The city of Basel has been chosen to host Eurovision 2025, which will take place next year in Switzerland. The competition will be held on May 13, 15, and 17, with all shows taking place at the St. Jakobshalle arena.

The bidding process for selecting the host city of Eurovision 2025 has concluded. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), together with the Swiss national broadcaster (SRG SSR), announced today that the city of Basel will host next year’s competition in Switzerland. The Eurovision Song Contest to be held in 2025 will be the 69th edition of the competition since its inception in 1956.

Basel won the bid to host next year’s contest, beating out the proposal from the city of Geneva. This will be the third time Switzerland hosts Eurovision, following their historic victory by singer Nemo at Eurovision 2024 held in Malmö, Sweden last May.

For Basel, this will be the first time the city hosts the competition. The chosen venue, St. Jakobshalle, can accommodate up to 12,400 spectators during music performances.

Basel is the third-largest city in Switzerland, with approximately 173,000 residents as of 2022. The city is located on the Swiss border, close to the borders of Germany and France.

Along with the announcement of the host city, the competition dates were also revealed:

• Semi-Final 1: May 13, Tuesday
• Semi-Final 2: May 15, Thursday
• Grand Final: May 17, Saturday

Upon revealing the host city, Martin Österdahl, the contest supervisor, stated:

‘The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The Contest was born in Switzerland in Lugano back in 1956 and it’s great to be bringing it back to its birthplace almost 70 years later.’

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.

With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Basel reflects the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s exceptional St.Jakobshalle venue and outstanding hospitality will ensure a memorable experience for delegations, artists and fans alike.

Following Contests in the Italian and French speaking parts of the country in 1956 and 1989 we’re also excited to bring the Eurovision Song Contest to German Switzerland for the very first time.

Together with Host Broadcaster SRG SSR and the city of Basel we will create a spectacular celebration of music on the banks of the River Rhine that resonates far beyond the stage.’

Conradin Cramer, President of the Government of Basel said:

‘It is a great honour for Basel to be able to host the world’s biggest live music event! 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. 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: welcome to Basel!’

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, SRG SSR’s Joint Executive Producers of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, added:

‘We were impressed by the quality of the cities’ applications! All 4 cities, and especially Geneva and Basel in the final round, fought for the title of “Host City” with creative approaches and a very constructive approach. Such commitment is by no means a matter of course. Our thanks therefore go to all the cities that applied. We look forward to working with you to make the ESC an unforgettable experience for the whole population.’