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The 69th Eurovision Song Contest kicks off tonight in Basel's St. Jakobshalle with the first semi-final. 37 countries will sing around the iconic glass microphone under the motto «United By Music». The contest takes place in Switzerland for the first time since 1989.
Thanks to Nemo, the Eurovision Song Contest is back in Switzerland for the first time in 36 years. Back in 1989, the Concours Eurovision de la Chanson - as it was still called at the time - was held in Lausanne. A year earlier, Switzerland had secured the right to host the event with Canadian singer Céline Dion, who won the 1988 edition with the song «Ne partez pas sans moi». Who will be successful this year will be revealed in the grand final on May 17, 2025 in the St. Jakobshalle Basel.
Before that happens, the finalists must first be chosen. There are 15 nations in the first semi-final. Among others, Iceland with Væb, Poland with Justyna Steczkowska and Sweden with KAJ will be competing. Switzerland, Spain and Italy, who have already qualified for the final, are also eligible to vote in this semi-final.
Starting order:
1st Iceland: Væb - Róa
2. Poland: Justyna Steczkowska - Gaja
3. Slovenia: Klemen - How Much Time Do We Have Left
4. Estonia: Tommy Cash - Espresso Macchiato
5. Ukraine: Ziferblat - Bird of Pray
6. Sweden: KAJ - Bara bada bastu
7. Portugal: Napa - Deslocado
8. Norway: Kyle Alessandro - Lighter
9. Belgium: Red Sebastian - Strobe Lights
10. Azerbaijan: Mamagama - Run with U
11. San Marino: Gabry Ponte - Tutta l'Italia
12. Albania: Shkodra Elektronike - Zjerm
13. Netherlands: Claude - C'est la vie
14. Croatia: Marko Bošnjak - Poison Cake
15. Cyprus: Theo Evan - Shh
The second semi-final brings another 16 acts to the stage. These include Australia with Go-Jo, Ireland with Emmy and Austria with JJ. Germany, France and the United Kingdom are also already in the final and are additionally eligible to vote in this second semi-final.
Starting order:
1st Australia: Go-Jo - Milkshake Man
2. Montenegro: Nina Žižić - Dobrodošli
3. Ireland: Emmy - Laika Party
4. Latvia: Tautumeitas - Bur man laimi
5. Armenia: Parg - Survivor
6. Austria: JJ - Wasted Love
7. Greece: Klavdia - Asteromata
8. Lithuania: Katarsis - Tavo Akys
9. Malta: Miriana Conte - Serving
10. Georgia: Mariam Shengelia - Freedom
11. Denmark: Sissal - Hallucination
12. Czech Republic: Adonxs - Kiss Kiss Goodbye
13. Luxembourg: Laura Thorn - La poupée monte le son
14. Israel: Yuval Raphael - New Day Will Rise
15. Serbia: Princ - Mila
16. Finland: Erika Vikman - Ich komme
The grand final will take place on Saturday, May 17. The 10 best acts from each semi-final will face the automatically qualified countries: the «Big Five» (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and hosts Switzerland. The show starts at 21:00 and will be hosted by Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer and Michelle Hunziker.
A few tickets for the ESC events (shows and public viewing) are still available for last-minute bookers. So if you want to watch the spectacle spontaneously in Basel, you'll have to hurry.