Get the full coverage from the second dress rehearsal of the second 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 21:00 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). 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 stage dressed in a white suit, alongside a dancer holding a blender. Soon after, a giant blender appears on stage. Vocally, Go-Jo is not very accurate, but the performance itself delivers. During the chorus, he steps into the giant blender and changes from the white suit into a blue jumpsuit. In the second verse, a second dancer joins the stage, portraying a grandmother-like figure. She too changes her outfit and “transforms” into a younger version of herself after stepping into the blender just before the second chorus.

The stage then goes dark as the two dancers approach him. The bridge begins, and the crowd screams the lyrics of the song. By the end of the bridge, the dancers remove Go-Jo’s shirt, revealing his torso. The stage erupts in a wild display of colors—the entire act feels like a circus show. The question remains: will this be enough for Australia?

2. Montenegro

Nina Žižić takes the stage wearing a blindfold, which she removes at the start of the first verse. She wears a large dress with a sort of glowing halo surrounding her—it strongly resembles Vladana Vučinić‘s look, but entirely in white. The entire stage is bathed in white light. Vocally, she’s not entirely accurate with the notes, but the performance is still convincing, as she does hit the emotional and key moments where it counts.

The whiteness dominates the entire staging, and at the end of the second chorus, giant scales appear on stage. They fall and transform into long streams of white light behind Nina. She then sheds the giant halo from her dress, and the final part of the performance is deeply moving and powerful. However, it doesn’t seem strong enough to qualify for the final—especially not from the second place of the show.

3. Ireland

Emmy appears on stage wearing a silver dress, standing on a platform that resembles a spaceship. Behind her, the LED screens display visuals of planets, stars, and pink lighting. Dancers join her on stage, along with her brother, who stands at the front portraying a sort of captain—a slightly unsettling touch. Vocally, she isn’t very accurate with her notes, and the overall concept feels very junior-like.

During the chorus, she performs her signature dance, while slides of astronauts marching appear behind her on the screens. The second verse and chorus look almost identical to the first, with little variation in staging. At the end of the song, fireworks shoot out from Emmy’s platform and from the sides of the stage. Will it be enough to qualify for the final? It’s hard to say—it mostly comes across as cringeworthy.

4. Latvia

The girl group Tautumeitas takes the stage with a blue backdrop, wearing glowing crowns that obscure their faces. As the first verse begins, the stage suddenly shifts to warm colors, revealing the members’ faces. They sing with remarkable precision. When the second chorus starts, the background turns blue again, simulating a storm, and as the next verse begins, warm tones return. The group moves across the stage, forming visual compositions and placing strong emphasis on vocal harmony.

During the solo section, the stage lights dim, leaving only one member visible on stage. As the final chorus approaches, the stage is once again painted in blue. At one point, they appear to have tails, and they dance in perfect synchronization. The final chorus bursts with energy, featuring a whirlpool visual on the stage, followed by lighting effects that mimic a storm. The group concludes the performance in a symmetrical and highly aesthetic formation.

As far as I’m concerned? A definite qualifier for the final — but you never really know!

5. Armenia

The stage isn’t ready on time, so the screen shows a list of the participating songs. Parg then takes the stage, seen walking on a treadmill. The lighting is in black and white tones and kept very low. He walks on the treadmill and incorporates it into his choreography, reminiscent of what Robin Bengtsson did in 2017.

Parg sings with great precision, and during the second chorus, flame jets shoot up from the stage. The bridge of the song is performed in Armenian, and suddenly the stage is lit in orange tones. Toward the end, the performance explodes into a finale with white lighting and more flame jets accompanying the final chorus. He hits the final note with incredible accuracy!

6. Austria

JJ takes the stage in a black-and-white color scheme, attempting to grab a paper boat—but it slips away from him. During the chorus, he climbs onto a platform designed to resemble a ship. There’s a clear lack of charisma, and the performance is far from flawless. In the second verse, he lifts the sail of the ship he’s constructing on stage, and in the chorus, he tries—rather unsuccessfully—to simulate a storm at sea.

His vocals improve as the performance progresses, and he manages to hit the song’s one and only high note. In the final section, he lies on the floor and begins twitching in movements meant to represent a storm again. He doesn’t sing during this part. Overall, it’s not an impressive performance—and it’s certainly not a winning one.

A break follows the Austrian performance. Host Hazel Brugger does a stage dive, supported by production staff, and interviews them mid-air. A light-hearted segment then airs, showing Hazel dancing with elderly individuals to convey the message that Eurovision is for all ages.

United Kingdom

Remember Monday take the stage wearing glittery, sequin-covered dresses in various colors, with a lit-up makeup vanity behind them. During the first chorus, fireworks shoot up and dynamic lighting effects are used. While they clearly know how to sing, they struggle to keep up with the tempo of the song.

In the second verse, a large broken chandelier is revealed on stage, and they perform around it during the second chorus. At the end of that chorus, they appear to be standing in the middle of a circle projected onto the stage floor. In the following section, they move toward the front of the stage as the lighting turns orange and the chandelier changes colors.

They finish the final part of the song back near the same makeup vanity where they began.
There’s high potential for this entry to end up near the bottom of the scoreboard.

7. Greece

Once again, there’s a delay before the Greek performance, and the cameras cut to shots of the audience. Eventually, Klavdia takes the stage. She appears standing alone in a black dress, with a single beam of light shining down on her. Her vocal delivery at the start is stunning. As the stage lighting gradually increases, she slightly misses a note—but quickly recovers.

When the chorus begins, a visual illusion makes it seem like she’s standing between two closing black walls. These “walls” eventually vanish, revealing a massive pillar of fire. Klavdia climbs a rock formation, where a second dancer appears beside her. She tries to reach the dancer but cannot—likely a metaphor that reflects the song’s emotional message.

Eventually, she does manage to reach the dancer, who turns her back on her. During the second verse, the stage turns blue and doves appear in the background. The backdrop then shifts to red, and a sky full of stars appears above her—fitting for the song’s lyrics. By the end of the performance, Klavdia is dressed in a white gown, greeted by roaring applause from the audience.

Goosebumps. She’s likely heading to the final—and I truly hope she earns a top placement there.

8. Lithuania

Katarsis take the stage dressed in blue outfits, with visuals of vast, cold-looking fields projected behind them. The staging feels static and lacks movement, but it likely appeals to a specific audience. During the chorus, lightning effects flash across the stage, followed by shattered visual elements appearing behind the lead singer.

In the repetitive and rather dull part of the song (“Tavo, tavo…”), the lighting shifts to a dim blue, and in the final chorus, asteroid-like visuals appear behind the singer.

It will probably qualify for the final, but the performance is extremely bland, lacking in personality, melancholic, and tries to come across as avant-garde—without quite pulling it off.

9. Malta

Once again, there’s an extended delay before the next performance, with prolonged crowd shots and visible technical issues. Eventually, Miriana Conte takes the stage, accompanied by a large golden disco ball placed inside a structure resembling stylized lips—evocative of female anatomy. Dancers join her on stage, and she delivers solid vocals while wearing a bright yellow dress.

During the chorus, the stage lighting shifts to black, and in the second verse, red window visuals appear on the screen behind her. The lighting returns to black for the second chorus as well. Notably, crowd cheering is barely audible throughout. In the bridge, the LED screens show imagery of women with their legs spread.

She hits the high note accurately, and—as is now tradition—climbs onto the pink physio balls for the final part of the song.

This could be a wildcard moment. Despite the mixed staging, she receives loud applause from the crowd.

10. Georgia

Mariam Shengelia takes the stage standing on a platform, while the traditional Georgian dancers appear before her entrance. Their choreography is highly impressive, full of energy and precision. Mariam then emerges on the platform wearing a white leather-like dress.

During the chorus, the stage lights shift to red as the dancers raise white flags. Midway through the chorus, the lighting changes back to white, adding contrast and dynamic visuals. In the second verse, Mariam removes the white dress to reveal a white bodysuit with red stripes. She steps down from the platform while the dancers continue their intense routine. Behind her, multiple halo-like visuals appear on the LED screens. Her vocal performance is extremely accurate, and the performance concludes with her standing against a blue backdrop, delivering the song’s final high note with precision.

This entry could definitely surprise viewers—and just like in the first semi-final, unexpected results are likely!

A short break follows the Georgian performance, as the hosts visit the commentary booths of the various participating countries.

France

Louane takes the stage, and the first thing that stands out is the massive mound of sand placed at the center. She holds an hourglass and lets it fall from her hand. Throughout the first verse, sand pours down on her from above. During the chorus, she rises to her feet as the stage lighting begins to gradually illuminate the arena. The sand continues to fall, and she interacts with it during the chorus, letting it run through her fingers in an emotionally symbolic gesture.

The performance relies heavily on lighting and camera work, with visuals surrounding Louane that resemble the glowing rings used around Nemo in last year’s performance. During the bridge, a sandstorm appears behind her, intensifying the atmosphere. In the final chorus, a large amount of sand falls on her once again, culminating in a powerful visual moment. The performance ends with a bright white light glowing behind her.

This could be a potential winner—she’s likely to touch many hearts with this performance. Afterward, the hosts are shown vacuuming the sand from the stage, and it’s clear that this reset takes longer than it will during the live show. This rehearsal, too, was plagued by technical issues.

11. Denmark

Sissal takes the stage standing inside a slightly elevated circular platform, surrounded by sheer curtains. As the performance begins, dancers join her on stage and remove her oversized white garment, revealing a striking blue bodysuit. The four dancers, also dressed in blue, move around her in well-choreographed formations while she remains centered on the platform.

The lighting and camera angles are exceptionally well-executed, enhancing the emotional tone and elegance of the song. Toward the end of the performance, Sissal walks toward the front of the stage and delivers the high note with impressive precision—just as she had maintained throughout the entire song. Meanwhile, the dancers bring out props that help create an illusion as if they are about to fall, adding a sense of tension and theatricality.

This could very well qualify for the final. It’s hard to predict at this stage who will make it through, especially with so many high-level performances this year.

12. Czechia

Adonxs opens his performance standing still and singing, before beginning to move as a white light appears behind him—similar to the one seen just before the first chorus in the Greek entry. It appears he is holding a wilted flower in his hand. He is then joined by four male dancers dressed in white, who surround him, remove his black-and-white outfit, and reveal a matching white costume underneath—evoking a somewhat “queer” aesthetic reminiscent of Olly Alexander’s vibe from last year.

The dancers touch him in an almost erotic manner, making the performance feel far from family-friendly. A dance break follows, which feels unnecessary and out of place in this song. Lights descend from the ceiling, and Adonxs moves toward the main stage, accompanied by the dancers.

This could easily miss out on qualifying for the final—and honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if that happens. It’s in the same category as Belgium’s performance from the previous night.

13. Luxembourg

Laura Thorn begins her performance lying on the floor, while France Gall, the Eurovision 1965 winner, appears in a symbolic “birth screen” and is shown on a small inset within the LED screen for almost the entire song. Five dancers lift Laura from the ground and dance with her in a routine very similar to the one presented during the national selection. At a certain point, the dancers remove her pink dress, revealing a silver gown underneath.

Her vocal performance is excellent, including the high note, which she delivers with precision. There’s a clear narrative here, emotional depth, and strong artistic direction. I wholeheartedly believe we’ll see her in the final on Saturday—possibly at the expense of Ireland, which finds itself in a similar performance slot.

Just before Israel’s performance, once again, there’s a delay in stage setup, and the cameras cut to audience shots.

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, adding a dramatic and intimate atmosphere as she walks steadily toward the main stage.

During the second chorus—performed in French—she circles the massive chandelier, then climbs a staircase beside it. At that moment, a camera captures her from a dramatic overhead angle, shot from the ceiling of the arena, creating a striking and emotional visual highlight.

At the song’s climax, a waterfall of fireworks erupts behind her, leading into the final moments where the entire stage is bathed in white light—symbolizing hope, renewal, and the essence of the song “New Day Will Rise.”

There was, however, a noticeable vocal slip at the end of the second chorus—clearly off-pitch—but fortunately, this is only a rehearsal. Apart from that moment, Yuval delivered a near-perfect vocal performance throughout the rest of the song. If she manages to overcome this weak spot tomorrow, she is without a doubt a serious contender for the win.

Surprisingly, no loud booing was heard in the arena—a positive sign in a politically charged year.

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 standing on the giant speaker. Toward the end of the song, Abor smashes the cello on the floor as fireworks go off. Two dancers join Tynna during the performance.

The vocal performance is better than in the national selection, and in my opinion, she’ll likely finish higher than last place.

15. Serbia

Princ opens his performance standing at the center of the main stage, surrounded by four dancers who move in a circle around him. Smoke fills the stage floor, adding a moody and dramatic atmosphere. As the song nears its end, Princ lies down on the stage, and a visual of his reflection appears—enhancing the emotional depth of the staging. The dancers then drag him toward the front of the stage, and in the final moment, they lift him onto their shoulders in a powerful closing pose.

His vocal performance is nothing short of perfect, and Princ delivers a deeply moving rendition of the song.

Serbia has a real shot at qualifying for the final, especially since its main competitor in the Balkan ballad slot—Montenegro—has brought a considerably weaker entry this year.

16. Finland

Erika Vikman takes the Eurovision stage as the lighting starts at her level and gradually rises to the ceiling, creating a theatrical opening. However, right at the beginning, a camera unintentionally blocks her completely for several seconds—an unfortunate technical mishap.

She then steps onto a slightly elevated platform, with lighting positioned above her in a tent-like shape, emphasizing her presence. Erika moves toward the front stage carrying the microphone stand, where she lies down dramatically on the floor. She later returns to the main stage and stands on a giant microphone that rises into the air as fireworks burst from it, delivering a bold visual climax.

Vocally, the performance sounds solid—though not particularly extraordinary.

Loud cheers were heard both in the arena and in the press center, and with this level of crowd support, Finland is expected to qualify for the final—especially from a semi-final decided solely by public vote.

Following the Finnish performance, the hosts officially open the voting and present the first recap of the evening’s songs.

Shortly after, several former participants from the cancelled Eurovision 2020 take the stage in a nostalgic tribute: Gjon’s Tears from Switzerland, Destiny from Malta, The Roop from Lithuania, and Efendi from Azerbaijan. One by one, they perform the songs they had originally prepared for the contest that never took place.

After their performances, footage from the green room is shown, giving viewers a glimpse of the artists’ reactions and behind-the-scenes energy. A second recap of the competing entries follows, after which the hosts announce the closure of public voting.

Once the voting has closed, a special segment dedicated to Eurovision fans is shown, featuring enthusiasts from Malta, Turkey, and Australia, who share their passion and celebrate the community spirit of the contest.

This is followed by a modern dance performance accompanied by voiceovers narrating about Switzerland and its famed precision—blending art with cultural storytelling. Finally, just before the announcement of the qualifiers, one of the hosts walks over to the green room, building anticipation for the results to come.

Thank you for staying with us!

Join us tomorrow at 15:00 CET for the third 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.