After a highly competitive application process between four potential bids, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation have shortlisted the final two cities in the running to host Eurovision 2025 in Switzerland – either Basel or Geneva.
Bids by Bern/Biel, who planned to host the first Eurovision across cities, and Zurich, the odds-on favourite to host, were ruled out.
The final announcement selecting the host city will be sometime in August.
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As per the selection process, any host city needs to meet certain requirements: making a substantial financial contribution to host the event, having a venue that can accommodate around 10,000 spectators, an international airport with a large number of European flight connections, an efficient transport system, and a large hotel accommodation capacity of at least 2,000 rooms. Additionally, the host city needs the infrastructure and venues to host the Press Centre, Delegation Bubble, Eurovision Village, EuroClub, and side events.
Let’s run through how each host city meets those requirements.
Geneva
Geneva was no doubt a strong contender for hosting Eurovision, and was one of the cities that has shown interest in hosting the show from early on. The city has proposed the International Exhibition and Convention Center Palexpo as the venue – which can hold up to 15,000 spectators (although this is expected to drop some several thousand to make way for Eurovision’s stage). Additionally, Geneva has an international airport with numerous international flights, an efficient transportation system, and meets the required hotel capacity. Authorities in Geneva have already pledged some CHF30 million for the organisation of the contest.
Geneva is, in itself, a truly global city. Situated on Lake Geneva, the city serves as Switzerland’s financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy as the headquarters of the United Nations. It also serves as the administrative home of the Eurovision Broadcasting Union – just in case you wish to pay Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl a visit!
In a post after Nemo’s win this year, Palexpo expressed:
“Eurovision at Palexpo?
“Following Nemo’s victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on Saturday night in Malmö, Switzerland will host the event in May 2025.
“In this context, Palexpo, in collaboration with the Geneva authorities, is working to host the event in Geneva in 2025, which will be organized by SSR.
Approximately 32,000 square meters, capable of accommodating nearly 15,000 spectators, can be made available, as well as the entirety of the three congress centres at Palexpo to host more than 2,000 journalists.”
Basel
Basel, a strong cultural hub situated along the border of both France and Germany, is a strong symbol of unity through music. The venue they propose for next year’s edition is St. Jakobshalle, with an arena capacity of approximately 12,000 spectators (which would be expected to reduce by some thousands for the Eurovision stage). Besides the arena, there are five more halls suitable for the press and other Eurovision events. Boasting an excellent transportation system. Basel is home to an international airport, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, and is also just one hour away from Zurich’s airport.
Situated on the Rhine River, Basel is Switzerland’s third most populous city after Zurich and Geneva. Considered the cultural capital of the country, the city is home to 40 museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Kunstmuseum – the oldest public art collection in the world. Basel is also the birthplace of tennis legend Roger Federer – could we see the Maestro make an appearance? Maybe even swapping a racquet for hosting duties?
Potential arena St. Jakobshalle expressed their interest to host the contest early on in a post about next year’s edition:
“Congratulations to Nemo on the well-deserved victory at the Eurovision Song Contest! The entire nation is proud. 🥳 🏆
“Switzerland, we are ready for ESC 2025! For the third time in history, our country will be the host. The St. Jakobshalle Basel is perfectly suited as the venue, with its 20,000 square meters and an arena that can accommodate 12,400 people. With its strategically advantageous location at the tri-border area and excellent public transportation connections, we are the right choice to host this event. 💫
“Nothing is decided yet, but we are ready to pull out all the stops to bring the ESC to Basel! 🎤🎼 Keep your fingers crossed for us!”
Which city would you prefer to host Eurovision in 2025? Basel or Geneva? Let us know in the comments below.
Whichever is more likely to tempt Celine Dion
Geneva is offering way more money so there will be enough to get Celine Dion to perform, and Geneva is French speaking so more appropriate for her
#TeamGeneva all the way
Lets go to the most iconic, epic, historic greatest esc of all time pls
Okay, but please stop hating Eurovision. In fact, I think the EBU should impose a ban on… * Trying to pronounce Eurovision dead * Wanting Eurovision to end after 2025 * Harassing the EBU * Lying about Israel (you should know Israel is a victim of genocidal Palestine and that the EBU doesn’t support genocide!) Haters gonna hate, but the EBU shouldn’t deal all these Eurovision-hating (plural c word censored and replaced by a bleep) anymore. The long-running reality show that has united Europe through music since 1956, given the fact music is an important part of history, should be… Read more »
I think it should be Basel:
With Basel/Moulhouse and Zürich Airport, it has two easyjet airports in proximity. And people could use both Zürich and Basel for hostel accommodation as it is only 1 hour 5 minutes from one middle of the city to another.
Basel is also easily accesible from Moulhouse/France and Freiburg/Germany.
Geneva is basically only close to only wilderness in the southernwest most corner of the country.
If we are saying Geneva not Genève, then we should be saying Basle not Basel
First we say Bâle in French.
The “^” (accent circonflexe in French) replaces the “s” that has disappeared
(Fr. Bâle. / It. Basilea / De : Basel)
Gareth Bale is Gareth Basel then LMAO
sorry?
Gareth Bale is a former footballer if you didn’t know
Thanks, so Basle is the correct English then
St. Jakob-Park in Basel is also a hot contender to be the host venue. It can seat over 40,000 people, all it needs is a roof!
Bring back the days of Eurovision being in huge arenas
Please no, 2001, 2009 and 2011 looked so empty.
I think most fans who want Eurovision back in massive arenas are those who are too young to remember (or who weren’t even born) the horror of Copenhagen 2001.
They somehow do it for the Melfest final in the Friends Arena. They did however section the arena into half
40.000 people, no way this amateur contest will ever get that amount of audiences lol
Geneva is the smart obvious choice.
Therefore it will almost definitely be Basel.
I’m more team Geneva, but whatever the city I would be ok. The more important thing is that Eurovision happens, in which place is secondary.
Wow…did not expect Zurich to be ruled out so soon.
I’m guessing Geneva it is then…I wonder if the Palexpo’s location next door to Geneva Airport is the USP that Geneva’s bid offers.
Plus maybe no one in the EBU fancies travelling anywhere next year.
Here’s to Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and future editions.
The two most boring cities then lmao
What a flop
Not if you realize hating a long-running reality show like the Eurovision Song Contest and trying to pronounce it dead doesn’t mean the EBU will announce that 2025 is the contest’s final year prior to the first semi-final or after confirming the list of participating countries. Otherwise, countries I really miss such as Montenegro, Slovakia, Andorra, Monaco, Turkey, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia would never win. We don’t want this to be like Fox cancelling American Idol. Not everyone was sad when Fox announce that, in May 2015, prior to the season 14 finale, the show’s 15th season would be the… Read more »
I wonder how the Women’s Euro 2025 in July 2025 with the opening and final being in Basel impacts their chances of hosting ESC. Could be it helps since Basel is already gearing up to host in July or hurts because they already have too much responsibility to Euro 2025.
I’m surprised Eric is not one of the two shortlisted cities for hosting Eurovision 2025. I wonder what happened in that bid that got rejected because it seemed perfect.
Zurich. Damn auto diction.
Basel would be the ideal host city because its geography is perfect for a contest meant to unite Europe. It’s located near the point where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, and the closest cities outside of Switzerland are Mulhouse (France) and Freiburg (Germany). There is even an airport connecting all three cities.
Geneva it is. So if there’s yet another jury winner that the public didn’t want, fans can walk to the EBU headquarters and revolt.
Basel hopefully. Both look amazing but I think Basel would be a better choice, in terms of diversity
Although the arena & airport in Geneva are bigger, I think Basel would be a great host since is the cultural capital of Switzerland and would be a cheaper option since most delegations can seek accommodation in France/Germany.
It will probably be Basel, really thought it was gonna be in Zurich
What This Switz Hosting Its Turning Into . ? What Is This Behawiour And Zürich Was The Host City Its Like Rigged . No One Want Geneve And This Pro-EU Crap Again And Again We Want A World Classed Citie