She made millions laugh and brought a “fresh modern spirit” to Eurovision 2025. Now, Swiss host Hazel Brugger wins Germany’s top comedy award. What made her style so unique?
Swiss comedian and television host Hazel Brugger has been awarded the German Comedy Award 2025 for her acclaimed hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, held in Basel, Switzerland. The Cologne Comedy Festival announced that Brugger received a special honor recognizing her distinctive and spontaneous hosting style. According to the festival’s statement, Brugger’s authentic and spontaneous approach gave Eurovision a modern, refreshing tone that moved millions of viewers across Europe.
Europe Laughs Along
The award ceremony took place yesterday at Cologne City Hall as part of the festival’s show “Köln lacht!” (in English:“Cologne Laughs!”).
Although Brugger could not attend the event in person, she sent a pre-recorded video message to the organizers and audience, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support and affection she received following her memorable performance as Eurovision host.
At 31, Brugger first gained fame in Germany through her appearances on ZDF’s popular satirical program “heute show” (in English: “Today Show”).
In recent years, she has established herself as one of the country’s most respected comedians, known for her blend of wit, social sensitivity, and sharp humor.
Her role as Eurovision host marked her transition to an international stage – an endeavor widely praised by both critics and fans.
Humor and Eurovision – A Perfect Match
The award serves as official recognition of Brugger’s achievements and of the success of this year’s Eurovision, which was lauded for its strong production values and lighthearted, comedic energy.
Brugger now joins a distinguished list of comedians who have hosted Eurovision with humor and flair, including Anke Engelke from Germany (2011), Petra Mede from Sweden (2013, 2016, 2024), and Assi Azar from Israel (2019).
This achievement solidifies Brugger’s reputation as one of Switzerland’s leading comedians and as a figure who helped redefine Eurovision’s modern image for younger audiences – combining authenticity, charm, and intelligence in a way that resonated across Europe.
Eurovision 2025: The 69th Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13th, 15th, and 17th, 2025. The St. Jakobshalle arena, which hosted the competition, is expected to accommodate about 12,000 spectators for each show. The contest took place in Switzerland following the country’s third historical win with the song “The Code”, performed by singer Nemo. This was the third time the competition has been hosted in Switzerland, after the contest was held there in 1956 and 1989.
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Neta Geffen is a respected journalist at Euromix, Israel’s leading news site for Eurovision coverage. Since 2010, Neta has been closely following the Eurovision Song Contest, bringing with him extensive experience, profound knowledge, and a broad understanding of the history, politics, and cultural influences that shape the event every year.
Neta publishes articles, analyses, and up-to-date reviews on all Eurovision developments, including musical trends, format changes, political influences, and audience reactions across Europe and Israel. Thanks to a deep connection to the contest’s history, Neta provides readers with wide-ranging context—from the impact of political events on results, to in-depth analyses of songs and languages within the competition. Neta specializes particularly in the Eurovision rock genre, Balkan ballads, and native language entries, with a special focus on Italian and Greek songs.
