Sorry Geneva. The Eurovision 2025 host city has been confirmed — and we’re going to Basel!
The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will take place on Saturday 17 May in St. Jakobshalle. The semi-finals will be held on Tuesday 13 May and Thursday 15 May.
Tickets will go on sale later this year.
Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel said:
“It is a great honour for Basel to be able to host the world’s biggest live music event! We are looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to present Basel to the world as a cosmopolitan city of culture in the heart of Europe. As an open city in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, we overcome borders of all kinds every day. This fits in perfectly with the Eurovision Song Contest. We are already looking forward to welcoming our guests from all over Europe: welcome to Basel!”
Basel, a cultural hub situated along the border of both France and Germany, is a strong symbol of unity through music. The contest will take place inside St. Jakobshalle, which has a capacity of approximately 12,000 spectators (which would be reduced by some thousands to make space for the 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 and EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg. And it 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?
Basel confirmed as Eurovision 2025 host city
In a glossy announcement video, Swiss producers described Basel as “a city that lives music and creativity…a city that breaks codes and where all people can feel safe and belong.
Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, SRG SSR’s Joint Executive Producers of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, said:
“We were impressed by the quality of the cities’ applications! All 4 cities, and especially Geneva and Basel in the final round, fought for the title of “Host City” with creative approaches and a very constructive approach. Such commitment is by no means a matter of course. Our thanks therefore go to all the cities that applied. We look forward to working with you to make the ESC an unforgettable experience for the whole population.”
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said:
“The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The Contest was born in Switzerland in Lugano back in 1956 and it’s great to be bringing it back to its birthplace almost 70 years later.’
Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders.
With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Basel reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional St.Jakobshalle venue and outstanding hospitality will ensure a memorable experience for delegations, artists and fans alike.
Following Contests in the Italian and French speaking parts of the country in 1956 and 1989 we’re also excited to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to German Switzerland for the very first time.
Together with Host Broadcaster SRG SSR and the city of Basel we will create a spectacular celebration of music on the banks of the River Rhine that resonates far beyond the stage.”
Eurovision 2025 dates
Semi-Final 1 – May 13
Semi-Final 2 – May 15
Grand final – May 17
How the Eurovision 2025 host city was selected
After a highly competitive application process between four potential bids, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation shortlisted the Basel and 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.
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.
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!”
Are you excited that Basel will host Eurovision 2025? Let us know in the comments below.
There is a gay Sauna in Basel… So everything is ok.
That tweet from St. Jakobshalle was created by ChatGPT for sure
I love it when they choose small cities to host. It doesn’t have to be a giant industrial event. Give a chance to countries like San Marino to host!
enough with these unknown cities hosting, give us the iconic ones
I disagree. I think events like Eurovision are a great chance for underrated city to emerge on the global stage. It’s something refreshing.
big cities are overrated, the best are always the middling ones
Basel isn’t an “unknown city” unless you really suck at geography.
DJ Antoine is also from Basel, wonder if he could be persuaded to make the theme music? and possibly for the semi 1 opening act
Nope. Best cities are the middle cities.
You need to go back to school and get some geography classes you clown! lol
based basel
So it is Basel after all. I thought they didn’t have a chance because they had a roofless stadium, until I realized they put two different venues up and the one with a roof obviously got chosen. Although it doesn’t make sense to offer a roofless stadium as an option when it would be an extra and wasteful expense to put up a temp roof for just one major event.
At this point, I hope the selection committee contacts Netta the day before telling her the host city so that she will purposefully get it wrong every time
I find it amusing that so many people seem to have such strong feelings over the host city when, in reality, it has no real effect on their life at all unless you are participating or going to the event. Why not advocate for something that does matter to the audience and should to the EBU – like all live vocals? Like eliminating vocal distortions & gimmickry on the (pretend) backing tracks? Like EBU’s pretending that nearly all the lead vocals on tape still counts as a ‘backing track’? I don’t care if it is a bare stage with standard… Read more »
I also want to hear bad singers sing. I don’t care if it’s good or not, I just want it live.
Oh, there are fans still crowing about wanting the pre-recorded backing vocals requirement to be dropped, and everything go back to all live vocals, but unfortunately, I think at this point, it’s here to stay, four contests in.
Sadly, I believe you are right. It would take a massive uproar and a completely illegitimate winner for them to even consider thinking about going back to all live vocals. In the end, they will find a way to justify keeping them or more likely, just ignore everything and keep on what they were already doing.
You know, what you wrote about “a massive uproar and a completely illegitimate winner” is exactly what I’ve been thinking too. I’ve been anticipating in a dreading manner that the allowance of pre-recorded backing vocals could lead to a situation where a vocal cheater wins the contest and cause chaos in the aftermath. What happens if the EBU has to disqualify the winner? Do they return the trophy and the runner-up gets it? Does the country they won for be stripped of its hosting duties? Who would end up hosting the next year’s contest? Does that contest be removed from… Read more »
I agree with you. By those standards though, quite a few entries this year would have been disqualified including multiple ton ten acts.
As it is now – it is more of a dance contest than anything since so much of the singing is pre-recorded now.
Ok! I forgot it was today!
Seeing the Basel situation, there will be a lot of Germans and French too in the crowds, bring us the Phryge!!!
Basel is industrial city in general, but the way they described him I thought it’s London lol. Many fans will just find some other places in French and German towns to stay because the prices in the centre are gonna be wild. And that’s not great either, the vibe in Malmo last year was literally dead, not comparable to Stockholm 2016. Picking underdog cities as hosts didn’t turn out well in past, except Liverpool eventually. I really hope we’ll normalise having Eurovision in capitals because the vibe there is the best and fandom refuses to admit that.
No one cares
you care enough to comment LOL
Thats why you commenting…lol
17th of May?!?! EBU wants Norway to pull out, that is for sure. EBU criticised all the nations that were critical to Israels participation and now they are subtly fixing “their problem”. NRK is going to loose so many viewers on 17th of May evening, as its Norways national day, and people will not turn on the TV in the evening as they are celebrating. Economically it makes no sense to take part in ESC 2025 for NRK now. I hope it won’t be the case, but there definitely is a chance that Eurovision is loosing several nations next year,… Read more »
If you are single or/and without kids you’ll probably be out drinking, be at some party or sleeping to get sober when the final airs:) If you have kids (f.ex four, like myself:) you will relax in front of the sofa, watching ESC, after a long day!
Eg trur dette blir ein kjempeflott 17.mai om Noreg kjem til finalen! 🙂
I have no idea why this was downvoted but someone is obviously in a bad mood tonight;)
LOL calm down!
Chances of Norway skipping ESC is as unlikely as suddenly getting re United with Sweden. It is not happening.
Agreed. Eurovision is hardwired into the culture at this point. If they were going to leave they would have done it years ago when they were consistently in the basement.
There will be some grumbling (probably not as much as you’d think), but they are not going to cut back on anything.
And Norway has confirmed that they will participate in 2025, so I don’t think much will change.
And it’s not the first time ESC has been held on May 17th either. Norway took part every time on that date
Not the first time?!? Research before you comment, please. There have NEVER been a semifinal or a grand final on the 17th of May before. That is 100% sure. If you still say I am wrong, then please let me know what year it was… There have been shows on both sides of 17th of May, like semi on 16th and final on 18th, but that has never before interupted with NRKs program schedule. It is not about the artists ability to take part in the contest on May 17th, and in 1996 NRK even made the celebration of 17th… Read more »
They still confirmed participation so discussing not taking part is not an option anyways.
It might be low or high viewership, who knows. But the dedicated viewers will watch it for sure.
As for scheduling, I am pretty sure NRK can manage to sort something out. It is not that difficult..
Maybe people see it as a great way to end the national celebrations.
You get a gold medal in jumping to conclusions and creating conspiracies!
I just don’t understand how everything gets to Israel nowadays…
The EBU has no reason to try and get rid of Norway and definitely not choose one country over the rest…
One last thing – pronunciation.
Is it “Bahl”? “Baz-il?” “Bayz-el”?
Bah-Zel…German pronunciation
Bahl..French pronunciation..written “Basle”
I think that’s right. Any offers?
In french it is written Bâel not Basle
In french it’s Bâle
Thanks!
Interesting, a city I’d never even really considered before as Eurovision host. Best of luck to Basel, hopefully it will not become a giant headache for them.
Next year will be different… right? Right?
August 30, 2024: we’ve got this important milestone, the Host City. Would the next milestone be the visual identity? I wonder what it will be like, can’t wait for it.
good choice, nice dates as well, am also hoping once again for a fantastic national final season
and may there be no drama this esc season, hopefully
Netta got the wrong host city AGAIN!
Congratulations, Basel! You will be a great host city. Good luck! <3
I’m very happy it’s in Basel because you can stay in Strasbourg, Colmar or Freiburg to get to ESC
Basel is Roger Federer’s hometown, so a Federer appearance/pre-recorded message is now far more likely than a Celine message.
Djokovic appeared at the 2008 contest, this is Federer’s chance to equal that. Novak finally settled the Olympic score this year, so Roger will be aching to settle the score again.
(I’m joking… of course)
also where Lovebugs are from, switzerland 2009 act ”the highest heights” wonder if they’ll be among the interval acts, a chance to perform that entry in the final? after being very robbed back then
There go my hopes for the first Francophone Eurovision since 1989.
You do know there will never be an entirely Francophone ESC , right?
You’re so bad omg, did he say entirely Francophone? No, deal with it.
And also why does it matter?
Who said it mattered? We are allowed to care about things that don’t matter. They are what makes life bearable.
Congratulations Basel! I believe you will be a wonderful host city! Good luck! ???
Disappointing venue…
And you think Celine would perform in Basel? Lol, Eurovision has to stop running away from more popular cities, I’m a bit bored at this point it’s always some less known city that gets to host to give spotlight to some other city and we saw the mess that happened in Malmo. And Geneva as a city of Geneva Convention and UN Office had a bit better symbolism, apart from the fact Palexpo can accommodate more journalists and fans.
You think eurovision 2023 was a mess because it was held in Malmö?
Eurovision 2023 was held in Liverpool… Malmo was this year.
Also what symbolism can Geneva of all places make lol. The place of organisations like fifa, ioc, or ebu… better make the slogan ‘hear the money’
You really think Celine is such an incredible snob that she only sets foots in cities like Paris? She grew up in relative poverty, the youngest child of 14. She knows what is important, unlike you.
Maybe that’s why they did not choose Geneva, just to get rid of her
Breaking: Netta banned from entering the city of Geneva and the whole canton for the next hundred years
Not to be rude of whatever.. but wtf is Basel, never heard of it. Same with most cities over the last 15 years, can’t a country pick a capital or even big city with an airport nearby, arena where people aren’t having to fight for one of <10,000 seats? Boring
??? Basel is bigger than Switzerland’s capital, and it’s definitely well-known… you must live under a rock lmao
On the last 20 editions, the contest was held 12 times in the host country capital. In most of the other cases, the chosen city was the 3rd, 2nd or even 1st most populated city if the country. Only Düsseldorf (7th most populated city in Germany), Turin (4th in Italy) and Liverpool (6th in UK) were not in their own country top 3 but all of them had great arena. All the cities also had an airport directly next to it. It will be the same with Basel.
First and foremost, Eurovision is a television show not an arena spectacle. Whilst the crowd are an important part of the staging on screen and help to create the atmosphere for the artists and audience at home, we shouldn’t overestimate the importance of venue size. Some of the best contests have been televised from the more modest venues.
The issue is most capital cities or popular cities have arenas that are either fully booked or command huge costs to compensate for the many events they would have to cancel to make space for the Eurovision period,and many arenas are owned privately. often 8 weeks lost to Eurovision. Neither the EBU or host broadcasters could afford such costs. These arenas run as businesses, despite Eurovision being prestigious no businessman would offer up the
arena and loose millions
The tickets sale is gonna be such a mess lmao, I can’t wait
FC Basel defeated Manchester United not too long ago in group stage of champions league
the city of former footballer legend Alexander Frei!
This is a chance for you to educate yourself so.
Having just visited Basel few weeks ago, I’m glad to have a reason to come back again and stop there for a bit longer (although I’d also enjoy Geneva). I’m just worried that the same thing will happen as in Malmö with people flocking to other cities nearby causing a lack of Eurovision atmosphere in Malmö/Basel itself – but again, that problem would probably also exist in Geneva.
Ngl I’m very sad for Geneva, I thought it would have been much more iconic choice
Basel is too expensive :'(
most expensive in Switzerland are Zurich, Geneva, Bern me thinks
i can know about Zurich, a former forum friend who was on big brother uk lived and studied there, the BBUK 2017 runner up Raph Korine (whom nowadays is a casting director for several reality tv competitions)
No one cares until we find out if Israel are allowed back or not.
They are allowed, always were, always will be. They are an EBU member and therefore eligible to participate. What no one cares about is your antisemitism, go ruin some other event, you guys have caused enough drama last year.
They are allowed and will take part. Now we can just hope, people respect that, and don’t act like children, as they did this year. Good luck to Israel.
They are allowed. What are you even talking about?
Ofcourse they are allowed.
I hope by then, before May 2025, the Russia-Iran axis has been weakened and the wars in Ukraine and Israel are over.
I think this is a great decision economically speaking since I believe most delegations and participants would seek accommodation in Germany or France since is cheaper. Quite pleased about this choice! I hope Basel would be a great host for Eurovision!
Problem: hotels in neighboring D & F know about this and rise prices. Norhing new btw
Nope! Wrong choice. Geneva should of got it. Better and more experienced venue. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t don’t think that Basel would put on a good show, I just have serious doubts about the prowess of the venue, when the PalExpo in Geneva is much more equipped.
It’s not like these things have not been considered by the people making the decision. Basel is fine.
I agree with that statement. However, you have a more equipped and experienced venue in Geneva which is more accessible for people and has mote resources as a city. Why pass that up for a underequipped venue in a unproven city. Confusing to say the least.
I remember you had doubts about Liverpool too, Liam. That turned out to be wonderful, so you never know, maybe Basel will be great too.
THE NETTA CURSE REMAINS UNBROKEN
Maybe next year, Netta
TBH, I think her video was staged this year and she already knew the outcome. It’s just become a “thing” now that she gets it wrong. If it was genuine she’d have posted her guess the day after Nemo won.