Where will the ESC 2025 take place? The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel. The third largest city in Switzerland has triumphed over Geneva in the race. Zurich and Bern had already been eliminated before. The decision was made by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Swiss media company SRG, which includes SRF.
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KEYSTONE/Georgios Kefalas
What is the motto for the ESC 2025? “Overcoming Borders” is the motto. This fits a border city in the three-country corner of Switzerland – Germany – France.
What does the Basel government say about it? They are extremely pleased with the decision. Organizing the world’s largest music competition is a great opportunity. Basel will do everything possible to be a good host, the government stated immediately after the announcement of the decision.
What exactly is planned in Basel? The venue for the ESC is the St. Jakobshalle with around 12,000 seats. In the nearby St. Jakob Park, there will be an “Arena Plus” with concerts by former ESC stars on the day of the final. Furthermore, the canton is planning “a comprehensive accompanying program” in the city, including a “Eurovision Street” in the Steinenvorstadt and along the Kleinbasler Rhine banks.
Are there enough hotel rooms in Basel? The Basel hotels are already fully booked during the days of the ESC. However, Basel Tourism has been able to secure a room allotment at fair prices, as the director of Basel Tourism, Letizia Elia, states. Regarding the various reported horrifying hotel prices, she was cautious. Hotels generally have dynamic pricing everywhere. However, Basel Tourism will ensure that prices do not spiral out of control.
What happens next in Basel? The Basel government will soon present a proposal to the Grand Council for the organization of the event, which foresees net expenses of 34.9 million francs. The Grand Council will decide on this on September 11.
How did Geneva react to the decision? The decision of SRG for Basel has caused great disappointment in the canton and city of Geneva. “Although the final decision did not go in the hoped-for direction, Geneva has proven its ability to come together in record time and propose a solid candidacy for the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest,” emphasized the canton and city in a joint statement. The authorities, Palexpo, Geneva Tourism, and numerous representatives from the political and economic realms supported the candidacy.
How does SRG justify the decision? Edi Estermann, media spokesperson for SRG, says to SRF: “Both Basel and Geneva submitted excellent dossiers.” There is not one particular argument for Basel that stood out significantly. “In the interplay of the different criteria we looked at, Basel won.” Basel apparently impressed with an attractive overall package that includes many side events. A total of 100 criteria were examined.
What happens in case of a possible referendum? When asked about possible referendums from EDU and the Young SVP regarding the funding of the ESC, Estermann states: “We live in a direct democracy and such topics are part of it. We take this seriously.” This creates a certain planning uncertainty. “A referendum would not mean the definitive end of the ESC, but would first mean that there would be a vote.” If the referendum is accepted and the financial contribution from the city is eliminated, the ESC would have to take place on a significantly smaller scale.
When will the ESC 2025 take place? The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 15, 2025. The final will be on Saturday, May 17, 2025. More than 35 public broadcasting organizations, mostly from Europe, will participate in the music competition, which are EBU members.
Who will represent Switzerland at the next ESC? This is still unclear and will be announced at the beginning of 2025.
How many people watch the ESC each year? Basel will be in the spotlight of millions: During the three television live shows from Malmö, Sweden in 2024, 163 million people watched the music performances, nearly 800,000 of whom were from Switzerland alone.
How many times has the ESC been held in Switzerland? For Switzerland, this is the third time: The ESC returns to Switzerland for the first time in 36 years after Nemo’s victory last spring. In 1988, Céline Dion won the contest for Switzerland with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi” in the Irish capital Dublin, after which the event was held in Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne the following year. On May 24, 1956, the first “Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson” – as the competition was then called – took place at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano.