With all semi-finalists now having had one go on the Eurovision 2025 stage, it’s time to move on to the second stage. Wednesday sees all 15 acts from semi-final 1 returning to Basel’s St. Jakobshalle arena for another chance to perfect their performances.
This time around, they’ll have 20 minutes to undertake another few run throughs and to check whatever changes they requested following the first rehearsal.
The EBU will release 30-second teaser clips on social platforms throughout the day, with a full roundup published on YouTube at the end.
We’ll try to update this post as things drop. Regardless, please share your thoughts in the comments section throughout the day!
Eurovision 2025 rehearsal schedule | Day 5 (Wednesday 7 May)
Here’s the full Eurovision rehearsal schedule for Wednesday 7 May. All times are in CEST.
- 10:30 — 10:50 Iceland
- 10:55 — 11:15 Poland
- 11:20 — 11:40 Slovenia
- 11:45 — 12:05 Estonia
- 12:10 — 12:30 Ukraine
- 12:35 — 12:55 Sweden
- 14:00 — 14:20 Portugal
- 14:25 — 14:45 Norway
- 14:50 — 15:10 Belgium
- 15:15 — 15:35 Azerbaijan
- 15:40 — 16:00 San Marino
- 16:30 — 16:50 Albania
- 16:55 — 17:15 Netherlands
- 17:20 — 17:40 Croatia
- 17:45 — 18:05 Cyprus
Iceland: VÆB – “RÓA”
Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – “GAJA”
Slovenia: Klemen – “How Much Time Do We Have Left”
Estonia: Tommy Cash – “Espresso Macchiato”
Ukraine: Ziferblat – “Bird of Pray”
Sweden: KAJ – “Bara Bada Bastu”
Portugal: NAPA – “Deslocado”
Norway: Kyle Alessandro – “Lighter”
Belgium: Red Sebastian – “Strobe Lights”
Azerbaijan: Mamagama – “Run with U”
San Marino: Gabry Ponte – “Tutta l’Italia”
Ukraine looks great.
I miss the flowers and purple of the National final though, but also this color scheme looks beautiful.
The black flashes are the electricity fall-outs that happen often.
The bird is a symbol of hope.
I only saw bits snd pieces… Justyna’s performance is giving Showgirls in all its glory and that is not a bad thing. Also, Poison Cake looks kinda expensive. Loving the styling…
Belgium ouch…as expected.
Netherlands lame…worse than I thought.
I love the idea of bringing Westeros to Eurovision!!! We are having Justyna Targaeryan, Mother of Dragons, Marko from Winterfell and Kyle Alessandro Baratheon:)
Was there a problem with the sound? I can’t explain why some of the countries sounded off tune
OMG Croatia is burning this is sooo cool
Ukraine is a huge disappointment for me. Love the song and the Vidbir staging with the flowers was perfect, I wish they stuck with the old staging. Sweden knows what’s up, don’t change something that works.
Belgium on the other hand was a pleasant surprise. I really don’t like the song, but the visuals looked so clean.
Where is Croatia?
They forgot about Croatia??
San Marino seems lost. What a weird staging.
Totally agree
It feels very empty and then they try to hide it with all those cuts.
It might play better when we’ve got a full crowd, but they are shooting themselves in the foot for San Marino. There is a reason DJ acts struggle at Eurovision and this isn’t helping their case.
i think azerbaidchan has the right catchy at once song for the out of the bubble audience and they have delivered well with that warm red – orange – yellow staging – extra:
the singer sounds like in the music video = very well.
so i have some hopes for that act to make the final as odds underdog.
Yes, Azb is the only song in Semi 1 I would listen to outside Eurovision. The best dance song this year.
I just saw Shkodra’s rehearsal. I’m FLOORED.
Yes unfortunately didn’t look too good. A bit underwhelming. But her voice is on point!
Agree
I’m sure they will fix the camera angles
Where is Croatia? They are very late with their rehearsal clip.
Justyna Taergaryen Steczkowska, Mother of Dragons, First of Her Name, Queen of Westeros and Whole Eurovision Universe, Is absolutely EPIC!! Amazing artist, beautful staging, strong voice and intriguing choreography! She will be remebered!!
or maybe she will be lost between the planets.
she wont, dont worry:) she knows how to serve…dragons:)
I was concerned about Cyprus because we haven’t heard Theo Evan perform his song live, but so far it looks and sounds really good. Shh already sounds more alive performed live than in the studio cut. It might make it after all if Theo can sing it well, but hit one bum note and you are out.
Well it was only the spoken part..
Awesome choreo from Cyprus!
Netherlands doesn’t show much, but it looks very promising and very different from everyone else this semi. Claude connects really well with the camera. He’s seems a bit off tune, cuz of the adrenaline & excitement. Hopefully he can control his vocals next week.
Yeah, hopefully this is just rehearsal jitters and he will be perfect next Tuesday. I’m not judging.
– Biggest growers after watching today’s rehearsals: Cyprus, Belgium, Slovenia
– Biggest disappointment: Ukraine, Netherlands
Also, I have to congratulate Cyprus for their amazing staging. Probably the only small nation that seems to take this contest seriously the last few years, I cannot wait for them to eventually win Eurovision one day.
Netherlands sound painfull, off key. Don’t know how it could be 4. in the odds??
Cyprus staging is not Cypriotic, but a hired world-famous Spanish director, who also stages Finland and another country. Forgot which one.
It would be amazing to win some day but given how much Eurovision has grown recently I doubt it will ever happen. I don’t even remember the last time a small country won.
Another correction: I think I’ll want Cyprus in the final after all. Looks promising and vocals sound solid.
My issue with the Netherlands is the lyrics. They give absolutely nothing, not even a crumb of a story. Even Estonia and Ireland put more thought into their lyrics. The Dutch lyrics give me an “I didn’t even try” vibe.
I disagree! It’s about a man reminiscing about his early childhood. Growing up in Netherlands, his French-speaking mother was different to other Moms. For extra wistfulness, I as a listener have killed off Mommy when little Claude was five or six. Adds poignancy.
Why those awful masks for such an engaging song, San Marino? Azerbaijan on the other hand is acting more and more like humans instead of robots. I like this new Azerbaijan. Portugal is nice too.
The reason for the masks is not to deflect attention from the headliner, Mr Ponte. Ego, I guess.
The singer wants to stay uncredited so that’s why
That’s definitely a mistake imo. Like Inviting people to a party and demanding they hide their faces.
Netherlands is really disappointing in multiple ways! I’m gutted
You’ll get over it
I am still trying to find a melody in the Ukranian song. Next, please.
I’m
Shocked now we see staging and hear some vocals , Norway and Ukraine are struggling , potential non qualifiers . Poland and San Marino better than I thought would be . Poland is awesome with the dragon . Gone up
In my estimations .
Kyle had emergency wisdom tooth surgery after the first rehearsal due to pain, so it’s likely he’s still feeling the after effects of the removal. Hopefully he can recoup before next Tuesday.
i got one removed last friday, i’m still struggling
It’s really hard to not be a negative Nancy, but damn, terrible vocals all around. I’m really trying to get hyped, but so far everything’s feels wildly underwhelming.
Agree
Agree! I would say that only Portugal sounded good.
I don’t think vocals is really the priority for everyone right now. They’re more focused their choreo and other technical aspects of rehearsal.
KAJ looks cheaper than the melt
Sweden sends something that if another country sent it would have been labeled as a ‘Joke’ entry, but because it is the entry of Sweden it is labeled as something ‘great’. Also it reminds me of the concept Finland and Croatia sent in the last 2 years and many entries of other countries in the 2000s and 2010s. There are other countries that put so much effort to bring something new, modern and original, like Cyprus for example, and people completely ignore it and want the same country winning every year. Also I find the staging of Sweden completely uninspiring
And yet those ” joke” entries always do well..
Unispiring? How many countries have built a sauna onstage?
Uninspiring staging same as their national selection. The other countries put so much effort to present something different. And comparing the message or concept many of the other entries have, I don’t find a song about sauna to be a song that deserves 1st place.
They won with that concept, why change a winning concept?
Majority of viewers have not seen it before so for them it might be fun
That’s what they won with, why change it? Besides most people have not warched the original clip so it dont matter
According to you they should get the win because they came with the idea to build a sauna in the eurovision stage
Next years Sweden may built a pool, steam room, Jacuzzi, tennis court , and win every year, if this is the plan.
No. Maybe try to read?
Gurl, we dont need sauna on stage… you can go to sauna whenever you want. we want quality songs and artists who can sing.. with all those joke entries Eurovision is having backlash to early 2000s, and we don’t wanna that… they can send their sauna construction to the architecture and design contest though
They can sing. And play instruments
Tell then what Europe wants? Manufactured pop songs like Austria, written by three people at a songcamp specifically for ESC. Is that what people want? Is that true artistry?
They’ve just been awarded now sending different, not Måns Zelmerlöv.
It’s only considered good because Sweden is sending it but also it reminds you of Finland and Croatia as in 2023 and 2024 respectively? Aka the televote winners who everyone was praising
Make it make sense
Yes if Sweden was sending the songs of Finland 2023 and Croatia 2024 it would have won, because it always gets a massive amount of jury votes whatever it sends.
i hope Sweden will flop… otherwise we will have 20 joke entries next year
I’m from Sweden and consider Swedens song biggest joke ever. It’s a copy of “Bada nakna” with Samir and Viktor in Melodifestivalen some year ago. It’s also same writer. Their song was considered as a joke in Sweden besides the kids who liked it. But now because they have “sauna ” and they look they way the do (a bit boring to me) all of the sudden Sweden love them. I hope we end up last ?
Because unlike Samir KAJ are professional singers with an actual good song. Good thing people are not as stuck up as you..
Tell you what! Most Swedes know that KAJ can end up anywhere but we dont care. Because we would rather “flop” with a fun act like KAJ than getting top 10 with another predictable pop act
Iceland seemed to have improved their vocals, seems like an upgrade, I can respect that entry a little more that way. Nostaging can make up for how bad Norway’s song is. Poland looks great. Belgium looks red.
Poland is so going to flop with their over the top kitschy performance.
Angry fanboys are already downvoting me, lol. It’s the objective truth that Poland can’t direct their performances. This obviously does not include the fantastic Blanka from 2 years ago.
So correct fanboys may dislike bomb you, but you are so right.
Could Slovenia not be DOA after all? I still think the song deserves a Scared of heights result, but Klemen sells himself well and commentators might get him votes by telling his story. Song should still NQ but I gotta correct myself. Slovenia is not the worst song. Ukraine is. He certainly deserves to qualify more than them. Both should NQ though.
Justyna is ethereal
Estonia can’t sing to save his life. I don’t even mind the song, it’s catchy, but what he does on stage is just awful.
eesti laul was packed with great songs this year, to think that this was the outcome, what a tragedy
agree, I would be happy to see Azerbaijan, Slovenia or Portugal in the final instead
Maybe I will get lots of negative points, but Sweden performance doesn’t shout winner to me.
Definitely not! Once again now Sweden just should be reward sending different, it’s just ridiculous!
Couldn’t agree more!
You can tell that from a short snippet? Based on that I can tell you no one will win cause no one gave 100%. Who gives 100% on a rehersal?
People will vote on the final product. It will do well regardless. And no I won’t say it won’t win cause we never know the mood of people. I think audience care less about performance and more about song. Just look who did well at televotes these years
Yes because the rehearsal is the final performance, get it Lorena
Totally agree with you
You are not the only one – I don’t see them winning! I can’t see them in top 3 – top 10 yess !!!!
Agree
It looks nice imo.
Yes that is what it says to me even after a short snippet. They are very good though, I just think that after so soon after Loreen then Malmö, not enough televoters will want Sweden to win again.
Ukraine’s staging is such a downgrade and disappointment. The national final staging with the flowerfield and the garden was so much better, more authentic and creative with the hippie vibes. It fit the song better. The visuals and outfits feel too mainstream and over-polished now.
Agree. Sad emotion.
Right … I was really taken with the Basel-snippet!
So the same as with 2017. Shattering in its national final, watered down for ESC.
Totally agree
agreed Ukraine NQ
I don’t want to be too pessimistic about Ukraine, but it does feel like a devolution. It feels Ukraine went backwards where their national final staging felt more ready for Eurovision and their Eurovision staging feels more like a rough National Final staging before elevation. Of course this is still the rehearsal stage so it might be better on the night.
I think I am one of the only people here who thinks that this is the better staging. I didn’t like the flowerbed as it looked very fake and plastic which is not what the song portrays to me. This is not the sort of song that needs elaborate staging to work anyway so I disagree.
No steam effect for Sweden’s sauna? It does look as an average performance in this shirt clip. After all, this song is viral mostly in Sweden and Finland, which is only one 12 secured, so I won’t be surprised seeing Sweden even out of top 5 televoting wise.
Average is kind! I really can’t see what the fuss is all about – it’s a gimmick performance – the worst kind of Svensktop song there is!
You can wish so but that does not mean it will happen. Cause you see its a rehersal
No one gives a perfect rehersal because why would they? Rehersal are there to test what works and what don’t.
And besides that most voters go after song. There is nothing to suggest it wont do less than 5th
AS IF KAJ aren’t going to be top 5 in the televote! Ludicrous!
Yeah, its not like a brief steam effect is the deciding factor. Only those who have seen rhe Melodifestivalen clip will know it even exists
The steam effect is only at the beginning, the clip we saw is towards the middle/end
Yeah? Still not the defining factor. It’s not like the song is dependent on a steam effect. If they don’t reach top 5 it wont be due to that. But again history of these kind of songs show they reach top 5 even win. I think voters care less about performance now but more about the song
There is a difference between dry saunas and steam saunas, you know.
There isn’t a steam effect for every “sauna”. It’s only after Jakob’s verse and the bit. You cannot tell from that clip so stop overreacting.
That wasn’t my point! Steam effect gave it esthetic and funny kick, and without it looks just plain. Song is not unique, vocaly demanding, nor commerical enough to get huge points, so every effect and trick they can use – they should! Bottom line, Sweden isn’t winning this year.
Mostly excited for the snippets of Poland and Cyprus. I can see Cyprus being a dark horse in this year’s competition with what has been shared so far.
Can’t wait as well to see more of rehearsals, especially from Poland <3
Cyprus will give a very good performance!!!
And first, Cypriot fans were cautious about his vocal abilities. The choreography is demanding and it is logical to be more difficult. Now we have more confidence, since journalists say that he is vocally good. Andy Nickolas will be Theo’s backing vocalist, he was in Èthnikos Telikos
Can’t wait for Poland and Netherlands
Were there journalists in the Arena?
Journalists who follow the Cypriot mission and are close to the team (off stage)
Cant wait to see Poland, Albania, Croatia and Cyprus
yes second rehearsal day for semi 1, and we get the photos from the second half of semi 2