.
Diljá attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

You might think her long-sleeved top and pants were crafted from denim — but they were actually only printed with photos of the fabric.

Greece's Victor Vernicos carried his country's flag and wore a tan outfit.

Greece
Victor Vernicos attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

His red-carpet look included a tan blazer with one side of his jacket tucked into his khaki shorts and a brown T-shirt.

German metal band Lord of the Lost focused on edgy outerwear.

German metal band Lord of the Lost focused on edgy outerwear.
Lord of the Lost attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Each member of the band wore a thick black coat over all-black outfits, and they completed their looks with boots.

Representing Georgia, the singer Iru wore a black blazer as a dress.

Representing Georgia, the singer Iru wore a black blazer as a dress.
Iru attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

The minidress was embellished with rows of crystals and a printed Georgian phrase. It was designed by the Georgian fashion brand History.

La Zarra from France donned a fairytale-inspired dress and matching hat.

La Zarra from France donned a fairytale-inspired dress and matching hat.
La Zarra attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Her black-and-white, diamond-print gown had a fitted, long-sleeved bodice and full, floor-length skirt.

It was designed by Romain Thevenin, who said on Instagram that its design was inspired by "Alice in Wonderland" and French royalty.

Käärijä, a rapper from Finland, rocked his signature shade of neon green.

Käärijä, a rapper from Finland, rocked his signature shade of neon green.
Käärijä attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer

Instead of a shirt, he wore puffy green sleeves connected by a thin strip of fabric above his chest. The rapper also wore neon-green pants with studs and knee pads.

Estonia's entrant Alika kept things casual with a slight edge.

Estonia
Alika attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

She wore a black, single-strap dress with a thigh-high slit on the red carpet, and added square-toe boots and a silver chain necklace to complete the look

On top, she also wore a tan overcoat with ruched sleeves and torn fabric.

Reiley, a singer from Denmark, wore the year's hottest color: pink.

Reiley, a singer from Denmark, wore the year
Reiley attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

He wore a bedazzled mesh top underneath a cropped blazer, and pants with the same pink stripes and crystal embellishments his jacket had.

For accessories, the musician carried heart-shaped balloons and a purse filled with lollipops.

Each member of Vesna, a folk band from Czechia, wore a flowing gown in different shades of pink, purple, and blue.

Each member of Vesna, a folk band from Czechia, wore a flowing gown in different shades of pink, purple, and blue.
Vesna attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Some of their gowns were strapless with ruffled necklines, while others were sleeveless or had short, sheer sleeves.

Andrew Lambrou, the representative for Cyprus, added purple accents to his all-white outfit.

Andrew Lambrou, the representative for Cyprus, added purple accents to his all-white outfit.
Andrew Lambrou attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

To complement his oversized white vest and matching pants, the singer donned purple velvet sneakers and sunglasses in the same color.

Croatia's band Let 3 first stepped on the red carpet in colorful coats.

Croatia
Let 3 attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Peter Byrne - PA Images/Getty Images

But while posing for photos, the band removed their jackets to reveal white petticoats and shirts with children's faces on them.

On Instagram, the band wrote that "children should not be stolen" alongside a photo of their outfits.

Gustaph, a musician from Belgium, wore a classic suit with unique details.

Gustaph, a musician from Belgium, wore a classic suit with unique details.
Gustaph attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Both the sleeves of his suit jacket and the legs of his pants had thin slits on the edges. The sleeves were also decorated with white ruffles.

TuralTuranX, a duo from Azerbaijan, embraced two trends: corsets and florals.

TuralTuranX, a duo from Azerbaijan, embraced two trends: corsets and florals.
TuralTuranX attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

The twin brothers wore floral blouses in contrasting colors, but they matched the rest of their outfits. They donned leather waist corsets, black trousers, and dark dress shoes.

Austria's Teya and Salena both wore oversized outfits on the red carpet.

Austria
Teya and Salena attend the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Their outfits were designed by CI W EN.

Teya's black ensemble featured an animal-print jacket over baggy pants and combat boots, while Salena's gray look had a striped jacket and cargo pants tucked into stiletto boots.

Members of Voyager, a metal band from Australia, wore sparkling gold.

Members of Voyager, a metal band from Australia, wore sparkling gold.
Voyager attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Houndstooth was a popular print among the band, with three members wearing it across their sequin-covered pants.

Two other members opted for the same sparkling fabric but in animal prints.

Armenia's contestant Brunette wore a slinky outfit that made her look like a mermaid.

Armenia
Brunette attends the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Narek Jhangirian designed her two-piece outfit, which included a silver, sculptured bralette and a black, mermaid-style skirt.

Albina & Familja Kelmendi of Albania wore regal gowns and suits.

Albina & Familja Kelmendi of Albania wore regal gowns and suits.
Albina & Familja Kelmendi attend the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony.      Anthony Devlin/Stringer/Getty Images

Designer Saime Buleshka created the performer's outfit.

It had a mesh jumpsuit covered in sequins and beads underneath a black gown with bow-shaped sleeves and a thigh-high slit in its full skirt.

Albina's family members, on the other hand, opted for a mix of jewel-toned gowns and dark suits.

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