Eurovision Song Contest 2025: What to Expect as Switzerland Hosts the Big Event

Get ready to sparkle and sing along! The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is just around the corner. This year, the musical event will be hosted in Basel, Switzerland. Acts from 37 countries will battle for Europe’s biggest music prize. Known as the “pop Olympics,” Eurovision brings together excitement, drama, and sometimes even political tension.

Here’s everything you need to know about Eurovision 2025.

What is the Eurovision Song Contest?

Eurovision is an international singing competition. It features artists from European countries and some from outside Europe. Each act performs a three-minute song, hoping to win votes from national juries and viewers around the world.

The contest started in 1956. It was meant to test live TV broadcasting and bring countries together after World War II. Over the years, Eurovision has grown to include almost 40 countries, with famous winners like ABBA, Måneskin, and Conchita Wurst.

Eurovision is famous for colorful costumes, amazing stage shows, and songs that are either catchy or downright silly. In 2024, 163 million people around the world tuned in to watch the contest.

When and Where is Eurovision 2025?

Switzerland will host Eurovision this year because Swiss singer Nemo won the 2024 contest with their powerful song “The Code.” The event will take place at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, a city near the borders of France and Germany.

There will be two semifinals, on May 13 and May 15. The grand final will be held on Saturday, May 17. Swiss broadcasters Hazel Brugger, Michelle Hunziker, and Sandra Studer will host the show.

Switzerland has a special connection to Eurovision. The first-ever contest was held there in 1956. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, is also based in Geneva. Switzerland has won the contest twice before: once in 1956 and again in 1988 with Celine Dion.

How Politics and Pop Collide

Eurovision aims to unite people through music. However, political tensions sometimes sneak into the show. Rules ban political messages, but controversies still happen.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been banned from competing. Ukraine won in 2022 but could not host in 2023 because of the war. Liverpool, England, stepped in to hold the event instead.

In 2024, protests erupted in Malmö, Sweden, where the contest was held. Protesters demanded that Israel be removed because of the war in Gaza. Israeli singer Eden Golan had to change her song’s lyrics and performed under heavy security. Her song, renamed “Hurricane,” finished fifth.

There was also drama when Dutch singer Joost Klein was expelled after a dispute with a production staff member. As a result, Eurovision organizers have tightened the rules for 2025. Participants are now reminded to respect Eurovision’s values of universality, diversity, equality, and political neutrality.

Who Are the Favorites for 2025?

Sweden is the top favorite to win again. The Swedish group KAJ will perform “Bara Bada Bastu,” a fun song about sauna culture. If they win, Sweden will become the country with the most Eurovision victories, passing Ireland.

Other strong contenders include:

• JJ from Austria with a “popera” song called “Wasted Love”
• Louane from France singing a ballad titled “Maman”
• Claude from the Netherlands with “C’est La Vie”
• Yuval Raphael from Israel, a survivor of the Oct. 7 attacks, with “New Day Will Rise”

Some unique entries to watch are Estonia’s fast-paced “Espresso Macchiato” by Tony Cash and Iceland’s brother duo VAEB with “Róa,” a song about rowing. Ireland’s Emmy also brings a creative touch with “Laika Party,” a tribute to the first dog in space.

“There’s a lot of novelty acts this year,” said Paul Jordan, known as Dr. Eurovision. “People seem to crave a bit of fun and escape from the world’s chaos.”

He also mentioned a lot of playful songs, like Australia’s “Milkshake Man” and Malta’s “Serving,” both of which had to change their lyrics to fit the contest’s guidelines.

How to Watch and Vote

Eurovision will be broadcast by national TV channels in participating countries. In the United States, viewers can watch the show on Peacock. The Eurovision YouTube channel will also stream the event in some places.

Most contestants will perform in the two semifinals. Twenty acts will advance to the grand final. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and host Switzerland automatically qualify.

Voting will open at the start of the grand final on May 17. Viewers can vote through phone, text message, or the Eurovision app. However, you cannot vote for your own country. Fans from non-participating countries, like the U.S., can vote online or through the app.

After the voting, each country will reveal its jury and public votes live. Watching the points come in creates thrilling suspense — and sometimes a few heartbreaks for countries receiving “nul points” (zero points).

Paul Jordan believes Sweden has a strong chance but warns, “It could well be that a country sneaks up the middle.”