The Eurovision festivities have kicked off, signaling the start of a week marked by vibrant pop music, extravagant costumes, and the inevitable swirl of protests. The extravaganza reaches its grand finale with the 69th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night. Basel, a city in Switzerland, is hosting this yearโs event, drawing contestants from 37 countries for a dazzling show that unites disco elements with diplomatic charm.
Having captured an audience of over 160 million viewers in the previous year, Eurovision is an immensely popular event that some relish as a guilty pleasure and others embrace with wholehearted enthusiasm. Hereโs everything you need to know about this yearโs competition:
This yearโs Eurovision is nestled in Switzerland because of Nemo, the Swiss singer who clinched victory last year with โThe Code,โ an operatic anthem. Basel, which shares borders with Germany and France, was selected as the host city. The competition boasts participation from countries all over Europe, along with nations like Israel and Australia, as they all send representatives to claim the spotlight at the St. Jakobshalle arena. The semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, will whittle down the competitors to the 20 acts who will compete in the final.
The โBig Fiveโ countries, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K., along with Switzerland as the host, automatically secure their spots in the final event.
If youโre looking to watch Eurovision 2025, youโll find it broadcasted through national networks in the participating countries. For those in the United States, it will be available on the streaming service Peacock, with an online stream on the Eurovision YouTube channel accessible to many other countries. In European cities, bars and clubs often host viewing parties for the finals.
Halfdan Helgi Matthiasson, representing Iceland as one half of the sibling duo VAEB, describes his family tradition of enjoying Eurovision with popcorn and snacks on their sofa. Meanwhile, Croatian contestant Marko Boลกnjak loves to host Eurovision parties, encouraging guests to rate the performances. Czechiaโs competitor, Adonxs, fondly recalls working at a London pub during Eurovision, a memory that comes with the amusing anecdote of suffering an allergic reaction from face paint the next day.
Viewers in participating countries will have the chance to vote during the semifinals and final through phone, text message, or the Eurovision app. However, votes canโt be cast for oneโs own country. Even viewers in nonparticipating nations like the U.S. can join in by voting online, where the global vote equates to the weight of a single country.
While semifinalists are decided solely by public vote, the grand finale winner results from a blend of public votes and the scores from music industry juries representing every participating country. Juries award between one and 12 points, often leading to memorable moments when countries announce who receives the coveted 12 points.
With the public and jury votes combined, countries receive a score that could lead to the embarrassment of โnul pointsโ (zero points).
Sweden emerges as a frontrunner, with โBara Bada Bastu,โ an energetic track celebrating sauna culture performed by the trio KAJ, highly favored by bookies. While favorites often triumph, surprises have been known to happen. Other contenders generating buzz include Austrian vocalist JJ with his โpoperaโ piece โWasted Love,โ the evocative French ballad โmamanโ by Louane, Dutch entry Claudeโs โCโest La Vie,โ and Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, who presents โNew Day Will Rise,โ inspired by his survival of an attack in October 2023.
Protests remain a characteristic element of Eurovision, particularly regarding Israelโs participation, as seen in recent years. While Israel has been part of Eurovision for over half a century and won four times, last yearโs event in Malmo, Sweden, saw significant protests calling for Israelโs exclusion due to its actions against Hamas in Gaza. Calls for Israelโs exclusion gained momentum when former participants and several broadcasters questioned its association with the contest.
Despite the fervor, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees Eurovision, emphasizes that Israel is represented by its public broadcaster, KAN, not governmental bodies. In response to past tensions, including last yearโs Dutch contestantโs expulsion, the EBU has reinforced its conduct code, promoting values of diversity and neutrality. Restrictions now include a ban on waving non-national flags during the event, a policy criticized for inadvertently suppressing LGBTQ+ pride flag displays but with some leniency allowed for audience members after past controversies, including the banning of Palestinian flags.