Image credit: © Hallo Halle / Wikimedia Commons The dates and host city for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 were announced this Friday. The event will take place on May 13, 15, and 17 in Basel, Switzerland, at the St. Jakobshalle.
Following Nemo’s victory this past May with the song The Code, a selection process to determine the host city has taken place over the past few months. In the final stage, Basel beat Geneva. The evaluation of the bids considered various criteria, such as the city’s infrastructure, the venue, and its ability to accommodate thousands of people, including the participating delegations, organizers, fans, and journalists.
The St. Jakobshalle was inaugurated in 1976 and underwent a significant renovation between 2015 and 2018. It has a capacity of around 12,400 people in the main arena, but the complex also includes five smaller halls, a business center, a VIP area, four gyms, and a 25-meter swimming pool, along with a parking lot with 1,465 spaces.
This will be the third time the ESC is held in Switzerland, after the inaugural edition in 1956 in Lugano and in 1989 in Lausanne. Martin Österdahl, ESC’s executive supervisor, stated in a press release: “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”.
From the host broadcaster SRG SSR, ESC 2025 executive producers Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler commented: “We were impressed by the quality of the cities’ applications! All four 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”.
Basel’s government president, Conradin Cramer, highlighted: “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!”.
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