GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss city of Basel has been chosen to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May 13 to 17, as announced by organizers on Friday.
Basel, a city primarily where German is spoken, sits along the Rhine River and borders both France and Germany. It was selected over Geneva in a competition that excited many people across Switzerland.
In a statement, Basel’s city council expressed its joy at the decision, viewing the opportunity to host the world’s largest music competition as a significant honor. They added, “Basel will do everything possible to be an excellent host.”
Switzerland earned the right to host this glamorous music event after Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th edition of the contest, which took place in May in Sweden.
Nemo’s winning song, titled “The Code,” is an inspiring mix of opera and pop-rap that tells the story of the singer’s journey to embracing a non-binary identity. With this win, Nemo became the first non-binary champion of the contest, which has long been celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community.
Conradin Cramer, the president of the Basel regional council, stated that the 2025 contest will embody “the spirit of Basel,” which he described as open-minded and diverse.
He emphasized that being a city at the crossroads of two borders, “we are accustomed to welcoming guests from around the globe, and we will ensure they have an incredible experience.”
According to the Swiss public broadcaster SSR-SRG, the choice of Basel, along with the St. Jakobshalle indoor arena for the event, was based on various factors. These included the venue’s ability to accommodate the event, considerations of sustainability and safety, available funding, and “creative ideas for additional activities.”
The Eurovision Song Contest is organized annually by the European Broadcasting Union, headquartered in Geneva, with participation from numerous broadcasting organizations.
Basel’s city council referenced a study by the EBU, which indicated that this year’s contest in Malmö, Sweden, was watched by over 160 million people on television and attracted more than 80 million YouTube viewers internationally. The estimated advertising value of the event reached an impressive 805 million euros (approximately $892 million).
Switzerland was the first country to host and win the very first edition of the Eurovision contest in Lugano back in 1956. Nemo is the first Swiss artist to win the competition since 1988, when Canadian singer Celine Dion performed under the Swiss flag.
While the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates the unifying power of music, it is often affected by political rivalries and tensions. The 2024 event faced significant controversy due to the war in Gaza and saw large protests against Israel’s participation.
