The EBU has announced today that Martin Österdahl, the current Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor will be stepping down from his position this summer.
Martin Österdahl will be stepping down as the Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor after serving a 5 year term in the position. He was appointed as the EBU’s Eurovision Executive Supervisor in 2020. He has overseen both the Eurovision Song Contest and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the past 5 years.
Osterdahl oversaw the Eurovision Song Contest editions from 2021-2025 ( Rotterdam, Turin, Liverpool, Malmo and Basel)
Eurovision aficionados will remember that Martin was the ESC Executive Producer in 2013 (Malmo) and 2016 (Stockholm) when the competition was held in Sweden.
Martin Osterdahl says:
From day one, I was inspired by the Contest’s unique potential and power to unite people through music—never more so than in 2021, when we brought Eurovision back live to millions around the world amid a global pandemic, demonstrating the resilience and spirit at the heart of our community. I am immensely proud of the changes we made to modernize and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest. These include establishing the permanent “United By Music” slogan for the event, attracting long term sponsors and brand extension partnerships, and growing engagement and reach on our digital platforms that have brought millions of new fans to the Contest.
The ESC is now an event where hundreds of thousands sign up to buy tickets, a show watched by hundreds of millions, connecting with youth audiences worldwide, and stands as a unique platform for overnight global success for artists and songwriters.
As my overall involvement with the ESC is now approaching a period of twenty years in total, it has been the honour of my professional life to steer the world’s largest music event, developing the Contest as a global super brand that brings joy to more people than ever before.
I am deeply grateful to the entire ESC community and particularly to the ESC Core Team, participating broadcasters, artists, and fans for their passion and support.
Martin Green ( Eurovision Song Contest Director/ EBU) will be taking over as the interim ESC Executive Supervisor until a new Executive Supervisor is apponinted.
Martin Green (CBE) says:
On behalf of everyone at the EBU, all our participating broadcasters, partners and the entire Eurovision Song Contest community, I extend my sincere thanks to Martin Österdahl for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to the event. His steady leadership through some of the Contest’s most challenging and innovative years has set new standards of excellence. As we approach our 70th anniversary next year, Martin is leaving his role having played an integral part in growing the Eurovision Song Contest brand and ensuring its bright future. We thank him for his amazing work and lasting impact on the Song Contest, and wish him every success.
The official EBU’s press release reads:
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that Martin Österdahl will be stepping down from his role as Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC), following five years of overseeing and transforming the world’s largest music event.
Appointed in 2020, Martin Österdahl has managed a period of remarkable innovation and resilience in the Contest’s history, including the staging of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam during the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the unprecedented hosting of the 2023 Contest by the BBC in Liverpool on behalf of 2022’s winning broadcaster, Ukraine’s Suspilne, and this year’s record-breaking edition hosted by SRG SSR in Basel.
Under his leadership, the Eurovision Song Contest has implemented changes to modernize the Contest and extend its reach – including advancing digital engagement and deepening its commitment to inclusivity and creativity across Europe and beyond – ensuring the event has continued to grow in popularity and relevance.
Prior to his appointment as ESC Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl, was twice the Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest (2013, 2016) and a member of the ESC Reference Group for seven years.
Reflecting on his role as Executive Supervisor for five ESCs in Rotterdam, Turin, Liverpool, Malmö and Basel, and JESCs in Warsaw, Paris, Yerevan, Nice and Madrid, Martin Österdahl said:
“From day one, I was inspired by the Contest’s unique potential and power to unite people through music—never more so than in 2021, when we brought Eurovision back live to millions around the world amid a global pandemic, demonstrating the resilience and spirit at the heart of our community. I am immensely proud of the changes we made to modernize and strengthen the Eurovision Song Contest. These include establishing the permanent “United By Music” slogan for the event, attracting long term sponsors and brand extension partnerships, and growing engagement and reach on our digital platforms that have brought millions of new fans to the Contest.
“The ESC is now an event where hundreds of thousands sign up to buy tickets, a show watched by hundreds of millions, connecting with youth audiences worldwide, and stands as a unique platform for overnight global success for artists and songwriters.
“As my overall involvement with the ESC is now approaching a period of twenty years in total, it has been the honour of my professional life to steer the world’s largest music event, developing the Contest as a global super brand that brings joy to more people than ever before.
“I am deeply grateful to the entire ESC community and particularly to the ESC Core Team, participating broadcasters, artists, and fans for their passion and support.”
Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, commented:
“On behalf of everyone at the EBU, all our participating broadcasters, partners and the entire Eurovision Song Contest community, I extend my sincere thanks to Martin Österdahl for his vision, expertise and tireless commitment to the event. His steady leadership through some of the Contest’s most challenging and innovative years has set new standards of excellence. As we approach our 70th anniversary next year, Martin is leaving his role having played an integral part in growing the Eurovision Song Contest brand and ensuring its bright future. We thank him for his amazing work and lasting impact on the Song Contest, and wish him every success.”
Martin Green CBE, who was appointed Director of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024, will assume the Executive Supervisor’s duties on an interim basis.
Further announcements regarding the future structure of the Eurovision Song Contest team will be made in due course.
The ESCToday Team would like to thank Martin Osterdahl for his hard work and contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest and wish him the best of luck for his future endevours.
