Last May, Nemo clinched victory with “The Code” at Malmö Arena, securing the glass microphone. Following this triumph, several Swiss cities entered the race to host Eurovision 2025. Now, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Swiss public broadcaster have announced the winner: Basel.
Though not initially a frontrunner, Basel has surprised many by being selected to host the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. This decision sets the stage for the city to become the centre of European and global music next May, as preparations begin for what promises to be a spectacular event.
The selection process, described by the EBU as “competitive,” saw four cities officially submit bids to host the contest. Ultimately, the decision came down to Basel and Geneva. Basel, Switzerland’s third-largest city, has now been chosen as the host of Eurovision 2025.
“The EBU is thrilled that Basel has been selected as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The contest began in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956, and it’s exciting to bring it back to its country of origin nearly 70 years later,” said Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest.
During the bidding process, a delegation from SRG SSR assessed the venue’s facilities, local infrastructure, and capacity to host thousands of visiting delegations, among other factors. Interestingly, Eurovision will once again take place in a city that is not the capital of the host country, a scenario that has occurred since Tel Aviv in 2019. Organisers have also indicated that tickets will go on sale in the coming months.
Discover St. Jakobshalle in Basel, the Venue for Eurovision 2025
In its bid to host Eurovision 2025, Basel proposed two potential venues: St. Jakobshalle and St. Jakob-Park. Ultimately, St. Jakobshalle was selected to host the contest. This multi-purpose venue can accommodate up to 12,400 live spectators, though this number may vary depending on the staging requirements of the event.
St. Jakobshalle offers the logistical support and technical expertise necessary to host a wide range of events. It boasts 20,000 square metres of space, capable of accommodating everything from sports competitions and concerts to exhibitions, seminars, and large corporate celebrations. It is regarded as Switzerland’s most versatile venue.
Construction of St. Jakobshalle began in April 1971, with the project taking over five years to complete. Designed by architect Giovanni Panozzo, the venue was officially inaugurated on 26 September 1976, initially offering seating for 9,000 people.
Between 2015 and 2018, the venue underwent significant renovations and upgrades, transforming it into one of Europe’s most modern and multi-functional spaces. The refurbishment, led by architect Berrel Berrel Kräutler in collaboration with Degelo Architekten, has equipped the venue with ideal conditions for hosting events aimed at international audiences.
The building features rooms and halls of varying sizes, utilised for a diverse array of events. It is the official venue for annual badminton, Sepak Takraw, and tennis competitions, including the Swiss Indoors tournament. St. Jakobshalle in Basel offers 11 distinct spaces, allowing for multiple events to be held simultaneously.
In the coming months, St. Jakobshalle will host numerous events, including the Women’s European Handball Championship (from 28 November to 3 December) and the 2025 Show Jumping and Dressage Championship. Additionally, it will serve as the venue for several musical performances, including Laura Pausini’s concert during her winter tour and a production of The Nutcracker. The hall is also used for university entrance exams taken by hundreds of Swiss students.
Looking ahead to May 2025, St. Jakobshalle has reserved dates for the Swiss Police Handball Championship on 6 May and the Basel-City School Conference on 7 May. These short-term events, given their scale and the venue’s technical and spatial capacity, should not interfere with the Eurovision Song Contest. The venue offers multi-storey parking and is well-connected to the city’s public transport network, including trams, buses, and trains.
Eurovision 2025 in Basel: A Return to the “Heart of Europe”
Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, highlighted Basel’s strategic location, making it “the perfect stage for an event that celebrates the power of music to unite people across borders.”
In previous years when Switzerland hosted the contest, the events were held in Lugano in 1956, in the Italian-speaking region, and in Lausanne in 1989, in the French-speaking region. This time, in 2025, the contest will take place in the German-speaking region.
“Basel embodies the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest with its unique blend of tradition and innovation. It promises to deliver a memorable experience for delegations, artists, and fans alike.”
“Together with the host broadcaster SRG SSR and the city of Basel, we will create a spectacular celebration of music on the banks of the Rhine that will resonate far beyond the stage,” Österdahl added.
Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, Executive Producers of Eurovision 2025, also noted that Basel’s bid stood out for its quality. Of all the candidate cities, they emphasised that the proposals were “creative in their approaches and demonstrated a constructive focus.”
The city of Basel is equally enthusiastic. Conradin Cramer, President of the local government, stated that Basel will present itself to the world “as a cosmopolitan and open cultural city in the heart of Europe.”
About Basel: Open and Cosmopolitan
The Swiss city of Basel lies on the banks of the Rhine. Located in northwestern Switzerland, near the borders with France and Germany, it has become a key point of connection between the three countries.
Basel is part of the canton of Basel-City, with a population exceeding 180,434 residents (as of 2022). Considering its broader metropolitan area, the population reaches nearly one million. It is Switzerland’s third-largest urban area, after Zurich and Geneva.
Basel’s strategic location and excellent transport links have made it one of the fastest-growing cities in Switzerland. Moreover, an increasing number of major companies are choosing to establish their headquarters here.
The half-canton of Basel-City was established in 1833 when the former canton of Basel split, creating the two half-cantons of Basel-City and Basel-Country. This territorial arrangement remains in place today.
In Basel-City, the official language is German, with both Standard German (Hochdeutsch) and Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch) being widely spoken. Standard German is predominantly used in everyday life, as well as in schools and the media.
Basel is renowned for its rich history and striking architecture, often referred to as Switzerland’s architectural capital. It is also a significant economic centre, with a vibrant cultural scene that includes numerous museums, art galleries, and festivals. The city is famous for its art fair, Art Basel, which attracts visitors from around the globe. In terms of tourism, Basel is one of the most visited cities in Switzerland.
As a point of interest, Basel is home to the Basel Art Museum, established in 1661, which is the largest museum in the country and the first public art collection in Europe.
Economically, Basel is one of Switzerland’s financial powerhouses, alongside Zurich. The Bank for International Settlements is headquartered here, and the city boasts the third-highest GDP in Switzerland, exceeding $85,954 per capita.
The pharmaceutical and chemical industries are vital to Basel’s economy, accounting for over 94% of its exports. Globally, Basel represents 20% of Switzerland’s exports and contributes a third of the national GDP.
Eurovision 2025: A Return to the Contest’s Origins
Nemo won Eurovision 2024 with a total of 591 points, securing the victory after dominating the national jury vote and finishing fifth in the public vote—a record-breaking achievement for a winner who placed fifth in the public voting. Nemo’s victory also marks the first time a non-binary artist has won the Eurovision Song Contest.
Nemo’s win brings Eurovision back to Switzerland for the first time in 36 years, marking the country’s third victory in the contest’s history.