Basel will host the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025. Following Nemo’s win at last year’s ESC in the Swedish city of Malmö, this will be the third time that Switzerland has been entrusted to host the world’s largest music spectacle. Previously, Lugano staged the event in 1956, while Lausanne was chosen for 1989. Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, including the semi-finals, dress rehearsals and final itself, is set to take place May 13-17, 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle arena.

After an intensive selection process, the SRG, as the Swiss organizing body responsible for the upcoming ESC, chose Basel as the host city. Famous as attractive city for trade fairs, congresses and conferences in the heart of Europe, Basel was confirmed in this role by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on August 30. Among other aspects, Basel is home to the headquarters of the MCH Group, Switzerland’s most important trade fair organizer.

Basel prevailed against Geneva, Zurich, Berne and Biel

The cities of Basel, Geneva, Zurich, Berne and Biel/Bienne fought it out for the right to host the event. According to an SRG press release, the two best bid books, i.e. those submitted by Basel and Geneva, entered the final stages neck and neck as they competed to stage the world’s largest music event. According to the information, a total of around 100 criteria were applied in deciding the host city.

The motto “United By Music”, which was first introduced for the 2023 ESC in Liverpool, will be retained, according to an announcement from the EBU. “Basel’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe makes it the ideal setting for an event that celebrates the power of music to connect people across borders”, as Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, explains in the EBU statement.

“We are looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to present Basel to the world as a cosmopolitan city of culture in the heart of Europe”, states Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel. “As an open city in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, we overcome borders of all kinds every day. This fits in perfectly with the Eurovision Song Contest. We are already looking forward to welcoming our guests from all over Europe”.