The Eurovision Song Contest, a highly anticipated annual event, will return in 2025 with exciting performances from various countries. The grand final is set to take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 20:00 BST, in St Jakobshalle—a prominent indoor arena located in beautiful Basel, Switzerland. This year’s competition promises to showcase a lineup of an eclectic mix of artists and their original works, with the UK’s entry featuring the country-pop trio, Remember Monday, performing their song “What The Hell Just Happened.”
Throughout its rich history, Eurovision has continued to fascinate audiences with its lively performances, innovative staging, and diverse musical styles. The 2025 theme, “Welcome Home,” is particularly significant as it marks Switzerland’s role as the original host country, having held the first contest in 1956. In keeping with tradition, contestants are required to perform original songs lasting no longer than three minutes while adhering to strict guidelines, including live vocals without lip-syncing or auto-tuning.
To accommodate fans worldwide, the final will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Notable television personality Graham Norton will serve as the host for the UK audience. Meanwhile, Scott Mills and Rylan Clark will provide commentary through BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Hosting inside the arena will be renowned presenters Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer, and Michelle Hunziker, who will bring the excitement of the contest directly to viewers.
This year, Eurovision 2025 features a total of 37 participating countries. Most are situated in Europe, although Australia will also be among the competitors, participating annually since it joined the celebration for the contest’s 60th anniversary in 2015. However, Australia is excluded from the possibility of hosting the event, should it win. Newly returning to the competition is Montenegro, taking the place of Moldova, which withdrew due to financial constraints. Other non-European countries, such as Israel, maintain participation through their membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The spotlight will also be on Switzerland, not only as the host but also as the reigning champion from the previous year. Nemo, the Ukrainian act that won in 2024 with “The Code,” is slated to perform as a guest. Switzerland’s 2025 entry, Zoë Më, will present her song titled “Voyage,” adding to the host country’s contributions in a vibrant way.
The “Big Five” nations—namely, the UK, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany—gain automatic entry to the final thanks to their financial support of the contest. Switzerland is honored with a direct qualification following its victory the prior year. A total of 26 countries will proceed to the grand finale after semi-final rounds, including an open letter signed by over 70 former contestants requesting the exclusion of Israel’s public broadcaster amid allegations of complicity in political conflicts.
As tension surrounds some competitors, such as Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who is bracing for potential backlash during her performance due to recent geopolitical issues, Eurovision’s commitment to being a non-political event comes into question. Furthermore, fans can anticipate a detailed voting process where each participating nation bestows both jury and public votes, creating a comprehensive score that will ultimately decide the winner.
In summary, Eurovision 2025 sets the stage for a fresh blend of musical talent, cultural representation, and national pride. With a journey taken by contestants from vastly different backgrounds, the competition promises a celebration of unity through music, all encompassed in the spirit embodied by the picturesque cities that host the grand event. Whether tuning in to vote, cheer for favorite entries, or simply enjoy the performances, fans across Europe and beyond will undoubtedly find excitement within this long-standing tradition of art and entertainment.