The new technologies changing the face of Eurovision – digital screens, smart lighting, and advanced sound systems creating an unprecedented experience. This is how cutting-edge technology turns every Eurovision performance into an unforgettable experience.
The Eurovision Song Contest, Europe’s largest musical competition, is not just a showcase of singing and performances but also a spectacular display of technological innovation. Since the 2000s, the Eurovision stage has become an arena where the most advanced entertainment technologies are showcased, with each year introducing groundbreaking technological innovations that push the boundaries of music and entertainment as we know them.
Digital Screens: A New Reality on Stage
In recent years, the use of digital screens has become a central tool in Eurovision production. These screens, positioned throughout the stage, allow for the display of complex visuals that change in real-time according to the song’s content. One notable case of impressive use of this technology was in 2015 when Sweden’s Måns Zelmerlöw performed “Heroes” with a unique interaction between the screens and animated characters on stage. The advanced video production made the song one of the standouts in that year’s competition and significantly contributed to his victory.
During Eurovision 2016, the use of screens at the Globen Arena in Stockholm created a stunning visual experience. The screens allowed for the display of changing backgrounds with 3D effects that made the audience feel as if they were part of the stage. Particularly notable was the performance of Russia’s representative, Sergey Lazarev, with the song “You Are The Only One,” which included a wall of digital screens displaying three-dimensional visual effects, leaving the audience stunned by the combination of technology and music. This led to his winning first place among European viewers that year, although he ultimately finished third in the overall ranking due to a low score from the juries.
Advanced Lighting: Creating an Audio-Visual Experience
In recent years, lighting at Eurovision has become one of the central components of performances. The advanced lighting using laser lamps, smart LED lights, and layered lighting allows for perfect synchronization with the music, creating stunning effects that combine colors and light. At Eurovision 2023, lighting played a critical role in the performance of Finland’s representative, Käärijä, with his song “Cha Cha Cha.” The lighting, precisely synchronized with the rhythm and intensity of the song, created a visual spectacle that enhanced the artistic experience.
The competition’s chief lighting designer that year, Tim Routledge, said in an interview: “Eurovision is known for being a big light show with an amazing set, and everything needs to be transformative. We need to provide 37 different creative looks for the various international delegations. The show must evolve, and when you have a live TV show of four and a half hours, it has to change or it won’t hold people’s attention. As designers, we also need to provide opportunities for all delegations to do something creatively different.”
Groundbreaking Sound: A New Listening Experience
In addition to lighting innovations and visual components, the sound at Eurovision has undergone a real revolution in recent years. The sound systems at Eurovision 2024 represented the pinnacle of technology, using advanced audio systems that created an unforgettable acoustic experience. Creative Technology handled all audio needs to ensure a perfect audio experience. More than 100 audio channels were processed through advanced consoles that provided clear and high-quality sound throughout the hall.
In the most memorable case from Eurovision 2024, Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, took to the Eurovision stage during the judges’ rehearsal, but as soon as the song began, many boos and calls of “Free Palestine” could be heard alongside cheers from the Israeli audience. Officials from the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation responded to the boos in the audience: “After the general rehearsal, during which protest calls were heard against Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, the IPBC appealed to the European Broadcasting Union and the Swedish national broadcaster producing the show, SVT. IPBC protested the event and the series of events that preceded it during the first semi-final in Sweden. IPBC asked the EBU and SVT to act to prevent the recurrence of such events and demanded that they allow Israel fair competition in the semi-final. Eden stood on the stage with pride and gave an excellent performance. They didn’t silence her and won’t silence us.” In response, the organizers announced that they had learned lessons and would lower the microphones directed at the audience during her performance.
Digital Effects: A New Performance Experience
Innovation doesn’t stop at screens and lighting. The digital effects implemented in recent years in Eurovision competitions have upgraded performances to a truly multi-sensory experience. At Eurovision 2023, a projected hologram was used to add another dimension to the performance, as a figure of the Polish singer, Blanka Stajkow, joined the main singer on stage during the song “Solo.” The technology allowed for creating a virtual interaction that left a strong impression on the audience.
Eurovision 2025: A Look to the Future
Eurovision 2025 is set to be the most technologically advanced competition to date. According to official publications, Tobias Åberg, who was part of the senior team in organizing the competitions in 2013, 2016, and 2024, will again serve as production manager for Eurovision 2025 and will be responsible, among other things, for the overall technical production and stage construction.
In an interview published about two months after the end of Eurovision 2024, Åberg shared about the future audience experience: “We wanted the audience to feel more involved in the television production so that they could experience the live show through the screen. This posed many challenges, but it was a central part of our decisions.” This may hint at the technological improvements we can expect at Eurovision 2025.
Technology continues to change the face of Eurovision, with the 2024 production proving itself as groundbreaking in the field. From the use of dynamic LED cubes to advanced lighting systems, the production pushes the boundaries of creativity and technology. The hints towards Eurovision 2025 promise even more exciting innovations, with the aspiration to involve the audience even more deeply in the show experience. Europe’s biggest competition continues to demonstrate how the combination of music and technology creates an unforgettable experience.
Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15-17, 2025. The St. Jakobshalle arena, which will host the competition, is expected to accommodate about 12,000 spectators for each show. The contest will be held in Switzerland following its third victory in history with the song “The Code”, performed by singer Nemo. This will be the third time the competition is hosted in Switzerland, after the contest was held there in 1956 and 1989.
