Switzerland’s third-most-populous city, Basel, has been selected to host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest. The Grand Final will take place at St. Jakobshalle on Saturday, May 17, 2025, with Semi-Finals on Tuesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 15.
This marks the first time in six consecutive contests that a capital city has not hosted the Eurovision Song Contest. Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, combined with its exceptional venue and outstanding hospitality, made it the ideal choice for the event.
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, expressed his excitement for bringing the contest back to its birthplace, Switzerland. He emphasized Basel’s unique blend of tradition and innovation, which reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel, welcomed the opportunity to showcase the city as a cosmopolitan center of culture. He highlighted Basel’s open and inclusive nature, which aligns perfectly with the Eurovision Song Contest’s values.
Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, SRG SSR’s Joint Executive Producers, praised the quality of the city applications and thanked all involved for their commitment to making Eurovision 2025 a memorable experience.
Switzerland has a rich history with the Eurovision Song Contest, having hosted and won the first edition in Lugano in 1956. The country’s most recent victory came in 2024 with Nemo’s song “The Code.
