Get the full coverage from the dress rehearsal of the first semi-final, currently taking place on the Eurovision 2025 stage in Basel. One by one, Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Latvia, Armenia, Austria, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Georgia, Denmark, Czechia, Luxembourg, Israel, Serbia and Finland will take the stage. We will be providing updates throughout the rehearsal with all the details received by our editorial team.

Today at 15:30 CET, the first dress rehearsal began ahead of the second semi-final broadcast, which will take place tomorrow at 21:00 CET (Thursday, May 15). Just before another dress rehearsal takes place tonight at 21:00 CET, we’re here to report everything happening on stage in real time from Basel.

As a reminder, this year the countries that automatically qualify for the Grand Final will also perform during the semi-finals, but their songs will not be eligible for voting at this stage. In the second semi-final, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France will take the stage.

Make sure to click the refresh button so you can continue following along during the rehearsals!

The show opens with short videos of Eurovision fans outside the venue.

Then, a stagehand appears holding a Eurovision heart with the Swiss flag and connects it to the Eurovision logo projected on the stage floor. A technical glitch occurs, and the same segment is restarted. The stage lights up, and a firework—loud enough to nearly give us a heart attack—echoes throughout the arena.

The hosts of the show, Sandra Studer and Hazel Brugger, take the stage and warmly welcome Eurovision fans who have arrived from no fewer than 83 countries.

Second Semi-Final – Initial Overview:

1. Australia

Go-Jo takes the Eurovision stage appearing inside a television screen as a commercial host, introducing a shaker. Then, a giant shaker is revealed on stage. One of the dancers opens it, and the singer steps inside. Smoke appears, and within a split second, his outfit is removed, revealing a sparkling light-blue jumpsuit.

During the performance, an older woman enters the scene, and when she emerges from the shaker, she appears as a younger woman. The two dancers remove the top part of Go-Jo’s jumpsuit, leaving him bare-chested. We weren’t impressed by the performance, particularly the vocal delivery.

2. Montenegro

Nina Žižić takes the stage with a delay, as the giant shaker from Australia’s act wasn’t cleared in time. She appears wearing a white blindfold, which she removes, surrounded by a massive circular white fabric reminiscent of a sheet or blanket.

The stage floor fills with smoke, and at times, the fabric covers her face during the performance. There’s no doubt that Nina has a powerful voice, but unfortunately, the staging captures the eye only at the very end—when she sheds the fabric to reveal a white strapless gown, delivering a vocally impressive climax. Sadly, her chances of reaching the final appear slim—but she truly won my heart.

3. Ireland

EMMY appears on what looks like a spaceship, dressed in a silver gown and a matching helmet. She’s accompanied by four dancers and her brother on the synthesizer. A camera angle mishap briefly reveals one of the stage cameras in the frame.

Smoke fills the stage floor, and the dominant colors throughout the performance are silver, pink, and light blue. On the LED screens, the dog Laika is depicted as a constellation in the sky. Emmy remains stationary on the spaceship throughout the performance. At the end, fireworks erupt behind and beside her. Vocally, the performance was significantly better than in her national selection.

A short break follows the Irish entry. Host Hazel Brugger is seen reading from a script, clearly having forgotten her lines, while the stage crew prepares for the upcoming Latvian performance.

4. Latvia

The girl group Tautumeitas begins their performance within a curtain made of thin strings, with a blue background. They move toward one another in synchronized gestures, then step out of the curtain as the backdrop shifts to orange. When they return to the curtain, the background reverts to blue.

Smoke fills the stage floor, and the group delivers the song with notable precision and rich harmonies. Visually, the performance is difficult to describe—it carries a mystical and almost ritualistic feel. Toward the end, tails appear on the LED screens, visually merging with the band members. The staging is undeniably impressive, but we’re unsure whether the song itself is strong enough to secure a place in the final.

5. Armenia

The stage isn’t ready on time, so the cameras cut to shots of the audience.

Then, Parg takes the stage shirtless, with lighting fixtures descending from the ceiling at varying heights. He stands and runs on a kind of treadmill located on the front part of the stage. The camera angles and visual effects are highly impressive.

At one point, flames rise from the stage floor, and the background turns red as Parg kneels and then stands up again. More fire shoots up from the floor throughout the final part of the song. His high note sounds excellent, and this performance could definitely be a surprise contender for a higher placement than expected.

6. Austria

JJ, one of the frontrunners to win, performs his song entirely in black and white. The act opens with him covered in a white blanket, as a paper boat descends from the ceiling into his hand. He removes the blanket, stands up, and a boat mast rises as he stands atop it. Unfortunately, his vocals are far from accurate.

Smoke covers the stage floor, and confetti-like material is blown toward him, which he appears to fight off during the performance. He skips the high note, instead lying down on the stage floor as if struggling in a “storm.” JJ was seen adjusting his in-ear monitor mid-performance, likely indicating a technical issue. In my personal opinion, based on how this looked and sounded—this is not a winning performance.

Following the Austrian entry, there’s a short break. Host Hazel Brugger does a stage dive with the help of production staff, asking them questions while being carried. Afterward, a humorous segment airs, showing her dancing with elderly people, emphasizing the message that Eurovision is for all ages.

United Kingdom

The British group Remember Monday enters the Eurovision stage with their backs to the audience, positioned against a regal-looking set design. Suddenly, fireworks erupt, catching the crowd by surprise. The trio then walks toward the main stage, removing part of their costumes along the way.

They reach a large chandelier—though significantly smaller than the one used by Yuval Raphael. After circling around it, they move forward slightly as lighting fixtures descend from the ceiling.

Vocally, the performance is harmonious, though at times a bit shouty; it might come across better on screen than in the arena. The act concludes with the group standing inside a heart-shaped frame, returning to their original set design.

7. Greece

Klavdia also begins her performance with a delay, as the stage wasn’t ready in time. She opens with her powerful voice under a single white spotlight focused solely on her. She stands on a bridge-like structure that leads to a rock formation. Initially, the lighting around her is white, and then fiery effects appear on the LED screens and stage floor.

She climbs onto the rock while a dancer resembling her approaches, standing apart on the bridge as Klavdia remains on the rock. The lighting transitions from blue to red as her powerful vocals fill the entire arena. At the climax of the performance, she removes her dark blue dress, revealing a white gown beneath it. A definite qualifier for the Grand Final.

8. Lithuania

Katarsis begin their performance with the lead singer walking toward the main stage from the back as smoke fills the stage floor. After the chorus, the band members move to the front stage, except for the drummer who remains in place.

The performance is accompanied by white lighting, while on the LED screens, floating particle-like shards are shown drifting through the air.

During the “Tavo, tavo…” segment, the lighting shifts to blue, and the lead singer returns briefly to the main stage before making his way back to the front. Vocally, the performance is excellent.

9. Malta

Miriana Conte begins her performance with a delay due to yet another technical issue, appearing inside a spinning disco ball that’s placed within a giant pair of lips. At first, she wears a yellow dress, which she removes at the beginning of the song to reveal a red leopard-print jumpsuit.

Her vocals are noticeably off throughout the performance, and without a live audience, the act feels flat and unlikely to qualify for the final. At the end of the number, four red physio balls are tossed to the dancers and to Miriana, and they bounce on them playfully. I’m confident that with an audience, the overall vibe will feel entirely different.

10. Georgia

Mariam Shengelia takes the stage—once again with a delay due to the stage not being ready in time. She begins the performance standing atop a cliff-like structure, surrounded by four dancers in traditional Georgian attire. The dancers enter with white flags and incorporate them into a choreographed routine. Gradually, Mariam removes her massive silver gown, revealing sparkling red pants and a nude-toned top with glittering red stripes. Her vocal delivery is highly impressive and powerful.

Following the Georgian performance, there is a break. The hosts visit the commentary booths of various countries, while stagehands cover the stage with a giant black cloth and spread sand in a large circular formation at the center of the stage.

France

Louane begins to stir emotions from the very first second of her performance. She lies atop a massive mound of sand, holding an hourglass in her hand. She turns it over and throws it, as sand pours down from the ceiling. She gently touches the falling sand, kneels, and gazes into a mirror hidden beneath the sand pile.

Toward the end of the performance, smoke and sand cascade from behind her, flowing in her direction, until finally, sand falls from above in circular patterns. I can’t stop crying—this is a breathtaking vocal and visual performance, and a true contender to win Eurovision 2025.

11. Denmark

Sissal enters the Eurovision stage standing within a slightly elevated circular platform, surrounded by sheer curtains. She is soon joined by dancers who remove her oversized white garment, revealing a striking blue bodysuit. The four dancers, also dressed in blue, perform around her as she remains on the circular platform.

The lighting and camera angles are excellent, enhancing the emotional and visual appeal of the song. Toward the end of the performance, Sissal walks to the front of the stage, delivering the high note with impressive precision—just as she had throughout the rest of the song. The dancers bring in props that create the illusion they are about to fall, adding a dramatic and theatrical touch to the closing moment.

12. Czechia

ADONXS begins his performance standing and singing as a stagehand places a microphone stand in front of him—another noticeable technical mishap, as the crew member is caught on camera. Four male dancers dressed in white join him on stage, grab hold of him, and remove his black-and-white outfit to reveal a matching white ensemble like theirs.

A dance break follows, captured from multiple camera angles, with lighting descending from the ceiling to enhance the visual impact. Adonxs moves toward the main stage, joined by the dancers. Vocally, the performance sounds decent—nothing more, nothing less.

13. Luxembourg

Laura Thorn begins her performance lying on the floor, while France Gall, the Eurovision 1965 winner, appears in a simulated “birth screen” and is shown on a small display within the LED screen for nearly the entire song.

Five dancers lift Laura from the ground and dance with her in a choreography very similar to what was seen in the national selection.

The dancers then remove her pink dress, revealing a silver gown underneath. Vocally, the performance is excellent.

14. Israel

Yuval Raphael, our Israeli representative, takes the Eurovision stage from the front platform as the arena is completely dark. The audience is visible behind her as she walks toward the main stage. During the second chorus—sung in French—she circles the massive chandelier, climbs the stairs, and is captured from a dramatic overhead camera angle.

At the song’s climax, a waterfall of fireworks erupts behind her, and as the performance concludes, the entire stage is bathed in white light. However, there were noticeable vocal issues during the song’s peak moments, which could potentially impact Israel’s final result in the contest.

There were issues with camera angles, including a moment where a camera visibly blocked Yuval Raphael while she was inside the chandelier.

During the press rehearsal, no “boo” sounds were heard from the audience, though this may change during tonight’s jury rehearsal.

Germany

Abor & Tynna begin their performance with Abor playing a glowing white cello, while Tynna stands on a giant speaker at the center of the stage. At a certain point, she joins him and they switch places, with Abor now on top of the giant speaker.

Toward the end of the song, Abor smashes the cello onto the floor as fireworks go off. Two dancers join Tynna during the performance. The vocal delivery is weak.

15. Serbia

Princ begins his performance standing on the main stage, surrounded by four dancers who move in a circular formation around him. As they dance, smoke gradually fills the stage floor, creating a dreamy and immersive atmosphere.

Toward the end of the song, Princ lies down on the floor, and a reflection of him is shown—adding a symbolic layer to the staging.

The dancers then drag him toward the front of the stage, and at the very end, they lift him onto their shoulders for a dramatic closing pose. Vocally, the performance sounds decent.

16. Finland

Erika Vikman takes the Eurovision stage as the lighting begins at her level and gradually rises toward the ceiling, creating a visually dynamic opening.

The performance is marred by multiple technical issues, including a significant mishap at the start where a camera completely blocks her from view for several seconds. She then steps onto a slightly elevated platform, with lighting forming a tent-like shape above her, enhancing the theatrical feel.

Erika proceeds to walk toward the front stage, bringing the microphone stand with her, and lies down on the floor mid-performance.

She later returns to the main stage and climbs onto a giant microphone that is lifted into the air as fireworks shoot out from it, delivering a dramatic visual finale. Vocally, the performance sounds solid and well-controlled.

Following the Finnish performance, journalists are asked to leave the arena as the hosts open the voting and present the recap of the songs.

Some of the Eurovision 2020 contestants—Gjon’s Tears from Switzerland, Destiny from Malta, The Roop from Lithuania, and Efendi from Azerbaijan—performed their songs from the cancelled Eurovision, one after the other.

Thank you for staying with us!

Join us at 21:00 CET for the second dress rehearsal!

Eurovision 2025: This will be Switzerland’s 65th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland joined the competition in 1956, being one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Its most recent victory was at the last Eurovision in 2025, with Nemo’s song “The Code.” This win follows Switzerland’s previous victory in 1988 with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi,” performed by international singer Céline Dion.