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10 to 17 May 2025. The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) – the world’s largest music event – will take place in Basel in 2025.

Dal 10 al 17 maggio 2025. L’Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) – il più grande evento musicale del mondo – si terrà a Basilea nel 2025.

The Eurovision Song Contest is far more than just a music competition: it connects and inspires across all borders. The ESC has always stood for openness, participation, mutual respect and the appreciation of cultural diversity. These values are embodied in Basel, the border city at the heart of Europe. 

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 at the tri-border region will highlight the tolerance and everyday interaction of different languages, cultures and ways of life. Whether across the Rhine or borders, Basel has long built bridges successfully, bringing people together peacefully.

L’ESC è molto più di una semplice competizione musicale: connette e ispira oltre ogni confine. Fin dall’inizio, l’ESC è stato sinonimo di apertura, partecipazione, rispetto reciproco e apprezzamento della diversità culturale. A Basilea, la città di frontiera nel cuore dell’Europa, questi valori sono vissuti attivamente. 

L’Eurovision Song Contest 2025 nella regione di confine tra tre Stati metterà in risalto la tolleranza e la quotidiana interazione tra lingue, culture e realtà di vita diverse. Che sia sul Reno o tra i confini, Basilea ha da tempo costruito ponti con successo, unendo le persone pacificamente.

Venues / Luoghi dell’evento. The impressive St. Jakobshalle in Basel will be the central stage for the nine live shows. On the final day, the adjacent St. Jakob-Park will transform into the exclusive “Arena plus”, offering much more than just public viewing. Visitors will experience a unique festival atmosphere with a variety of family offerings and live concerts by former ESC stars.

A wide range of accompanying programmes is planned for fans and the local community, including the Eurovision Village with public viewing and music programmes, and the Eurovision Club for partygoers at Messe Basel. Eurovision Street will come alive in Steinenvorstadt, and a variety of events will take place along the Kleinbasel Rhine bank and at Barfüsserplatz.

L’impressionante St. Jakobshalle di Basilea sarà il palco centrale per i nove spettacoli dal vivo. Il giorno della finale, il St. Jakob-Park adiacente si trasformerà in un’esclusiva «Arena plus», offrendo molto di più di un semplice schermo gigante. I visitatori potranno vivere un’atmosfera unica da festival con una varietà di offerte per famiglie e concerti dal vivo di ex star dell’ESC.

È previsto anche un vasto programma di accompagnamento per i fan e la popolazione locale, tra cui l’Eurovision Village con trasmissioni in diretta e programmi musicali, e l’Eurovision Club per i festaioli nei locali della Fiera di Basilea. L’Eurovision Street animerà la Steinenvorstadt e vari eventi si svolgeranno lungo la riva del Reno a Kleinbasel e presso la Barfüsserplatz.

Throughout the ESC, various event highlights will take place in Basel. Durante l’ESC, Basilea sarà teatro di numerosi eventi di rilievo.

Basel has been chosen by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to host the 69th edition of the contest. We are delighted to be part of the world’s biggest music contest and to be staging various highlights in the MQ Basel during ESC week.

From 12 to 17 May 2025, you can experience the world’s biggest music competition up close: at a total of nine shows in the St. Jakobshalle. The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, 13 May, and Thursday, 15 May. The grand final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on Saturday, 17 May, in the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel.

28 days – 10 – 17 May 2025 | Hall 1, Messeplatz, Event Hall.

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 in Basel. The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 – the biggest music competition in the world – will be held in Basel from 10 to 17 May 2025. The ESC is more than just a music competition: it connects and inspires people across all borders. For Basel, the ESC offers a unique opportunity to present itself to a global audience.

This is happening during the ESC in Basel. An extensive programme of events around the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel from 10 to 17 May 2025. Eurovision Venues:

  • Eurovision Village | Messe Halle 1
  • EuroClub & Café | Eventhalle der Messe Basel
  • Eurovision Square |Barfüsserplatz
  • Eurovision Street | Steinenvorstadt
  • Eurovision Boulevard | Bahnhof SBB bis Badischer Bahnhof

The show week kicks off with the opening ceremony on Sunday, 11 May 2025. A total of nine shows will then take place in front of an audience in the St. Jakobshalle. The final show on 17 May will also be shown in the Arena plus in the St. Jakob-Park with a pre-show and public viewing.

Shows at the St. Jakobshalle.

Mon, 12.5.2025
21.00 – 23.30 Rehearsal
Tue, 13.5.2025

15.00 – 17.30 Rehearsal

21.00 – 23.30 Semi-Final 1 (Live broadcast)

Wed, 14.5.2025
21.00 – 23.30 Rehearsal
Thu, 15.5.2025

15.00 – 17.30 Rehearsal

21.00 – 23.30 Semi-Final 2 (Live broadcast)

Fri, 16.5.2025
21.00 – 01.00 Rehearsal
Sat, 17.5.2025
13.30 – 17.30 Rehearsal
21.00 – 01.00 Grand Final (Live broadcast)

ESC: In Switzerland for the third time. The ESC is coming home to Switzerland in 2025. The very first “Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson” took place in Lugano in 1956. Back then, Lys Assia won and secured the first victory in ESC history for Switzerland. Switzerland’s second victory followed in 1988 with Céline Dion, after which the music competition was held in Lausanne in 1989. Thanks to Nemo’s victory in Malmö in 2024, the ESC is now coming to Switzerland for the third time – to Basel.

Basel wants the ESC. The people of Basel approved the expenses for the ESC in a vote on 24.11.2024 with 66.57 percent in favor. This is a very good result given that votes rarely exceed 60 percent. Hosting the ESC offers great opportunities for Basel as a venue. Basel will do everything in its power to be a good host city. The guests coming to Basel will benefit the hotel, catering and retail sectors as well as Basel’s cultural scene. In addition, Basel can reach a global audience through live broadcasts and international coverage and inspire them with the qualities of the city.

The ESC has political backing in Basel: on 5 June 2024, the Grand Council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt decided by 74:8 votes with 6 abstentions that Basel should bid to host the ESC. On 11 September 2024, the Grand Council approved the supplementary credit and the expenditure of CHF 37.464 million for the ESC with 87:4 votes in favour and 4 abstentions. All parliamentary groups in the Grand Council supported the staging of the ESC in Basel by a majority or even unanimously. 

Eurovision-Map-Web-rgb Eurovision-Programm-Web

Opening Ceremony. The show week kicks off with the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, 11 May 2025, in our MesseQuartier Basel.

This year’s Opening Ceremony will be a trailblazing approach to the official kick-off of Eurovision week. As well as the 37 delegations taking to the Turquoise Carpet, a celebratory parade (commencing at 14:00 CET on Sunday 11 May) will head through the streets of Basel, ending up at Eurovision Village for an afternoon of live music. The event is free and open to everyone.

EuroClub & Café. It will be mainly ESC fan clubs celebrating in the EuroClub in our Event Hall and they are in charge of compiling the EuroClub programme. The dancing will go on until late in the night. Daily, as of 11 p.m.

If you’re coming to Basel to hear banging Eurovision tunes all night, every night – these are the places to be. Both are located at Messeplatz, directly opposite the Eurovision Village, with opening dates and times already announced right here. Tickets for EuroClub went on general sale here on Tuesday 18 March. EuroClub Information

Eurovision Village. The Eurovision Village in our Hall 1 features a daily programme of live concerts, public viewings, food and drink stands and other activities linked to the Eurovision Song Contest. Admission is free.

Eurovision Square. The open-air stage on Barfüsserplatz embraces diversity and offers a daily programme of performances by mostly local and regional artists. These include acts from neighbouring areas of France and Germany – in the true spirit of “crossing borders”. Admission is free.

Billed as an open-air festival at Barfüsserplatz – a public square in Basel’s city centre. Admission is free, artists are playing here daily during Eurovision week and everyone is welcome! Explore Eurovision Square

From 10 to 17 May, Eurovision Village is taking over The Messe and Congress Centre, home to the world’s most prestigious art fair, Art Basel. Here, there will be a daily programme of live concerts, public viewings and other happenings. The City of Basel has already released the first batch of names that visitors can look forward to seeing. Find out more

Eurovision Boulevard. The Eurovision Boulevard runs between Basel SBB and Basel Badischer Bahnhof railway stations, linking the different ESC activations. Decorative elements, eyecatchers and interactive activities create a unique ESC atmosphere along the entire route, which also includes the ‘Riviera’ on the Kleinbasel bank of the Rhine. Visitors from all over Europe will have the opportunity to see and experience Basel’s savoir-vivre.

Two party-spirit promenades that will connect the Eurovision-themed venues in Basel and serve as the ideal meeting places for Eurovision fans. Find out more

Eurovision Street. While the ESC is running, Basel’s Steinenvorstadt will be turned into Eurovision Street. This popular bar and restaurant area will be full of street music and striking decorations, all in keeping with the ESC. Local businesses will be actively involved in the planning.

Main venues / Luoghi principali.

.St. Jakobshalle. St. Jakobshalle Basel is one of the most modern and multifunctional arenas in Europe. 

Sede principale – St. Jakobshalle. La St. Jakobshalle di Basilea è una delle arene più moderne e multifunzionali d’Europa.

The St. Jakobshalle is one of the most modern multifunctional halls in Europe. It covers 20,000 m2 and has been the venue for international concerts, events and sporting events for over 45 years. Whether Queen, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash or Muse – countless world-famous acts have already played at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel. The hall was extensively renovated and renewed seven years ago.

Arena plus – Stadium St. Jakob-Park | Football stadium. St. Jakob-Park is Switzerland’s largest football stadium and the home ground of FC Basel. It is important in both architectural and sporting terms.

Arena plus – Stadio di calcio St. Jakob-Park. Il St. Jakob-Park è il più grande stadio di calcio della Svizzera ed è sede dell’FC Basilea.

Built by local architects Herzog & de Meuron and opened in 2001, it encompasses a shopping centre and old people’s home as well as the football arena with over 38,000 seats. For the star architects, it was excellent preparation for similar projects such as the Allianz Arena in Munich and Beijing’s National Stadium.

Accompanying programme. During the ESC, guests and locals can look forward to an extensive accompanying programme.

Programma di accompagnamento. Le informazioni su trasmissioni in diretta, programmi musicali e altri eventi di accompagnamento seguiranno.

.Arena Plus. The Arena plus is the ultimate place to experience the ESC final on 17 May 2025 together with thousands of fans. 

The Arena plus will be another place to experience watching the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final live and surrounded by thousands of other fans, complete with a 90-minute pre-show concert. Tickets & Information

Celebrate the ESC final together with around 36,000 ESC fans in Switzerland’s largest football stadium! A spectacular pre-show with Swiss and international artists, ESC stars and exclusive live insights into the main venue await you in the Arena plus. The final will then be shown on gigantic mega screens.

Arena plus, Saturday, 17 May 2025. Celebrate the Eurovision final together with around 36,000 Eurovision fans in Switzerland’s largest football stadium! A spectacular pre-show with Swiss and international artists, Eurovision stars and exclusive live insights into the main venue await you in the Arena plus. The final will then be shown on gigantic mega screens.

The Arena plus is more than just a public viewing: At around 7.30 pm, a captivating pre-show will start with live performances by international and national artists who will interact with the audience. With Kate RyanBaby LasagnaLuca HänniAnna Rossinelli and DJ Antoine first highlights are already known, more are soon to be announced. Mélanie Freymond and Sven Epiney will present the shows and viewings at Arena plus. Epiney has been SRF’s commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008.

St. Jakob-Park (known as “Joggeli” in Basel) is the largest football stadium in Switzerland and one of the most beautiful in Europe. The stadium was designed by the world-famous Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron. The same building houses a shopping centre, restaurants, seminar rooms and various service companies.

Kate Ryan. Kate Ryan is a favorite of Eurovision fans. She represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the song «Je t’adore». Her song became a hit across Europe. Known for her catchy melodies, she’s released a number of successful albums, toured globally and built a strong European fanbase. In 2023, she launched The Ultimate Seduction Tour – a high-energy live show created with top Belgian producers. Expect dazzling lights, hit songs, and a powerful live band. Baby Lasagna. With «Rim Tim Tagi Dim», Baby Lasagna went on to second place at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö, winning by far most public televotes from fans all over the globe. The song has now surpassed 35 million streams on Spotify and was in the top 40 charts in numerous countries. After hugely successful first live shows this spring, the future looks bright for Baby Lasagna. Luca Hänni. Switzerland’s wave of success in the Eurovision Song Contest began in 2019 with Luca Hänni. His hit «She Got Me» reached number 4 and platinum status. Now he is back with a new show and fresh songs that combine modern pop sounds, gripping beats and passionate lyrics. He has won several Swiss Music Awards, was nominated for the ECHO and received international awards. With hits such as «Love Me Better» and his No. 1 album «My Name is Luca», he is a permanent fixture in pop music. He is also a talented dancer, which he has proven in shows such as «Let’s Dance» and «Dance Dance Dance” on RTL. On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Luca Hänni and his band will rock the Eurovision Village stage after the Opening Ceremony. Anna Rossinelli. Anna Rossinelli made it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf with her song «In Love for a While», laying the foundations for a successful career. Since then, she has released six albums, topped the charts several times and also made a name for herself as an actress – for example in the Swiss hit series «Tschugger», where she played a convincing federal policewoman. She was also a judge on «The Voice of Switzerland» and took part in the last season of «Sing Meinen Song – Das Schweizer Tauschkonzert». Anna Rossinelli and her bandmates Manuel Meisel and Georg Dillier come from Basel and still feel deeply connected to their hometown today. DJ Antoine. Charismatic and always perfectly styled, DJ Antoine is guaranteed to set the mood with his summer hits such as «Welcome To St. Tropez» or «Ma Chérie», the most successful Swiss music title of all time. The Swiss DJ has already worked with Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Snoop Dogg, Madonna, Britney Spears and many more. Over 8 million albums and singles sold and numerous awards make him the internationally most successful Swiss music export.

.Eurovision Village. An activation programme will run daily from 10 to 17 May 2025 from 12 noon at Messe Basel (Hall 1). This programme includes live concerts, public viewings, food and drink stands and much more.

The Eurovision Village in the heart of the MesseQuartier (Messe Basel, Hall 1) offers a daily programme of live concerts, public viewings, food and drink stands and other activities related to the Eurovision Song Contest. Free entry.

From 10 to 17 May, Eurovision Village is taking over The Messe and Congress Centre, home to the world’s most prestigious art fair, Art Basel. Here, there will be a daily programme of live concerts, public viewings and other happenings. The City of Basel has already released the first batch of names that visitors can look forward to seeing. Find out more

Daily Stage Programme. The programme in the Eurovision Village will be hosted by Tanja Dankner, Odette Hella’Grand and Joël von Mutzenbecher. Former Swiss Eurovision acts such asRemo Forrer (2023), Luca Hänni (2019), Timebelle (2017), Sinplus (2012) and Anna Rossinelli (2011) will be performing, along with international stars including Conchita Wurst (Eurovision winner for Austria 2014), Michael Schulte & Band (German Eurovision-Act 2018) and 90s Icons such as Rednex and SNAP!. Numerous current Eurovision delegations are also expected. The programme will be rounded off by ABBA Gold – The Concert Show, local choirs, music groups and DJs.

The Eurovision Village 2025 will be held in Hall 1 of Messe Basel, which is located in Kleinbasel, about an eight-minute walk from the Badischer Bahnhof. In 2025, the Eurovision Village will be held indoors for the first time, in Hall 1 of Messe Basel. The Messe und Congress Center Basel is located in the middle of the MesseQuartier and, with over 141,000 m² of exhibition space, is one of the most important exhibition and congress centres in Europe and an excellent venue for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest’s fringe events. It hosts the world’s most important art fair, Art Basel, as well as over 250 congresses and other events every year.

Opening | Eurovision Village on Saturday, 10 May 2025. 14:00-15:00 Village Opening with speeches and alphorn players with ESC Medley; 15:00-15:30 Juventus Musica Basel; 16:00-17:00 Tanja Dankner Unplugged; 17:30-18:45 Remo Forrer (Swiss Eurovision-Act 2023); 21:00-22:00 Anna Rossinelli (Swiss Eurovision-Act 2011); 17 Further surprises will be announced shortly before the event. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. Eurovision Opening Ceremony | Eurovision Village on Sunday, 11 May 2025. 4:00 – 16:00 Eurovision Opening Ceremony: Parade from Marktplatz to Messeplatz; ca. 15:15 Short Interviews with Delegations on stage in the Eurovision Village; 19:00-20:15 Luca Hänni (Swiss Eurovision-Act 2019). Further surprises will be announced shortly before the event. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. Diversity Day | Eurovision Village on Monday, 12 May 2025. 14:00-15:00 Live Podcast: SRF Focus, 15:00-15:45 Singsieme Chor, 17:00-18:00 Timebelle, 18:30-19:00 Eurovision 2025 Delegations, 19:00-21:00 Eurovision 2025 Delegations, 21:30-22:00 Conchita Wurst, 22:00- 23:00 «Oh G! It’s Drag» presented by Odette Hella’Grand. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. Public Viewing 1. Semi Final | Eurovision Village  on Tuesday, 14 May 2025. 14:00-15:00 Live Podcast: SRF Tagesgespräch, 15:00-16:00 Eurovision Delegations, 16:00-17:00 Eurovision Delegations, 17:00-18:00 School of Rock Basel, 18:30-20:00 ABBA Gold – The Concert, 20:30-24:00 Uhr Public Viewing 1. Semi Final, 00:00-2:00 DJ. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. Michael Schulte, Sinplus | Eurovision Village on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. 14:00-15:00 Live Podcast: Simmer mal ehrlich, 15:15-15:30 ABBA Gold – The Concert, 16:00-17:00 Winner of the Spring Basel Bandcontest, 17:30-18:30 Sinplus, 19:00-20:00 Eurovision Delegations, 20:00-20:30 Eurovision Delegations, 21:00-22:30 Michael Schulte & Band. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. Public Viewing 2. Semi Final | Eurovision Village on Thursday, 15 May 2025. 14:00-15:00 Eurovision Live Podcast- EuroTrip, 15:00-16:00 Eurovision Delegations, 16:00-17:00 Eurovision Delegations, 17:00-18:00 Eurovision Delegations, 18:30-20:00 Pub Choir/SING! Basel, 20:30-24:00 Uhr Public Viewing 2. Semi Final, 00:00-2:00 DJ. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering. 90s Night feat. SNAP!, Rednex, uvm. | Eurovision Village. 14:00-15:00 ESC Live Podcast, 15:30-16:00 Weischno-Chor, 16:30-17:30 ABBA Gold – The Concert, 21:30-00:00 90s Night with DJs and Live Acts (Rednex, SNAP! / Twenty 4 Seven + Dancers & Dancecrew). Further surprises will be announced shortly before the event. The Eurovision Village is the Eurovision centre in the city with public viewings, concerts, DJs, live podcasts/talks, sponsor activations, merchandise and catering.

Opening Ceremony: Sunday, 11 May 2025. The longest Turquoise Carpet in Eurovision history. The Opening Ceremony will take place in Basel on Sunday afternoon before the show week (11 May 2025). It consists of the Turquoise Carpet Event (public) and a subsequent Opening Party for the delegations (not public).

The Turquoise Carpet Event begins at 2 p.m. at Basel’s Rathaus, where the President of the Basel Government, Conradin Cramer, and representatives of the SRG and EBU will give a welcome speech and greet the delegations one by one. The turquoise carpet will also start on Marktplatz, directly in front of Basel’s town hall, and will cover a distance of around 1.3 kilometres over the Mittlere Brücke to Riehenring, directly next to the Eurovision Village. This will create a unique spectacle in the middle of Basel’s old town for the delegations, visitors and the media alike.

Parade through Basel’s old town to the exhibition center. The delegations will not have to walk: vintage trams and buses will take them from Marktplatz to the Eurovision Village at Messe Basel, where the public can look forward to a stage program with short interviews of the delegations. The trams and buses are provided by the local transport companies BVB and BLT, as well as the police and fire brigade.

Unforgettable fan experience in the Eurovision Village. While the delegations are attending the opening party (which is not open to the public), visitors to the Eurovision Village can enjoy other highlights: Luca Hänni will be performing from 7pm, followed by DJs creating a great atmosphere until midnight. The Village will also be selling fan merchandise and food and drink. Partygoers can continue the evening at the EuroClub, directly opposite the Eurovision Village, until 5am.

Conchita Wurst. Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst is a boundary-pushing artist and Eurovision icon whose powerful voice and unique persona inspire fans worldwide. Blending pop, electronic, and soulful ballads in three studio albums and many single releases, Conchita’s music breaks barriers and celebrates self-expression, resilience, and authenticity. From the iconic “Rise Like a Phoenix” to daring new sounds, Conchita captivates with every performance, redefining what it means to be unapologetically yourself. Conchita’s new EP will be released just in time for the Song Contest in Basel. Gustaph. Gustaph is a Belgian singer, songwriter, and producer known for his distinctive voice and deep connection to house and pop music. With a career spanning over two decades, he has worked as a backing vocalist for various artists before stepping into the spotlight himself. In 2023, he represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest with Because of You, a vibrant and uplifting anthem celebrating self-expression and inclusivity. His charismatic stage presence and powerful vocals captivated audiences across Europe, solidifying his place as a standout performer. Michael Schulte. Michael Schulte is a German singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt lyrics and warm, soulful voice. He first gained recognition as a YouTube artist before making a breakthrough on The Voice of Germany in 2011. In 2018, he represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with You Let Me Walk Alone, an emotional ballad that earned him fourth place and won the hearts of millions. With his honest songwriting and captivating melodies, Michael continues to be one of Germany’s most beloved artists, delivering music that resonates deeply with his audience. Known for his ability to convey emotions authentically and captivatingly, Michael Schulte has long since gained a large fan base. His voice and songwriting currently inspire over 4.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and was honoured with a special award for 10x top 10 radio singles. Following his success on «The Voice of Germany» in 2012, Michael Schulte represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon with the song «You Let Me Walk Alone» and reached fourth place. Jerry Heil. Jerry Heil is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter known for her blend of pop, humor, and personal themes. In 2024, she performed alongside Alyona Alyona at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, representing Ukraine with the song “Teresa & Maria.” The song was praised for its emotional depth and powerful message, making a strong social statement. Her performance was regarded as one of the highlights of the competition and earned her international recognition. Jerry Heil has established herself as one of the most innovative artists in the Ukrainian music scene. Gunvor. GUNVOR was named after her grandfather, who moved from Sweden to Bern. Her love for music was instilled in her from an early age, and at 13, she also discovered her passion for tap dancing. By 16, she became the Swiss Champion in tap dancing (solo and formation).
Her vocal talent also shone through: in 1997, she won the Golden Microphone and the Golden Spotlight from Radio DRS. In 1998, she represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham with the song Lass ihn. Jukebox Dancer. Kilian Haselbeck brings his interactive dance performance Jukebox Dancer to the Eurovision Village in Basel. Inspired by a jukebox, spectators can choose dance styles at the touch of a button, which Kilian performs at lightning speed – from ballet to rock. The performance celebrates diversity, identity and artistic freedom and fits in perfectly with the Eurovision supporting program. Luca Hänni. Switzerland’s wave of success in the Eurovision Song Contest began in 2019 with Luca Hänni. His hit “She Got Me” reached number 4 and platinum status. Now he is back with a new show and fresh songs that combine modern pop sounds, gripping beats and passionate lyrics. He has won several Swiss Music Awards, was nominated for the ECHO and received international awards. With hits such as “Love Me Better” and his No. 1 album “My Name is Luca”, he is a permanent fixture in pop music. He is also a talented dancer, which he has proven in shows such as “Let’s Dance” and “Dance Dance Dance” on RTL. On Sunday, May 11, 2025, Luca Hänni and his band will rock the Eurovision Village stage after the Opening Ceremony. Remo Forrer. Remo Forrer is a Swiss singer known for his soulful voice and emotional performances. He gained national recognition after winning The Voice of Switzerland in 2020 and later represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with Watergun. His powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics made a lasting impression on audiences across Europe. With a passion for music that transcends genres, Remo continues to captivate listeners and establish himself as one of Switzerland’s most promising artists. Remo Forrer made it to the Eurovision final in 2023 with “Watergun” – and went platinum for the song! With his first EP “Favorite Kind Of Lonely”, the Swiss singer-songwriter revealed his moving journey through his Eurovision year in 2024.  His new single “Underwater” was released at the beginning of 2025, showing a new facet with folk-pop influences. Remo is currently on Swiss stages with his second tour “Down to My Bones” and is once again inspiring audiences with his unique voice. Remo Forrer will be performing at Eurovision Village on Saturday, 10.5.2025. Timebelle. Timebelle first gained international attention when they represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with their hit song Apollo, making it to the second semi-final. However, their Eurovision journey began even earlier, in 2015, when they reached second place in the Swiss national final with Singing About Love. Since then, Apollo has taken the world by storm, amassing hundreds of millions of streams and views on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, solidifying Timebelle’s status as a global sensation. The duo competed for Switzerland in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with their song “Apollo”. The lead singer Miruna Mănescu (RUNA) is a trained musician and impresses with her powerful voice. Together with Emanuel Andriescu, the two form Timebelle. He has mastered the piano since childhood and later the clarinet like no other. Jedward. Jedward, the Irish pop duo consisting of twins John and Edward Grimes, rose to fame in 2009 through their participation in the British talent show The X Factor. In 2011, they represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with their song Lipstick, finishing in 8th place. They returned for Ireland in 2012 with Waterline, reaching 19th place in the final. Jedward gained a large fanbase thanks to their eccentric stage presence and high-energy performances. They are also well known for their appearances in numerous TV shows and their humorous image. Anna Rossinelli. Anna Rossinelli made it to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf with her song “In Love for a While”, laying the foundations for a successful career. Since then, she has released six albums, topped the charts several times and also made a name for herself as an actress – for example in the hit series “Tschugger”, where she played a convincing federal policewoman. Anna Rossinelli and her bandmates Manuel Meisel and Georg Dillier come from Basel and still feel deeply connected to their hometown. Silvester Belt. Silvester Belt is a Lithuanian singer and rising star known for his distinctive voice and modern electro-pop sound. He gained international attention when he represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with his hit Luktelk. His performance combined emotional depth with sleek, contemporary production, resonating with audiences across Europe. Silvester Belt stands out for his artistic authenticity and stylish aesthetic, making him one of the most exciting new talents in the Baltic music scene. SINPLUS. SINPLUS, Switzerland’s Eurovision 2012 representatives, have rocked stages alongside legends like Roxette, The Darkness, and EUROPE. Known for their electrifying live performances, raw riffs, and unfiltered stage energy, they’ve built a powerful reputation. With two gold records and an MTV Award for Best Swiss Act, SINPLUS are now kicking off a bold new chapter: THE RE-SET TOUR: 6 months, 6 songs, 6 livestreams. This summer, they’re set to take their sound to live shows around Europe. Nebulossa. Nebulossa is a Spanish electropop duo making waves at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with “Zorra.” The duo, composed of singer María Bas and producer Mark Dasousa, is known for its modern synth-pop sound with retro influences. With “Zorra,” they deliver a powerful message of self-determination and female empowerment. The song reclaims a once derogatory term and turns it into a symbol of strength. Cesár Sampson. Cesár Sampson is an Austrian singer and songwriter who represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon with the song “Nobody But You.” The song, a blend of soul and pop, received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and Sampson’s powerful voice, earning Austria its best result since 2014. Originally working as a backing vocalist for other artists, Cesár Sampson gained international recognition through his Eurovision participation. He is known for his versatile voice and honest, personal lyrics. Senhit. Senhit is an Italian-Eritrean singer known for her bold style, powerful vocals, and love for all things Eurovision. She represented San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and returned in 2021 with the catchy anthem Adrenalina, featuring American rapper Flo Rida. Her vibrant performances and fearless fashion choices have made her a fan favorite. With her international background and energetic stage presence, Senhit continues to spread messages of joy, freedom, and artistic expression across Europe and beyond. KEiiNO. Since their debut in 2019, KEiiNO has captivated audiences worldwide with their unique blend of electronic dance pop and traditional Sámi/Norwegian music. Their Eurovision entry, Spirit in the Sky, received the most points from the 200 million TV viewers, cementing their status as fan favorites. The trio, consisting of Alexandra Rotan, Fred Buljo, and Tom Hugo, has traveled the globe as UN ambassadors for the Year of Indigenous Languages, using their music to promote love, diversity, and acceptance wherever they go. Emmelie de Forest. Emmelie de Forest is a Danish singer and songwriter who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö with her song “Only Teardrops.” The song, a blend of pop and folk music, secured victory with 281 points, earning Denmark its third win in the history of the competition. Emmelie, who writes her own music, is known for her clear, emotional voice and powerful stage presence. Her Eurovision success brought her international recognition and great attention. With her victory, she was able to further expand her career and released several albums. Efendi. Efendi is an Azerbaijani singer known for her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. With a career rooted in traditional and contemporary music, she gained international recognition by representing Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest in both 2020 and 2021. Her entry Mata Hari in 2021 captivated audiences with its hypnotic beats and strong ethnic influences, continuing the success of her 2020 song Cleopatra. Efendi’s unique blend of modern pop and Azerbaijani heritage makes her one of the country’s most distinctive artists. Oh G! It’s Drag. Odette Hella’Grand – probably Switzerland’s biggest drag queen – is one of three hosts of the stage program in the Eurovision Village. On May 12, 2025, the dazzling entertainer and artistic figure will bring an extra dose of glamor with “Oh G! It’s Drag”, she will bring an extra dose of glamor, music, dance and comedy to the Village stage. Since winning the Arosa Drag Race 2016, followed by titles such as Miss Red Lips, Miss Heaven and Miss Pink Ice, Odette Hella’Grand has been hosting, performing and producing successful shows and wowing audiences with elegance, extravagance and a pinch of outrageous charm. Standing over two meters tall in high heels, she not only fills rooms, but also hearts – and makes the world a little more colorful with glamour, wit and a good dose of self-confidence. Tanja Dankner. Music is her lifeblood: Tanja Dankner is not only one of the three hosts of Eurovision Village 2025, she is also a great singer, songwriter and initiator of numerous shows and live concerts. Stefan Raab produced her first album, since then she has been in the charts and is currently touring Switzerland with the show “RESPECT- the Greatest Soul Divas” or her own band. As a vocal coach, Tanja traveled with the Swiss Eurovision delegation to Sweden and Kiev, worked for various SRF and RTL TV shows, made a guest appearance in Céline Dion’s choir and sang a double concert with Leona Lewis as well as with Simply Red and Nelly Furtado. On 10.5.2025, she and her band will be performing her own songs and the best Eurovision songs in elegant soul-jazz versions on the Villagebühne. ABBA GOLD – The Concert Show. After winning the “Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson” in Brighton in 1974, the cult band ABBA became one of the most successful music groups of all time. With a grandiose show and super hits such as “Waterloo”, “Thank you for the music”, “Dancing Queen” and “Chiquitita”, “ABBA GOLD – The Concert Show” brings the glittering world of ABBA back to life in Eurovision Village 2025. Original costumes, a Swedish accent, video and retro light show make the revival and concert experience perfect. We Got The Power – The Ultimate 90s Night. On Friday, May 16, we will bring the ultimate 90s feeling to the Eurovision Village! Look forward to “We Got The Power – The Ultimate 90s Night”! A legendary show with SNAP!, Rednex and Twenty 4 Seven – live on stage! The German duo SNAP! will make the dance floors shake with their hits like “Rhythm Is a Dancer”. The Swedish band Rednex provides wild western party vibes with Cotton Eye Joe. Dutch Eurodance duo Twenty 4 Seven bring their iconic Eurodance sounds, including “Slave to the Music”. An unforgettable night full of nostalgia, beats and energy awaits you!

.Euroclub & cafè. ESC fans party late into the night at the EuroClub (Messe Basel, Event Hall). From 10 to 17 May daily from 23.00.

The EuroClub opens every evening in the Event Hall at Messe Basel where people can dance until late into the night. Most of the ESC fan clubs, which also put together the EuroClub programme, party here. Daily from 23.00. The number of tickets is limited. Information on the ticket sale will follow.

The EuroClub will this year be organised by the Eurovision fan clubs together with the MCH Group and has capacity for around 3’000 people. The EuroClub is open daily from 11 p.m. Tickets can be bought since 18 March: Ticketshop The EuroCafé opens daily from 4pm and is a popular meeting place for fans, locals and delegations – ideal for getting in the mood for the evening and spending time together in a relaxed atmosp

Partying to ESC music late into the night! EuroClub & Café. The EuroClub is the party hotspot of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, located directly opposite the Eurovision Village. Here, passionate ESC fan clubs, music enthusiasts, and curious visitors gather to celebrate until the early hours of the morning and experience the unique Eurovision atmosphere.

The EuroCafé (situated right in front of the EuroClub) offers a relaxed contrast to the nightly party scene. Coffee, drinks, and light meals invite guests to linger. Its laid-back ambiance makes the EuroCafé a popular meeting point for fans, locals, and delegations. No ticket is required for entry.

The program is exceptional: Former national and international ESC acts will bring authentic Eurovision vibes to life. Additionally, numerous current ESC delegations are expected, and various DJs will complement the music program with a colorful mix of “ESC hits.

Note: The artists always perform at night. The specified weekday next to the artists is the day for which you need the ticket.

The lineup will be continuously updated:

  • Saturday, May, 10 2025 – Opening Party. Local DJ Party | all night long. On the opening Saturday, a spectacular Opening Party will take place, featuring local DJs from Switzerland. The audience can enjoy a diverse mix of music, ranging from open format and mash-ups to electronic sounds. Looking forward to an energetic start and a fantastic opening of the EuroClub!
  • Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Timebelle | 00:00 AM. Timebelle first gained international attention when they represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with their hit song Apollo, making it to the second semi-final. However, their Eurovision journey began even earlier, in 2015, when they reached second place in the Swiss national final with Singing About Love. Since then, Apollo has taken the world by storm, amassing hundreds of millions of streams and views on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, solidifying Timebelle’s status as a global sensation. Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Remo Forrer | 00:45 AM. Remo Forrer is a Swiss singer known for his soulful voice and emotional performances. He gained national recognition after winning The Voice of Switzerland in 2020 and later represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with Watergun. His powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics made a lasting impression on audiences across Europe. With a passion for music that transcends genres, Remo continues to captivate listeners and establish himself as one of Switzerland’s most promising artists. Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Jedward | 01:30 AM. Jedward, the Irish pop duo consisting of twins John and Edward Grimes, rose to fame in 2009 through their participation in the British talent show The X Factor. In 2011, they represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with their song Lipstick, finishing in 8th place. They returned for Ireland in 2012 with Waterline, reaching 19th place in the final. Jedward gained a large fanbase thanks to their eccentric stage presence and high-energy performances. They are also well known for their appearances in numerous TV shows and their humorous image.
  • Monday, May 12, 2025 – Silvester Belt | 00:45 AM. Silvester Belt is a Lithuanian singer and rising star known for his distinctive voice and modern electro-pop sound. He gained international attention when he represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with his hit Luktelk. His performance combined emotional depth with sleek, contemporary production, resonating with audiences across Europe. Silvester Belt stands out for his artistic authenticity and stylish aesthetic, making him one of the most exciting new talents in the Baltic music scene. Monday, May 12, 2025 – Jerry Heil | 1:30 AM. Jerry Heil is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter known for her blend of pop, humor, and personal themes. In 2024, she performed alongside Alyona Alyona at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, representing Ukraine with the song “Teresa & Maria.” The song was praised for its emotional depth and powerful message, making a strong social statement. Her performance was regarded as one of the highlights of the competition and earned her international recognition. Jerry Heil has established herself as one of the most innovative artists in the Ukrainian music scene.
  • Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Gunvor | 00:00 AM. GUNVOR was named after her grandfather, who moved from Sweden to Bern. Her love for music was instilled in her from an early age, and at 13, she also discovered her passion for tap dancing. By 16, she became the Swiss Champion in tap dancing (solo and formation). Her vocal talent also shone through: in 1997, she won the Golden Microphone and the Golden Spotlight from Radio DRS. In 1998, she represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Birmingham with the song Lass ihn. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Sebalter | 00:45 AM. Sebalter is a Swiss singer, songwriter, and violinist best known for his charismatic stage presence and unique blend of folk-pop and modern pop sounds. He represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 with the catchy and energetic song Hunter of Stars, which earned him a spot in the grand final and widespread recognition. With his signature violin playing and engaging storytelling, Sebalter has continued to charm audiences both in Switzerland and abroad. Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Gustaph | 01:30 AM. Gustaph is a Belgian singer, songwriter, and producer known for his distinctive voice and deep connection to house and pop music. With a career spanning over two decades, he has worked as a backing vocalist for various artists before stepping into the spotlight himself. In 2023, he represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest with Because of You, a vibrant and uplifting anthem celebrating self-expression and inclusivity. His charismatic stage presence and powerful vocals captivated audiences across Europe, solidifying his place as a standout performer.
  • Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Michael Schulte | 00:00 AM. Michael Schulte is a German singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt lyrics and warm, soulful voice. He first gained recognition as a YouTube artist before making a breakthrough on The Voice of Germany in 2011. In 2018, he represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with You Let Me Walk Alone, an emotional ballad that earned him fourth place and won the hearts of millions. With his honest songwriting and captivating melodies, Michael continues to be one of Germany’s most beloved artists, delivering music that resonates deeply with his audience. Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Efendi | 00:45 AM. Efendi is an Azerbaijani singer known for her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. With a career rooted in traditional and contemporary music, she gained international recognition by representing Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest in both 2020 and 2021. Her entry Mata Hari in 2021 captivated audiences with its hypnotic beats and strong ethnic influences, continuing the success of her 2020 song Cleopatra. Efendi’s unique blend of modern pop and Azerbaijani heritage makes her one of the country’s most distinctive artists. Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Nebulossa | 01:30 AM. Nebulossa is a Spanish electropop duo making waves at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with “Zorra.” The duo, composed of singer María Bas and producer Mark Dasousa, is known for its modern synth-pop sound with retro influences. With “Zorra,” they deliver a powerful message of self-determination and female empowerment. The song reclaims a once derogatory term and turns it into a symbol of strength.
  • Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Cesár Sampson | 12:00 AM. Cesár Sampson is an Austrian singer and songwriter who represented Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon with the song “Nobody But You.” The song, a blend of soul and pop, received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and Sampson’s powerful voice, earning Austria its best result since 2014. Originally working as a backing vocalist for other artists, Cesár Sampson gained international recognition through his Eurovision participation. He is known for his versatile voice and honest, personal lyrics. Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Senhit | 00:45 AM. Senhit is an Italian-Eritrean singer known for her bold style, powerful vocals, and love for all things Eurovision. She represented San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and returned in 2021 with the catchy anthem Adrenalina, featuring American rapper Flo Rida. Her vibrant performances and fearless fashion choices have made her a fan favorite. With her international background and energetic stage presence, Senhit continues to spread messages of joy, freedom, and artistic expression across Europe and beyond. Thursday, May 15, 2025 – KEiiNO | 01:30 AM. Since their debut in 2019, KEiiNO has captivated audiences worldwide with their unique blend of electronic dance pop and traditional Sámi/Norwegian music. Their Eurovision entry, Spirit in the Sky, received the most points from the 200 million TV viewers, cementing their status as fan favorites. The trio, consisting of Alexandra Rotan, Fred Buljo, and Tom Hugo, has traveled the globe as UN ambassadors for the Year of Indigenous Languages, using their music to promote love, diversity, and acceptance wherever they go.
  • Friday, May 16, 2025 – Emmelie de Forest | 12:00 AM. Emmelie de Forest is a Danish singer and songwriter who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö with her song “Only Teardrops.” The song, a blend of pop and folk music, secured victory with 281 points, earning Denmark its third win in the history of the competition. Emmelie, who writes her own music, is known for her clear, emotional voice and powerful stage presence. Her Eurovision success brought her international recognition and great attention. With her victory, she was able to further expand her career and released several albums.

If you’re coming to Basel to hear banging Eurovision tunes all night, every night – these are the places to be. Both are located at Messeplatz, directly opposite the Eurovision Village, with opening dates and times already announced right here.

Tickets for EuroClub go on general sale here on Tuesday 18 March at 12:00 CET. EuroClub Information

.Eurovision Square. The open-air stage on Barfüsserplatz is a stage of diversity: mostly local and regional acts play here every day, including regional acts from Germany and France, which are close to the border. Free entry. 

The open-air stage on Barfüsserplatz is a stage of diversity: local and regional acts play here daily – in the spirit of ‘Crossing Borders’, regional acts from the border regions of Germany and France are also welcome. Admission is free.

10 – 17 May 2025. The open-air stage on Barfüsserplatz is a stage of diversity: local and regional acts play here daily. Each day has a different musical theme:

  • Saturday, 10 May 2025: Pop & Soul & Global Day | Eurovision Square. 14:00–14:40 Superar Suisse Chor, 15:00–15:45 chimera Paul, 16:15–17:00 Hæsin, 17:30–18:15 NAVENI, 18:45–19:30 Jasmin Albash, 20:00–21:30 SING!Basel, 21:45–22:30 Schwellheim, 23:00–00:15 Nicole Bernegger, 00:45–02:00 Äl JawalaEurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free of charge and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. 
  • Sunday, 11 May 2025: Jazz Day by Em Bebbi sy Jazz | Eurovision Square. 14:00–15:00 Sugar Foot Stompers, 15:30–16:15 Improvisante, 17:00–18:00 Chor der Nationen, 18:30–20:00 Pat‘s Big Band, 20:40–21:50 Brainchild, 22:30–24:00 James Brown Tribute Show. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free and open daily from 4 p.m., and from 2 p.m. at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you.  
  • Monday, 12 May 2025: Funk & Brass Day | Eurovision Square. 16:00–16:45 Juicy Lemon Club, 17:15–18:15 betina quesi, 18:45–19:30 Café da Manhã, 20:00–21:00 SING!Basel, 21:30–22:30 Streetbandits, 23:00–00:00 Brass Department. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free of charge and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you.
  • Tuesday, 13 May 2025: Klassik & Crossover Day | Eurovision Square. 16:00–18:00 SING!Basel, 18:30–19:30 Quelle SURprise, 19:45–20:05 Surprise Strassenchor, 20:30–21:15 Eurovision-Projektorchester MVBB, 21:45–22:45 Musiker*innen des Sinfonieorchesters Basel, 23:15–00:00 Neuhaus. The Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. 
  • Wednesday, 14 May 2025: Eurovision Day | Eurovision Square. 16:00–17:00 School Songwriting-Workshop, 17:30–18:15 Basler Beizenchor, 19:00–21:00 SRG SSR On The Road: Die Schweiz vereint in Musik, 21:30–22:30 Anna Rossinelli, 23:00–00:00 Michael von der Heide. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free of charge and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. Made possible by the Basler Kantonalbank.
  • Thursday, 15 May 2025: Pop & Karaoke Day | Eurovision Square. 14:00–17:00 Eurosvision School Song Contest, 17:30–18:15 WILLMAN, 18:45–19:30 Anouchka Gwen, 20:00–21:00 Les Touristes, 21:30–22:30 STARMACHINE, 23:00–00:00 Who is Gina?. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free of charge and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. 
  • Friday, 16 May 2025: Hiphop Day| Eurovision Square. 15:30-16:30 SING!Basel, 17:00–17:45 Zweierpasch, 18:15 – 19:00 SKIP, 19:30–20:15 Dudette, 20:45–22:00 Brandhärd, 22:30–23:15 La Nefera, 23:45–00:45 WAS DAS?, 01:15–02:00 MISS C-LINE. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free of charge and open daily from 4pm, and from 2pm at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. 
  • Saturday, 17 May 2025: Party Day| Eurovision Square. 16:00-18:00 SOFT ENTOURAGE, 18:00–20:30 DJ Taylor Cruz, 20:30–22:30 The Entertainer & Akwasi Glenn, 00:00–02:00 QZB. Eurovision Square on Barfüsserplatz (open-air) is free and open daily from 4 p.m., and from 2 p.m. at weekends. Concerts, DJs and refreshments await you. 

More information: Programm

.Eurovision Street & Boulevard. The Eurovision Boulevard, stretching from Basel SBB railway station to Basel Badischer Bahnhof – including the ‘Riviera’ areas along the Kleinbasel bank of the Rhine – is the connecting element between the ESC venues. During the ESC, Steinenvorstadt will become Eurovision Street.

Eurovision Street. Steinenvorstadt becomes Eurovision Street during the ESC: The nightlife area will feature street musicians and eye-catching decorations to match the ESC. Local businesses are involved in the planning.

Eurovision Boulevard. The Eurovision Boulevard which stretches from Basel SBB railway station to the Badischer Bahnhof , including areas of the “Riviera” along the banks of the Rhine in Kleinbasel, connects the ESC venues. Decorations, eye-catching displays and activations create an ESC ambience, making Basel’s savoir-vivre visible and tangible for visitors from all parts of Europe.

Extended public transport services. Public transport services will be extended during the Eurovision Song Contest. After the Live Shows, shuttle trains will run from St. Jakob to Basel SBB main station with connections to trains to Olten, Zurich, Bern and Lucerne. Public transport will also be available to take visitors back to the border areas of neighbouring countries. Eurovision Week Travel Guide

Free public transport services. With your Eurovision Song Contest ticket (for either the Live show or the Arena plus event), you can travel for free within the Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (TNW), Regio Verkehrsverbund Lörrach (RVL) as well as the Distribus lines. This is valid for the day of the event and until 05:00 CET on the following day for the outward and return journey to the event venue in 2nd class. Eurovision Week Travel Guide

Basel’s ‘Welcome Home’ app. The city’s ‘Welcome Home’ app will give a personalised Eurovision experience. With an interactive city map, real-time event updates, personalised recommendations and helpful tips, the app will be the perfect aide for Eurovision fans visiting the city, as well as anyone looking to rediscover Basel. The app will be available free of charge from the start of May, in all standard app stores.

Accommodation / Alloggi. Basel and its surroundings offer a wide range of accommodation for your stay during the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Whether it’s a boutique hotel, guesthouse or hostel, you’ll find the perfect place to stay during the ESC week from 10 May to 18 May 2025.

The city of Basel has put together a custom-made accommodation-booking resource, for all of the visitors it’s expecting during Eurovision week. Visit Basel

Basilea e i suoi dintorni offrono un’ampia scelta di sistemazioni per il vostro soggiorno durante l’Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Che si tratti di un boutique hotel, una pensione o un ostello, troverete l’alloggio perfetto per la settimana dell’ESC, dal 10 al 18 maggio 2025.

Programme & tickets / Programma e biglietti. The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will last about a week and includes a total of nine shows with an audience, including two semi-finals and a grand final with live broadcasting. The three live shows are scheduled for 13, 15 and 17 May 2025.

  • First Semi-Final: 13.5.2025, 9.00 pm
  • Second Semi-Final: 15.5.2025, 9.00 pm
  • Grand Final & Arena plus: 17.5.2025, 9.00 pm
  • Eurovision Village: 10–17.5.2025

Pre-register now

L’Eurovision Song Contest 2025 durerà circa una settimana e comprenderà un totale di nove spettacoli con il pubblico, tra cui due semifinali e una finale con trasmissione in diretta. I tre spettacoli dal vivo sono previsti per il 13, il 15 e il 17 maggio 2025.

  • Prima semifinale: 13/5/2025, ore 21.00
  • Seconda semifinale: 15/5/2025, ore 21.00 
  • Gran finale e Arena plus: 17/5/2025, ore 21.00 
  • Eurovision Village: dal 10 al 17/5/2025

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Eurovision Song Contest 2025: stage design, visual and audio identity, partners and ticketing revealed. 

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 is taking shape, as the stage, visuals and audio identity are revealed. At a press conference in Basel, the Project Team presented the visual concept for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest and launched the registration process for tickets. Four national partners were also presented.

Welcome Home! After 36 years, the Eurovision Song Contest is heading back to where it all started – Switzerland. From 12 to 17 May 2025, Basel – and the whole country – will be devoted to the world’s biggest music event. The ESC Project Team have now revealed the visuals, audio branding, stage design and ticketing process for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest.

Visual and audio brand identity. The visual and audio brand identity for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest were developed by Art Director Artur Deyneuve. His aim was to create a design that made people feel heard and valued. Inspired by the Swiss tradition of direct democracy, which revolves around listening and dialogue, Deyneuve chose ‘listening’ as the central guiding theme of the whole branding concept, calling it ‘Unity Shapes Love’. Deyneuve says: “If we listen to one another, we find love.” 

This message will also be conveyed visually through the iconic Eurovision heart symbol, which stands for dialogue, unity and the unifying power of music. The pulsating Eurovision hearts will therefore be a core element of the design, representing the millions of people unified by Eurovision to listen and celebrate together.

Moritz Stadler and Reto Peritz, Co-Executive Producers of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest commented: “Artur’s well-thought-out design is emotionally engaging and takes Eurovision to another level. The Eurovision heart beats in time with the rhythm, symbolising the unifying power of music. True to the Eurovision slogan ‘United by Music’, it will bring people together all over the world.”

Audio identity: tradition meets modernity. The audio identity that accompanies Eurovision 2025 combines the traditional and the modern. It is based on a pumping and powerful beat, sprinkled with traditional elements: yodelling, the distinctive sound of a Basel drum corps, and the unmistakable music of the Hackbrett and alphorns. Artur Deyneuve says: “We’ve created a bold, high-energy track, which will prepare the audience for an unforgettable experience with its pumping beats and surprising musical effects.”

Stage design inspired by Switzerland’s mountains and diversity. Florian Wieder, the Production Designer with Swiss roots, who is overseeing the Eurovision stage design for the eighth time, has taken inspiration from the Swiss mountains and the country’s linguistic diversity for this year’s event at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel: “Our goal was to create a revolutionary stage concept – a holistic experience that we’ve never seen before at Eurovision. Thanks to the immersive stage layout, the audience will get to be part of Eurovision like never before.”

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler: “In Florian Wieder, we have a Stage Designer on board who is a creative visionary and who knows Switzerland like the back of his hand. He has succeeded in creating a ‘signature stage’, which will forever be associated with Eurovision in Switzerland.” 

Director of the Eurovision Song Contest Martin Green shares host broadcaster SRG SSR’s enthusiasm for the unveiling of Basel 2025’s look:  “I am thrilled to see the incredible creative elements coming together for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. From the visually stunning stage design, inspired by Switzerland’s mountains and diversity, to the vibrant artwork that embraces the Eurovision heart – SRG SSR have presented a modern, original, and exciting look for Basel 2025. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to SRG SSR and all the designers for their outstanding work and dedication so far. Together, we are set to deliver a spectacular event that will unite audiences everywhere through the power of music.”

Ticketing in partnership with Swiss platform TicketCorner. The Swiss ticketing platform TicketCorner is the official ticketing partner for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. The complexity of the event and the huge international demand for tickets call for an experienced and reliable ticketing partner.

A total of nine shows at the St. Jakobshalle – including the two Semi-Finals on 13 and 15 May, the Grand Final on 17 May and six additional preview shows – will offer unforgettable experiences for all fans.

Advance booking for the 2025 Eurovision in Basel: Register now!. To buy tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, registration is required. This process will help prevent tickets being resold and ensure that as many Eurovision fans as possible get the chance to watch the live shows. Pre-registration starts on 16 December 2024, at 16:00 CET, and ends at midnight on 10 January 2025. To register, visit: www.ticketcorner.ch/esc. Only those who have registered in this period can subsequently purchase the exclusively mobile tickets. Registration does not guarantee tickets, however, as demand is expected to be high.

The first ticket sale period starts on 29 January 2025, a day after the Semi-Final Draw. The prices for the various shows and categories range from CHF 40 to CHF 350. 

In addition, on 17 May (the day of the Grand Final), there will be an ‘Arena plus’ public viewing area with an extensive supporting programme at the legendary Basel football stadium, St. Jakob Park (known locally as ‘Joggeli’). Further details will be announced in due course.

Sponsorship – broad support from Swiss businesses. Swiss businesses will be supporting the ESC in Basel: besides the existing international sponsors of the event, the ESC Project Team is pleased to announce the national partners Novartis, Basler Kantonalbank, Helvetia and Swisscom. 

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will also be an official Eurovision service provider and will offer attractive prices on return journeys to Basel from other parts of Switzerland during Eurovision week. Together with the regional transport company, the SBB will lay on 85 extra trains (running until late at night) to give visitors a safe, comfortable and environmentally-friendly way to get to Basel and back home again. 

The next key date on the road to Basel is the Semi-Final Draw, which will take place on Tuesday 28 January 2025. 

Eurovision visuals are available at this link.

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A history of Switzerland at the Eurovision Song ContestIt’s the country where it all started, and it’s where we’re all headed to in 2025 – we look back over Switzerland’s Eurovision Song Contest history.

Thanks to Nemo notching up a third win for their country on 11 May in Malmö, Switzerland will now host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025. The Code was awarded Eurovision victory with an impressive 591 points. It’s a feat that arrives 36 years after Switzerland’s previous win in 1988, which itself came 32 years after the first triumph in 1956. 

With the Eurovision Song Contest currently book-ended by Swiss wins, there’s no better time than now to explore Switzerland’s rich Eurovision history. From Dion to DJ Bobo, and from Gjon’s Tears to Djambo!

Bonjour, Bonjour. Back when it all began, 68 years ago, Switzerland was the country doing the hosting, the presenting, and indeed the winning!

The very first Eurovision Song Contest was held on Thursday 24 May in 1956 at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland. Presenting duties were entrusted to Swiss TV host Lohengrin Filipello, while the inaugural winner was Switzerland’s own Lys Assia, with her song Refrain.

The idea of a Europe-wide song contest had initially been suggested by the Italian broadcaster Rai. But it was Marcel Bezençon of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) who became the driving force behind the conception of the Contest, and turning it into a reality. 

A former journalist, Bezençon was also director of the European Broadcasting Union at the time. And since 2002, the Marcel Bezençon Awards have been handed out annually, recognising exceptional artistic and creative standouts from the participating Eurovision entries each year.

Marcel Bezençon, the founder of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Time To Shine. Arguably Switzerland’s most famous flex at the Eurovision Song Contest is the part it played in launching the international career of one of the most successful artists in the history of recorded music. 

In February 1988, at the Swiss national final at the Théâtre de Beausobre in Morges, Céline Dion was selected to represent Switzerland at the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Her song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi would give Switzerland its second win at the Contest, earning 137 points on the night.

The result remains one of the most tense in the history of the Contest, with Céline Dion’s win only becoming apparent once the very last ‘douze points’ had been announced, and with Swiss victory coming to pass by only one point standing between first place and second place (United Kingdom).

To date, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi is the last Eurovision Song Contest winner to have been performed in French. Céline, meanwhile, went on to become one of the biggest-selling artists of all time and one of the highest-grossing touring performers in history. 

Era Stupendo. Throughout the decades at the Contest, Switzerland has also been responsible for bestowing onto the world yet another all-time Eurovision queen – Lys Assia!

Lys famously provided the Eurovision Song Contest with its very first winner in 1956, via the song Refrain. It’s hard to give up a good thing, and so Lys returned to the Contest to represent Switzerland the following year in 1957, and again in 1958.

On her third (and final) Eurovision outing, Lys came very close to matching her 1956 victory, when her song Giorgio finished in second place. Just three points separated it and France’s winner Dors Mon Amour. And perhaps even more impressively with hindsight, Giorgio managed to finish one place higher than what went on to become one of the most iconic songs in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest – Italy’s Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu!

Being the inaugural winner, Lys was invited back to make guest appearances at many Eurovision Song Contests in later years. The beloved singer and actress passed away on 24 March 2018. She was 94 years old. 

Celebrate. Switzerland has been one of the more enthusiastic countries throughout the decades at Eurovision, and has never missed a Contest through choice. In fact, up until 1995 it was the only country besides Germany to have participated in every single Contest.

Of the 68 Eurovision Song Contests to date, Switzerland has not taken part in just 4. And in those 4 instances, it was only due to the new relegation system put in place in 1994, which meant that results too low down on the final scoreboard would mean that a country could not participate the following year. As a result, Switzerland missed out on competing in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003. 

Switzerland has a record of high-placements to be proud of. Of the 53 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Finals it has competed in, the country has finished inside the Top 10 on 29 occasions. It has finished inside the Top 5 an admirable 18 times.

In the past 5 Contests alone, Switzerland has been awarded over 1,500 points at the Grand Finals.

Boys Do Cry. Very few countries have managed to avoid a streak of bad luck at the Eurovision Song Contest, but Switzerland was lumped with a particularly long one after the arrival of the Semi-Finals at the start of the century.

In the 12 Contests that took place between 2007 and 2018, Switzerland only managed to qualify for a Eurovision Grand Final twice.

And in the first of those two sought-after Grand Finals, Switzerland finished right down at the bottom of the scoreboard, in last place.

Since it hosted the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, Switzerland has been unfortunate enough to finish in last place a total of 9 times. 

It’s been awarded ‘nul points’ for its efforts on 4 of those occasions. 

The Code. Switzerland has 4 official languages: French, German, Italian and Romansh. During the 20th century, the nation made full use of the ‘must perform in your country’s national language’ Eurovision rule, and has submitted an entry to the Contest in all 4 of their mother tongues.

It’s been said that a country often takes more of a risk when it hosts a Eurovision Song Contest the year after it’s won. And sure enough, Lausanne 1989 was the year that the Swiss finally sent a song in Romansh. Viver Senza Tei by Furbaz finished 13th out of 22 entries on home soil. And to date, it remains the sole Swiss song to have been performed at Eurovision in the Romansh language. 

No discussion on the langage of Swiss Eurovision songs is complete, however, without mention of Peter, Sue & Marc! 

The trio from Bern represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest on 4 occasions, and performed in a different language every time: French (1971), English (1976), German (1979) and Italian (1981). It was their English and Italian efforts that yielded the best results at the Contest, with both songs giving Switzerland a 4th-place finish.

Djambo was the subject of Switzerland’s 1976 song

Cool Vibes. Céline Dion isn’t the only international megastar to have been drafted in to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Another Canadian singer, Annie Cotton, gave Switzerland a medal-table finish in 1993, when her song Moi, Tout Simplement finished third in Millstreet. 

Elsewhere throughout the 20th century, singers from Germany, France, Italy, Israel and Greece have all performed for Switzerland. Though the vast majority of artists to have represented the country at the Eurovision Song Contest, have indeed been Swiss.

In 2005, the Swiss entry was Cool Vibes by the Estonian superstar girlband Vanilla Ninja. And one year later, in 2006, Switzerland participated with If We All Give A Little by six4one, a band put together solely to represent the Swiss in Athens.

 The sextet had members from Switzerland, Malta, Germany, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden – representation from the latter country being Andreas from the pop group Alcazar, who performed at the interval of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. 

Mister Music Man. Throughout the majority of Switzerland’s Eurovision history, broadcaster SRG SSR has used national finals to find the country’s participating entries to the Contest. 

After a string of disappointing results in recent years, however, the Swiss broadcaster switched to an internal selection from 2019 onwards. This changed Switzerland’s fortunes at the Contest quite drastically, with the country making the Grand Final at every Contest that has taken place since then. And out of those 5 Grand Finals, Switzerland has been in the Top 5 on three occasions, with eventual victory arriving for The Code in 2024.

And it’s not just at the Eurovision Song Contest where the Swiss entries have performed well since 2019 – Switzerland’s singles chart has also reaped the benefits of a rejuvenated selection method.

In 2019, She Got Me by Luca Hänni became the first Swiss Eurovision entry to reach number 1 on the singles chart there since 1977. Another number 1 single followed a couple of years later, courtesy of Tout L’univers by Gjon’s Tears. And Switzerland’s pride and joy Nemo has also been awarded with a number 1 smash hit in their native land thanks to their Eurovision winner The Code. 

For a full breakdown of Switzerland’s Eurovision Song Contest past – the placings, the points and the participants – you can check out their Country Profile right here.

Switzerland wins the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with the song The Code by Nemo

On this very day, 68 years ago, history was made in the charming Swiss town of Lugano. Not only did Eurovision take its first wobbly steps onto the international stage, but Switzerland absolutely stole the show, becoming the very first champion of the competition.

Lys Assia, a talented Swiss singer, had the honor of representing her nation with not one, but two entries. While “Das Alte Karussell” showcased her German side, it was the French-language “Refrain” that truly struck a chord with the juries. Imagine the excitement – the very first winner being crowned on home soil!

Fast forward over three decades, and Switzerland proved that their Eurovision magic wasn’t a fluke. In 1988, a young and unknown Celine Dion (yes, you read that right!) belted out the powerful ballad “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (Don’t Leave Without Me). Her performance was electric, and after a nail-biting finish, Switzerland secured its second glorious Eurovision victory.

But Switzerland’s Eurovision journey isn’t just about winning. They’ve delivered some truly unforgettable moments and gems over the years. Who can forget the yodeling stylings of “Io senza te” in 1982, the fabulous Daniela Simons with ‘Pas Pour Moi‘  in 1986 (2nd), the charming of Sandra Simo in 1991 with her entry “Canzone per te” (5th), Annie Cotton‘s ‘Moi Tout Simplement‘ in 1993 (3rd), Esther Ofarim’s ‘T’en en vas’ in 1963 (2nd). These entries reached the top but didn’t walk away with the coveted Grand Prix, but they sure left a lasting impression.

Other Swiss acts who left a mark behind in the competition’s history are Vanilla Ninja (2005), Paolo Menuguzzi (2008), Michael Von Der Heide (2010), Sebalter (2014), Paola (1969, 1980) etc.

Of course, Eurovision is all about the music, and Switzerland has consistently brought a diverse range of sounds to the competition. From the pop-rock energy of Luca Hänni in 2019 to the soulful balladry of Gjon’s Tears in 2021, they’ve shown they can adapt and keep things interesting.

And let’s not forget the recent triumph of Nemo in 2024! Their song “The Code” not only secured Switzerland’s third Eurovision win, but also made history with Nemo becoming the first non-binary winner of the competition.

So here’s to Switzerland, the reigning champion of Eurovision! Their dedication to the competition, combined with their unique blend of musical styles, ensures they’ll continue to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Now, crank up the volume, grab some cheese fondue, and let’s celebrate Switzerland’s incredible Eurovision legacy.

For a full breakdown and browse of the participation history of Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, you can check out its Country Page.

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956, winning the very first edition of the competition. The country has only missed the contest in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 due to poor results in previous years, which according to the rules at the time, meant relegation from the Contest.

Switzerland hosted the very first Eurovision Song Contest and they also won it. Each country entered 2 songs in that debut year. Each entry could be sung by the same or different performers. Lys Assia sang both Swiss songs, the first one was in German, Das Alte Karussell, and the second one in French, Refrain. After some deliberations by the juries, Refrain was declared the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano! Lys Assia, went on to represent Switzerland again in both 1957 and 1958 and more recently entered the national selection for the 2012 contest.

Switzerland won the Eurovision Song Contest again in 1988 with Celine Dion’s Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi. Mostly unknown in Europe at that time, Céline gave an outstanding rendition of the song and, after a cliffhanger voting sequence, she won the Contest for Switzerland, just one point ahead of the United Kingdom. Céline went on to become one of the biggest female artists in the world.

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 63 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956, missing only four contests: 1995, 1999, 2001, and 2003. Switzerland hosted the first contest in 1956 in Lugano, where it also won. The country claimed its second victory in 1988, 32 years after the first, and its third in 2024, 36 years after the second win.

Lys Assia won the inaugural contest in 1956 with the song “Refrain” and returned to place second in 1958. Switzerland achieved second place with Esther Ofarim (1963) and Daniela Simmons (1986), and third place with Franca di Rienzo (1961) and Arlette Zola (1982). The country won for the second time in 1988 with Céline Dion and the song “Ne partez pas sans moi”. Annie Cotton secured Switzerland’s 15th top-five finish by placing third in 1993.

Since the introduction of the qualifying round in 1993, Switzerland has reached the top ten only four times. Since the semi-final round’s inception in 2004, the country has failed to reach the final in 11 of 19 contests, finishing last in the semi-final on four occasions. Switzerland returned to the top five after 26 years when Luca Hänni finished fourth in 2019, achieving the country’s 16th top-five result. This was followed by Gjon’s Tears placing third in 2021, marking the 17th top-five finish. Switzerland won the contest for the third time in 2024 with Nemo and the song “The Code”. The country has also finished last in the semi-finals four times since 2004, with Piero and the MusicStars (2004), Michael von der Heide (2010), Mélanie René (2015), and Rykka (2016).

Absences. Switzerland had been absent from Eurovision four times since their participation began in the first contest. These absences, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 were caused by poor results in previous contests that led to relegation. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italic indicates the country that planned to participate.

National selections. A mix of different selection processes have been used to determine Switzerland’s entry in each year’s contest. Since 2019, SRG SSR has used an internal selection process, although televised national finals were used in previous years, held under various names including Concours Eurovision from the 1950s to 2000s, and Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow between 2011 and 2018. In the 1980s, the Swiss national finals tended to have ten participating songs each year: three in French, three in German, three in Italian and one in Romansch.

.National final: Concours Eurovision: 1956–1957, 1959–1961, 1963–1970, 1972–1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004; Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow: 2011–2018. Total: 38

.Internal selection: 1958, 1962, 1971, 1994, 1996–1997, 2005–2010, 2019–2024. Total: 18

Participation oberview – Contest history. Switzerland has four official languages, FrenchGermanItalian, and Romansh. For decades, the song requirements stated that the song had to be performed in a national language, which gave Switzerland leeway as they could perform in any of the four languages. Out of their 60 appearances in the contest, Switzerland has sent 61 songs, 24 of which were in French, 12 in German, 15 in English, 10 in Italian and 1 in Romansh. The first two of Switzerland’s winning songs were sung in French, with the third being sung in English.

Table key
1
Winner
2
Second place
3
Third place
Last place
X
Entry selected but did not compete
Upcoming
Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points
1956 Lys Assia Das alte Karussell German [a] [a] No semi-finals
Refrain French 1
1957 Lys Assia L’Enfant que j’étais French 8 5
1958 Lys Assia “Giorgio” German, Italian 2 24
1959 Christa Williams Irgendwoher German 4 14
1960 Anita Traversi Cielo e terra Italian 8 5
1961 Franca di Rienzo Nous aurons demain French 3 16
1962 Jean Philippe Le Retour French 10 2
1963 Esther Ofarim T’en va pas French 2 40
1964 Anita Traversi I miei pensieri Italian 13 ◁ 0
1965 Yovanna Non, à jamais sans toi French 8 8
1966 Madeleine Pascal Ne vois-tu pas ? French 6 12
1967 Géraldine Quel cœur vas-tu briser ? French 17 ◁ 0
1968 Gianni Mascolo Guardando il sole Italian 13 2
1969 Paola Bonjour, bonjour German 5 13
1970 Henri Dès Retour French 4 8
1971 Peter, Sue and Marc Les Illusions de nos vingt ans French 12 78
1972 Véronique Müller C’est la chanson de mon amour French 8 88
1973 Patrick Juvet Je vais me marier, Marie French 12 79
1974 Piera Martell Mein Ruf nach dir German 14 ◁ 3
1975 Simone Drexel “Mikado” German 6 77
1976 Peter, Sue and Marc “Djambo Djambo” English 4 91
1977 Pepe Lienhard Band “Swiss Lady” German 6 71
1978 Carole Vinci Vivre French 9 65
1979 Peter, Sue and Marc, Pfuri, Gorps and Kniri Trödler und Co. German 10 60
1980 Paola Cinéma French 4 104
1981 Peter, Sue and Marc Io senza te Italian 4 121
1982 Arlette Zola Amour on t’aime French 3 97
1983 Mariella Farré Io così non ci sto Italian 15 28
1984 Rainy Day Welche Farbe hat der Sonnenschein German 16 30
1985 Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini Piano, piano German 12 39
1986 Daniela Simons Pas pour moi French 2 140
1987 Carol Rich Moitié moitié French 17 26
1988 Céline Dion Ne partez pas sans moi French 1 137
1989 Furbaz Viver senza tei Romansh 13 47
1990 Egon Egemann Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus German 11 51
1991 Sandra Simó Canzone per te Italian 5 118
1992 Daisy Auvray “Mister Music Man” French 15 32
1993 Annie Cotton Moi, tout simplement French 3 148 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
1994 Duilio Sto pregando Italian 19 15 No semi-finals
1996 Kathy Leander Mon cœur l’aime French 16 22 8 67
1997 Barbara Berta Dentro di me Italian 22 5 No semi-finals
1998 Gunvor Lass ihn German 25 ◁ 0
2000 Jane Bogaert La vita cos’è? Italian 20 14
2002 Francine Jordi Dans le jardin de mon âme French 22 15
2004 Piero and the MusicStars “Celebrate” English Failed to qualify 22 ◁ 0
2005 Vanilla Ninja “Cool Vibes” English 8 128 8 114
2006 six4one “If We All Give a Little” English 16 30 Top 11 in 2005 final[b]
2007 DJ BoBo “Vampires Are Alive” English Failed to qualify 20 40
2008 Paolo Meneguzzi Era stupendo Italian 13 47
2009 Lovebugs “The Highest Heights” English 14 15
2010 Michael von der Heide Il pleut de l’or French 17 ◁ 2
2011 Anna Rossinelli “In Love for a While” English 25 ◁ 19 10 55
2012 Sinplus “Unbreakable” English Failed to qualify 11 45
2013 Takasa “You and Me” English 13 41
2014 Sebalter “Hunter of Stars” English 13 64 4 92
2015 Mélanie René “Time to Shine” English Failed to qualify 17 ◁ 4
2016 Rykka “The Last of Our Kind” English 18 ◁ 28
2017 Timebelle “Apollo” English 12 97
2018 Zibbz “Stones” English 13 86
2019 Luca Hänni “She Got Me” English 4 364 4 232
2020 Gjon’s Tears Répondez-moi French Contest cancelled[c] X
2021 Gjon’s Tears Tout l’univers French 3 432 1 291
2022 Marius Bear “Boys Do Cry” English 17 78 9 118
2023 Remo Forrer “Watergun” English 20 92 7 97
2024 Nemo “The Code” English 1 591 4 132
2025 Confirmed intention to participate  Host country

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Artist Song Language At Congratulations At Eurovision
Final Points Semi Points Year Place Points
Céline Dion Ne partez pas sans moi French Failed to qualify 10 98 1988 1 137

Hostings. 

Year Location Venue Presenter(s)
1956 Lugano Teatro Kursaal Lohengrin Filipello
1989 Lausanne Palais de Beaulieu Lolita Morena and Jacques Deschenaux
2025 TBA 

Awards.

Year Category Song Composer(s)
lyrics (l) / music (m)
Performer Final Points Host city
2021 Composer Award “Tout l’univers” Gjon Muharremaj, Xavier Michel, Wouter Hardy & Nina Sampermans (m & l) Gjon’s Tears 3 432 Netherlands Rotterdam
2024 Press Award
Artistic Award[d]
The Code Benjamin Alasu, Lasse Midtsian Nymann, Linda Dale, Nemo Mettler (m&l) Nemo 1 591 Sweden Malmö

Conductors.

Year Conductor[e] Musical director Notes
1956 Fernando Paggi [f]
1957 Germany Willy Berking N/A [g]
1958 Paul Burkhard
1959 France Franck Pourcel [h]
1960 Cédric Dumont
1961 Fernando Paggi
1962 Cédric Dumont
1963 United Kingdom Eric Robinson [i]
1964 Fernando Paggi
1965 Mario Robbiani
1966 Luxembourg Jean Roderes [j]
1967 Hans Moeckel
1968 Mario Robbiani
1969 Germany Henry Mayer
1970 France Bernard Gérard
1971 Hardy Schneiders
1972 France Jean-Pierre Festi
1973 France Hervé Roy
1974 Germany Pepe Ederer
1975 Peter Jacques
1976 Mario Robbiani
1977 Peter Jacques
1978 France Daniel Janin
1979 Germany Rolf Zuckowski
1980 Peter Reber
1981 Germany Rolf Zuckowski
1982 Spain Joan Amils
1983 Robert Weber [k]
1984 Mario Robbiani
1985 Anita Kerr
1986 Turkey Switzerland Atilla Şereftuğ
1987 No conductor
1988 Turkey Switzerland Atilla Şereftuğ
1989 France Benoît Kaufman [l]
1990 Bela Balint N/A
1991 Italy Flaviano Cuffari
1992 Roby Seidel
1993 Marc Sorrentino
1994 Italy Valeriano Chiaravalle
1996 Portugal Switzerland Rui dos Reis
1997 Italy Pietro Damiani
1998 No conductor

Heads of delegation.

Year Head of delegation
2016–2021 Reto Peritz
2022– Yves Schifferle

Commentators and spokespersons. Over the years Switzerland has broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest on three television stations, SRF (German language), RTS (French language) and RSI (Italian language).

Year Commentator Spokesperson .
SRF RTS RSI
1956 Fritz Schäuffele Raymond Colbert No broadcast No spokesperson
1957 No broadcast Commentary via RTF France Mäni Weber
1958 Theodor Haller
1959 Boris Acquadro
1960
1961
1962 Commentary via RAI Italy Alexandre Burger
1963 Georges Hardy
1964 Robert Burnier
1965 Jean Charles
1966 Georges Hardy Giovanni Bertini
1967 Robert Burnier
1968 Georges Hardy
1969
1970
1971 No spokesperson
1972
1973
1974 Michel Stocker
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 Max Rüeger
1980 Theodor Haller
1981
1982
1983
1984 Bernard Thurnheer Serge Moisson Ezio Guidi
1985
1986
1987 Wilma Gilardi
1988 Ezio Guidi
1989 Thierry Masselot Giovanni Bertini
1990 Emanuela Gaggini
1991 Lolita Morena
1992 Mariano Tschuor Ivan Frésard
1993 Bernard Thurnheer Jean-Marc Richard
1994 Wilma Gilardi Sandra Studer
1995 Heinz Margot Joanne Holder Did not participate
1996 Sandra Studer Pierre Grandjean Yves Ménestrier
1997 Heinz Margot, Roman Kilchsperger Jonathan Tedesco Sandy Altermatt
1998 Jean-Marc Richard Regula Elsener
1999 Sandra Studer Did not participate
2000 Astrid Von Stockar
2001 Phil Mundwiller Did not participate
2002 Jonathan Tedesco, Claudio Lazzarino Diana Jörg
2003 Roman Kilchsperger Jean-Marc Richard, Alain Morisod Daniele Rauseo, Claudio Lazzarino Did not participate
2004 Marco Fritsche Daniela Tami, Claudio Lazzarino Emel Aykanat
2005 Sandra Studer Jean-Marc Richard, Marie-Thérèse Porchet Cécile Bähler
2006 Jean-Marc Richard, Alain Morisod Sandy Altermatt, Claudio Lazzarino Jubaira Bachmann
2007 Bernard Thurnheer Jean-Marc Richard (all), Henri Dès (final),
Nicolas Tanner (semi-final)
Sven Epiney
2008 Sven Epiney Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner Sandy Altermatt Cécile Bähler
2009
2010 Christa Rigozzi
2011 Jonathan Tedesco Cécile Bähler
2012 Clarissa Tami, Paolo Meneguzzi Sara Hildebrand
2013 Alessandro Bertoglio Mélanie Freymond
2014 Sven Epiney, Peter Schneider, Gabriel Vetter Alessandro Bertoglio, Sandy Altermatt Kurt Aeschbacher
2015 Clarissa Tami, Paolo Meneguzzi Laetitia Guarino
2016 Clarissa Tami, Michele Carobbio Sebalter
2017 Sven Epiney (all); Stefan Büsser, Micky Beisenherz (final) Clarissa Tami (all); Sebalter (final) Luca Hänni
2018 Sven Epiney Clarissa Tami, Sebalter Letícia Carvalho
2019 Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner (all);
Bastian Baker (final)
Sinplus
2021 Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner (all);
Joseph Gorgoni (final)
Clarissa Tami (2nd semi-final and final);
Sebalter (final)
Angélique Beldner
2022 Jean-Marc Richard (all);
Nicolas Tanner (semi-finals)
Gjon’s Tears (final)
Clarissa Tami (all);
Francesca Marigiotta (1st semi-final and final)
Boris Piffaretti (2nd semi-final and final)
Julie Berthollet
2023 Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner, Priscilla Formaz Ellis Cavallini and Gian-Andrea Costa Chiara Dubey
2024 Jean-Marc Richard (all), Nicolas Tanner (all), Julie Berthollet (final) Jennifer Bosshard

Notes.

  • [a]^ a b The 1956 contest had secret voting and, apart from the winner, no results were released.
  • [b]^ According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to the next year’s grand final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
  • [c]^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • [d]^ Voted by the national commentators.
  • [e]^ All conductors are of Swiss nationality unless otherwise noted.
  • [f]^ Also conducted the Dutch and German entries.
  • [g]^ Host conductor.
  • [h]^ Host conductor.
  • [i]^ Host conductor.
  • [j]^ Host conductor.
  • [k]^ Conducted at the national final by Hans Moeckel.
  • [l]^ Also conducted the Luxembourgish entry and half of the Danish entry.

Eurovision Song Contest (en, fr, it, rm).

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is actually a Swiss invention. How did it come about, what was the idea behind the event – and how did Switzerland suddenly become a regular frontrunner? Read on for all the info.

L’Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) è in realtà un’invenzione svizzera. Com’è nata, quale spirito permea la manifestazione e perché di colpo la Svizzera ha cominciato a piazzarsi in alto nella classifica? Qui trovate tutte le risposte.

.The history of the ESC / La storia dell’ESC

The idea for a «Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne», as the event was called originally and up until 2001, was conceived in 1955 by Marcel Bezençon, former director-general of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG) and head of the Programme Commission at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). During a conference of the Programme Commission in late January 1955 in Monaco, he proposed the idea of a European pop song contest, inspired by the Sanremo Music Festival, which had been held in Italy since 1951.

On 19 October 1955, the EBU General Assembly decided to establish a «Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson Européenne». The first edition took place in Lugano in 1956. In honour of its creator, the Marcel-Bezençon Award has been presented at the Eurovision Song Contest every year since 2002 for the best song, best artistic performance, and best composer. The winners are chosen in three categories by accredited journalists, commentators and the participating composers.

L’idea del «Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone», come si è chiamata la manifestazione in origine e fino al 2001, è venuta nel 1955 a Marcel Bezençon, l’allora Direttore generale della Società svizzera di radiotelevisione (SSR) e presidente della commissione programmi dell’Unione europea di radiodiffusione, meglio nota come European Broadcasting Union (EBU). In occasione di una conferenza della Commissione programmi alla fine di gennaio del 1955 a Monaco, Bezençon aveva presentato l’idea di un concorso canoro europeo ispirato al Festival di Sanremo (inaugurato in Italia nel 1951).

Il 19 ottobre 1955 l’assemblea dell’EBU decide di dare avvio al «Gran Premio Eurovisione della Canzone». La prima edizione si tiene a Lugano nel 1956. In onore del suo inventore, dal 2002 durante l’Eurovision Song Contest viene conferito il Marcel Bezençon Award per la migliore canzone, la migliore esecuzione e la migliore composizione. I vincitori nelle tre categorie sono votati da giornaliste e giornalisti accreditati, commentatrici e commentatori e da compositrici e compositori partecipanti.

.Format / La modalità di svolgimento

Since 1957 every participating broadcaster has submitted a song to the ESC. The competition is usually held in the country that won the previous year’s event. There have only been a small number of exceptions from this, most recently in 2023. Because of the growth in the number of participating countries due to the accession of many Eastern European countries to the EBU, a qualifying round was held between 2004 and 2007. Since 2008, two qualifying rounds are held as semi-finals.

The semi-finals and final each consist of two parts: in the first part, lasting around two hours, the participants present their entries, while in the second part, the participating countries award their points. In the semi-final this part takes around 15 minutes as the finalists are announced in random order and without reading out the individual scores from the participating countries. In the final, the second part lasts about an hour. The transition from the first to second part, and therefore the period in which viewers can vote, lasts about 15 minutes and is filled by an interval act on stage.

Dal 1957 ogni emittente partecipante presenta una canzone per l’ESC. Dal 1958 il festival si tiene di norma presso il Paese che ha vinto l’edizione precedente. Le eccezioni a questa regola sono state pochissime, l’ultima nel 2023. Con l’aumento dei Paesi partecipanti in seguito all’adesione di numerosi Stati dell’Est Europa all’EBU, dal 2004 al 2007 è stata introdotta un’eliminatoria. Dal 2008 si tengono al suo posto due semifinali.

Le semifinali e la finale sono suddivise in due parti: nella prima parte che dura un paio d’ore le artiste e gli artisti presentano i brani, mentre nella seconda parte avviene l’assegnazione dei punti da parte dei Paesi partecipanti. Nelle semifinali, questa seconda parte dura una quindicina di minuti, in cui vengono proclamati in ordine casuale le finaliste e i finalisti senza dare lettura dei punteggi assegnati dai singoli Paesi. Nella finale, questa parte prende all’incirca un’ora. L’intervallo tra la prima e la seconda parte, in cui il pubblico può esprimere il proprio voto, dura circa 15 minuti e viene animato da uno spettacolo sul palco.

.The participating countries / I Paesi partecipanti.

All countries that are members of the EBU are eligible to take part. These are the majority of European countries, plus some non-European countries from the Mediterranean region. Israel was for a long time the only EBU member outside of Europe that regularly participated in the ESC, and, since the 2000s, it has been joined by Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Due to Eurovision’s popularity in Australia, the country has been allowed to participate as an «associate EBU member» since 2015.

Every EBU member is entitled to take part in the ESC, but there is no obligation to do so. As a result, the number of participants can vary from one year to the next. At the first contest in 1956, seven countries took part, with two entries each: the host country Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Italy. In the subsequent years, more and more countries showed an interest in the competition. Yugoslavia was an EBU member and the only socialist country to participate regularly between 1961 and 1991.

Since the EBU expansion in 1990, Central and East European countries, which previously competed in the Intervision Song Contest, have been able to participate. However, to avoid extending the length of the event significantly, the number of participants was limited, which meant that not all countries could compete every year. In 1993, there was a separate pre-qualifying round for Eastern Europe, with seven East European countries battling it out for three starting places. From 1994 onwards, the number of participants was limited to 25 (and reduced to 23 in 1995). Under the relegation system, the best 19 countries qualified for the competition the following year, while the rest had to miss out on a place.

A new procedure was introduced in 1996 due to a further increase in the number of countries wanting to take part. All entrants – with the exception of hosts Norway – had to undergo internal audio pre-qualifying selection by a jury. Following the elimination of the German entry during this pre-qualifying round, Germany threatened not to help pay for future events. As a result it was decided that the four – since 2011 five– members contributing the largest share of the EBU’s budget would be granted direct entry every year from 1999. This meant that Germany, France, the UK, Spain and Italy (after it returned to the ESC in 2011) were automatically eligible to take part, regardless of their place in the previous year’s contest. These countries are known as «The Big Five» («The Big Four» until 2010). Since the introduction of qualifying rounds in 2004, this rule means that these countries qualify directly for the final. This special rule has been criticised by some participating countries as «buying a place in the final», and Turkey has not taken part since 2013 because of it.

To date, all European countries – apart from Liechtenstein and the Vatican – have participated in the ESC. In the Arab world, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, and the Lebanon are EBU members, but only Morocco has ever taken part (1980 competition). Australia took part in the competition in 2015 as a «one-off special guest to mark the competition’s 60th anniversary» according to the EBU, qualifying directly for the final. Since 2016 Australia has continued to take part in the contest as an associate EBU member, but has to qualify in one of the semi-finals.

Possono partecipare all’ESC tutti i Paesi che aderiscono all’EBU, ossia la gran parte dei Paesi europei e alcuni Paesi extraeuropei del Mediterraneo. Tra i membri extraeuropei dell’EBU, per molto tempo solo Israele ha partecipato assiduamente all’ESC, al quale si sono aggiunti dagli anni 2000 anche Georgia, Armenia e Azerbaigian. In seguito al grande successo riscosso dallo spettacolo in Australia, dal 2015 anche l’Australia è stata ammessa a partecipare in qualità di «membro associato all’EBU».

Tutti i membri dell’EBU hanno il diritto ma non l’obbligo di partecipare all’ESC. Di conseguenza, il numero delle e dei partecipanti può variare di anno in anno. Alla prima edizione del 1956 parteciparono sette Paesi con due canzoni ciascuno: la Svizzera come Paese ospitante insieme a Paesi Bassi, Belgio, Germania, Francia, Lussemburgo e Italia. Negli anni successivi sempre più Paesi hanno mostrato interesse per il concorso. Dal 1961 al 1991 la Jugoslavia, membro dell’EBU, è stato l’unico Paese socialista a partecipare regolarmente.

Dopo l’allargamento dell’EBU dal 1990 hanno potuto partecipare anche i Paesi dell’Europa centrale e orientale che prima aderivano a Intervision. Per non rendere la manifestazione troppo lunga si decise di limitare il numero di partecipanti; pertanto, non tutti i Paesi potevano partecipare ogni anno. Nel 1993 è stata organizzata un’eliminatoria separata per l’Europa dell’Est, in cui sette Paesi si sono contesi tre posti all’Eurovision. Dal 1994 il numero di partecipanti è stato limitato a 25 (a 23 nel 1995). I 19 migliori Paesi si qualificavano per l’anno successivo, mentre gli altri dovevano saltare un anno.

In seguito a un ulteriore aumento delle candidature, nel 1996 è stata introdotta una nuova procedura. Ad eccezione del brano della Norvegia che era il Paese ospitante, tutti i candidati dovevano sottoporsi a una preselezione vocale interna di una giuria. Dopo la bocciatura del brano tedesco alla preselezione, la Germania minacciò di sospendere il proprio contributo finanziario per le successive edizioni. Si decise quindi che a partire dal 1999 i quattro Paesi (divenuti cinque nel 2011) che contribuiscono maggiormente al bilancio dell’EBU avrebbero avuto il diritto di partecipare ogni anno. La Germania, la Francia, il Regno Unito e la Spagna, così come l’Italia (dopo il suo ritorno all’ESC nel 2011) sono quindi ammessi in automatico, indipendentemente dalla loro posizione in classifica nell’anno precedente. Questi Paesi sono chiamati i grandi cinque (i «big five» che erano i «big four» fino al 2010). Dall’introduzione delle eliminatorie nel 2004, questa regola ha permesso a tali Paesi di entrare direttamente in finale senza alcuna preselezione. Alcuni Paesi partecipanti sono contrari a questo privilegio che viene visto come «comprarsi la partecipazione alla finale». Dal 2013 la Turchia ha deciso di non partecipare più proprio a causa di questo meccanismo.

Ad oggi hanno partecipato all’ESC tutti gli Stati europei, ad eccezione del Liechtenstein e del Vaticano. All’EBU aderiscono anche Paesi dell’area araba come Marocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libia, Egitto, Giordania e Libano; tuttavia il Marocco è l’unico ad aver partecipato finora (edizione del 1980). Stando all’EBU, l’Australia ha partecipato all’edizione celebrativa del 2015 in qualità di ospite e si è qualificata subito per la finale. Dal 2016, l’Australia continua a partecipare al concorso in qualità di membro associato dell’EBU, sempre sottoponendosi alla selezione della semifinale.

.The qualifying rounds / Le fasi eliminatorie.

In order to give every country the chance to take part again, qualifying rounds have been held since 2004, in which all active members of the EBU (barring the «Big Five») can participate. From 2004 to 2007, one qualifying round was held, from which the ten best-placed songs, plus the «Big Four», the host country, and the countries in places two to ten from the previous year made it to the final. Since 2008, two qualifying rounds («semi-finals») have been held, from which the ten best-placed songs, as well as the «Big Four» («Big Five» since 2011) and the hosts qualify for the final. Splitting countries with cultural, geographic and linguistic ties across two different semi-finals is intended to reduce the bias in scoring that comes as a result of cultural affinity and proximity.

Per consentire a tutti i Paesi di partecipare ogni anno, dal 2004 si tengono le eliminatorie a cui possono prendere parte tutti i membri attivi dell’EBU (con l’esclusione dei «big five»). Dal 2004 al 2007 si potevano esibire alla finale i primi dieci classificati nelle eliminatorie, i «big four», il Paese organizzatore e i classificati dalla seconda alla decima posizione dell’anno precedente. Dal 2008 si tengono due tornate a eliminazione (le «semifinali»), in cui si qualificano per la finale i primi dieci di ogni tornata insieme ai «big four» («big five» dal 2011) e al Paese organizzatore. Attraverso la ripartizione in semifinali diverse di Paesi simili tra loro dal punto di vista culturale, geografico e linguistico, si cerca di evitare che l’affinità culturale possa distorcere i risultati nell’assegnazione dei punteggi.

.Switzerland at Eurovision. / La Svizzera all’ESC.

Switzerland took part in the first edition of the ESC in Lugano in 1956, winning on the first attempt with  the song «Refrain» performed by Lys Assia. She represented Switzerland again in 1957, but finished eighth out of ten. Despite this modest success, Lys Assia represented the country again in 1958. She was more successful this time, finishing in second place with 24 points, and only two points shy of victory. Switzerland was represented by a singer other than Lys Assia for the first time in 1959. Her name was Christa Williams and she finished fourth.

Then, in 1964, came Switzerland’s first low point in the competition, when Swiss singer Anita Traversi scored «zero points»  for her song «I miei pensieri», finishing last alongside Germany, Yugoslavia and Portugal. This was followed by another blow in 1967, when singer Géraldine came last with «zero points», but this time Switzerland found itself alone at the bottom of the table. In 1969, singer Paola del Medico, later Paola Felix, came fifth out of 16 with the song «Bonjour, bonjour». In 1970, Vaud Henri Dès from the canton of Vaud did slightly better, finishing fourth out of 12.

By 1971, the string of moderate successes was over, with the trio Peter, Sue & Marc finishing in the bottom half of the table, in 12th place out of 18. However, in 1972, singer Véronique Müller made it back into the top ten, finishing eighth out of 18. Then, from 1975, Switzerland entered its most successful period at the ESC to date, always finishing in the top ten: sixth place in 1975 for Simone Drexel with «Mikado», fourth place in 1976 and revenge for the trio Peter, Sue & Marc with «Djambo, Djambo», sixth place in 1977 for Pepe Lienhard Band with «Swiss Lady» and ninth place in 1978 for Carole Vinci with «Vivre».

In 1979, the trio Peter, Sue & Marc represented Switzerland for the third time, and were joined this time by another trio, Pfuri, Gorps & Kniri. They finished tenth with the song «Trödler & Co». In 1980, singer Paola finished fourth with «Cinéma», while in 1981, the trio Trio Peter, Sue & Marc represented Switzerland for the fourth time in the space of ten years. This time they finished in fourth place with «lo senza te» – their best ever placing in the competition.

In 1982, Switzerland notched up its best result in 19 years with «Amour on t’aime» by singer Arlette Zola, which came third. But that was the end of Switzerland’s success at Eurovision for another few years.

La Svizzera ha partecipato alla prima edizione dell’ESC a Lugano nel 1956, assicurandosi subito la vittoria con Lys Assia e la sua canzone «Refrain». Lys Assia ha rappresentato la Svizzera anche nel 1957, piazzandosi tuttavia solo all’8° posto su 10. Nonostante il risultato poco lusinghiero, fu mandata di nuovo all’Eurovision del 1958. In questa terza occasione ebbe di nuovo più successo, conquistando il secondo posto con 24 punti, a soli tre punti di distacco dal vincitore. Nel 1959 è stata scelta un’altra interprete per la gara canora, questa volta Christa Williams (4° posto).

Nel 1964 la Svizzera ha dovuto incassare la prima grossa delusione: la sua artista Anita Traversi si classificò all’ultimo posto con la canzone «I miei pensieri» con zero punti alla pari con Germania, Jugoslavia e Portogallo. La seconda delusione è arrivata nel 1967: la cantante Géraldine finì in ultima posizione con zero punti, questa volta però da sola. Sono seguiti diversi anni aridi di soddisfazioni. Nel 1969 la cantante Paola del Medico, da coniugata Paola Felix, ha conquistato il 5° posto su 16 con «Bonjour, bonjour». Nel 1970 il vodese Henri Dès ha fatto ancora meglio, arrivando quarto su 12.

L’ondata di successi si è però conclusa nel 1971, quando il trio Peter, Sue & Marc si è piazzato nella parte medio-bassa della classifica, al 12° posto su 18. Le sorti furono sollevate nel 1972 da Véronique Müller che riuscì a rientrare nella top 10, per l’esattezza all’8° posto su 18. Dal 1975 è cominciato il periodo di maggiore successo all’ESC per la Svizzera, che ha saputo mantenersi sempre nei primi dieci posti in classifica: nel 1975 al 6° posto con «Mikado» di Simone Drexel, nel 1976 la rivalsa del trio Peter, Sue & Marc con «Djambo, Djambo» al 4° posto, nel 1977 al 6° posto con «Swiss Lady» della Pepe Lienhard Band e nel 1978 con «Vivre» di Carole Vinci al 9° posto.

Nel 1979 il trio Peter, Sue & Marc ha calcato la scena per la terza volta per la Svizzera, questa volta portandosi dietro il trio Pfuri, Gorps & Kniri e conquistando il 10° posto con la canzone «Trödler & Co». Nel 1980 Paola si è guadagnata il 4° posto con «Cinéma» e nel 1981 la Svizzera ha presentato sul palco di nuovo, per la quarta volta nell’arco di dieci anni, il trio Peter, Sue & Marc. Questa volta il trio si aggiudicò il 4° posto con «Io senza te», ottenendo così il suo migliore risultato al contest.

Nel 1982 c’è stato il migliore piazzamento in 19 anni, con il 3° posto ottenuto da Arlette Zola con «Amour on t’aime». E con quel risultato si chiuse temporaneamente la serie di successi svizzeri all’ESC.

Die Saengerin Celine Dion, rechts, schneidet im Beisein von Nella Martinetti, Schweizer Schlagersaengerin und Songschreiberin, Mitte, und Attila Sereftug, Songschreiber, links, im Mai 1988, nach ihrem Sieg fuer die Schweiz im Grand Prix d’Eurovision, eine Torte in Stuecke. / Céline Dion (a destra), Nella Martinetti (in mezzo) e Atilla Şereftuğ (a sinistra) in occasione dell’ESC 1988

.Céline Dion – a topic of discussion in the Federal Council. / Céline Dion all’ordine del giorno in Consiglio federale.

In 1986, the song «Pas pour moi» by Daniela Simons delivered a major surprise, coming second – Switzerland’s best result since 1963. Then, in 1988, came the belter when singer Céline Dion – unknown in Europe at the time – achieved Switzerland’s second and last victory to date with «Ne partez pas sans moi», just a point ahead of the UK. It came down to the line and victory was only revealed when the very last country revealed its scores. While the Brits were celebrating what they believed was a sure-fire win, Yugoslavia awarded Switzerland six points, and the UK zero.

The winning song for Switzerland was composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, while the lyrics were penned by Nella Martinetti. Şereftuğ claimed he had written the song in just 12 minutes. Céline Dion was able to represent Switzerland as – according to the ESC regulations at the time – two out of three elements of the song had to come from the country in question: composer, lyricist and singer. National Councillor Markus Ruf from the Swiss Democrats even submitted an official question to the Federal Council about this on 20 June 1988. He wanted to know how it could be justified in the Council’s view that a Canadian could represent Switzerland at Eurovision. Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi responded with his customary humour that thank goodness the Federal Council didn’t have to answer the question in the form of regulations or an ordinance. Fortunately, that could be left to others, namely through the ESC regulations. Ogi’s actual words (translated): «Nella Martinetti from Ticino penned the lyrics to this year’s entry. So on that basis, the Swiss entry can’t have been that un-Swiss, National Councillor Ruf. The song was performed by a Canadian. That may indeed come as a surprise. But by all accounts Ms Dion did a very good job (sniggers in the National Council), otherwise the Swiss entry wouldn’t have won. Other than that, the song performed was the one that triumphed in the national qualifying round. As I said, the Federal Council doesn’t have a seat on that jury. National Councillor Ruf, you will have to take up this matter with them, or – even better – take a seat on the jury yourself! Incidentally, how fortunate we are to live in a country where such earth-shattering topics as the origin of a pop singer can be discussed in the national parliament!» (cheerful applause from the Council).

Feeling somewhat snubbed, Markus Ruf was not satisfied with this response, and went on to ask defiantly whether the Council didn’t think there were any very good singers in Switzerland, whether the Council had any sympathy for the fact that not all Swiss were happy with the representation and how he (Adolf Ogi) would react if an Austrian were to represent Switzerland at the next skiing world championships. Ogi retorted: «National Councillor Ruf, to your last question: No, not an Austrian! To the other questions: yes, absolutely.»

For Céline Dion the victory at Eurovision was an important step in her journey to becoming a global star.

Nel 1986 la cantante Daniela Simons con la canzone «Pas pour moi» ha regalato una grande emozione: il 2° posto e quindi il migliore risultato dal 1963. Il grande botto è arrivato però nel 1988, quando la cantante Céline Dion, all’epoca ancora sconosciuta in Europa, si è aggiudicata la seconda e ad oggi ultima vittoria della Svizzera con «Ne partez pas sans moi», con un solo punto di vantaggio sull’Inghilterra. Il verdetto a suo favore è arrivato con l’ultimissima votazione: gli inglesi pensavano di avere ormai la vittoria in tasca, quando la Jugoslavia assegnò sei punti alla Svizzera e zero punti all’Inghilterra.

La canzone vincente per la Svizzera era stata composta da Atilla Şereftuğ, le parole erano di Nella Martinetti. Şereftuğ ha raccontato di avere composto la canzone in soli 12 minuti. Céline Dion aveva potuto esibirsi per la Svizzera perché allora il regolamento dell’ESC stabiliva che due elementi su tre della canzone dovevano essere di provenienza nazionale: il compositore, il paroliere o l’interprete. Il consigliere nazionale Markus Ruf dei Democratici Svizzeri aveva addirittura presentato un’interrogazione ufficiale in merito al Consiglio federale il 20 giugno 1988. Voleva sapere come si potesse giustificare il fatto che fosse una canadese a rappresentare la Svizzera all’ESC. Il consigliere federale Adolf Ogi ha risposto alla domanda di Ruf con la consueta ironia, dichiarando che grazie al cielo il Consiglio federale non aveva bisogno di emanare un regolamento o un’ordinanza in merito. Fortunatamente, la questione poteva essere demandata ad altri. Dopotutto, il regolamento dell’ESC lo permetteva. Riportiamo le parole di Ogi: «Il brano di quest’anno è stato scritto dalla ticinese Nella Martinetti. Quindi la canzone della Svizzera non può essere definita poco elvetica, consigliere nazionale Ruf. Certo, la canzone è stata interpretata da una canadese. Un fatto in effetti sorprendente. Però Céline Dion l’ha cantata molto bene (risate nel Consiglio nazionale), altrimenti il brano svizzero non avrebbe vinto. Il pezzo proposto peraltro è quello arrivato primo alle eliminatorie nazionali. Come ho detto, il Consiglio federale non fa parte della giuria. Consigliere Ruf, lei dovrà quindi fare valere le sue ragioni dinanzi alla giuria oppure, meglio ancora, dovrà diventare lei stesso membro della giuria! Per inciso, siamo davvero un Paese fortunato, se il nostro Parlamento può mettersi a discutere di una questione di rilevanza mondiale come la provenienza di una cantante di musica leggera! (applausi e ilarità dal Consiglio)».

Un poco scornato, Markus Ruf non si è dato per vinto e ha chiesto ostinato se non credevano che anche in Svizzera ci fossero cantanti d’eccellenza; inoltre si poteva a buona ragione pensare che non tutta la popolazione svizzera fosse contenta di essere rappresentata da questa cantante. Chiese inoltre a «Dölf» Ogi come avrebbe reagito se un austriaco avesse indossato la pettorina della Svizzera ai prossimi Campionati mondiali di sci. Ogi rispose secco: «Consigliere Ruf, in merito alla sua ultima domanda: un austriaco no e poi no! Alle altre due domande rispondo con due sì».

Per Céline Dion, la vittoria all’ESC di Dublino fu una tappa importante nella sua ascesa verso la fama mondiale.

.The ESC returns to SwitzerlandL’ESC torna in Svizzera.

After Céline Dion’s success, Switzerland hosted the contest on 6 May 1989 at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne. The event was presented by Lolita Morena and Jacques Deschenaux, in English, French, Italian and German. The group Furbaz from Graubünden finished 13th out of 22 with the only song ever to be sung in Romansh at Eurovision, «Viver senza tei». The contest was won by Yugoslavia with the song «Rock me» by the group Riva.

The seven-minute-long opening film in which children’s book character Heidi visited the sites of Switzerland, was the longest in ESC history and got people talking. It took a whole 20 minutes before the first entry was introduced. There was also a glitch in the interval programme, when William Tell’s arrow narrowly missed the apple, so the successful attempt from the dress rehearsal had to be replayed instead.

When France sent an 11-year-old girl to compete in Lausanne and Israel a 12-year-old boy, the contest attracted public criticism, leading to the EBU introducing a new minimum age of 16 for performers.

Grazie alla vittoria di Céline Dion, la Svizzera ha potuto ospitare l’Eurovision il 6 maggio 1989 al Palais de Beaulieu (padiglioni sei e sette) di Losanna. A presentare la manifestazione in inglese, francese, italiano e tedesco c’erano Lolita Morena e Jacques Deschenaux. Con «Viver senza tei», ad oggi l’unica canzone in romancio mai presentata all’ESC, il gruppo vocale grigionese Furbaz ha conquistato il 13° posto su 22. Il concorso fu vinto dal gruppo jugoslavo Riva con il brano «Rock me».

In quell’occasione aveva fatto molto discutere il cortometraggio di apertura di sette minuti, il più lungo nella storia dell’ESC, in cui la bambina protagonista dei libri d’infanzia Heidi visitava le diverse bellezze della Svizzera. Tra una cosa e l’altra, passarono 20 minuti prima che fosse presentata la prima canzone. Un intoppo si era verificato anche durante il programma dell’intervallo, quando la freccia di Guglielmo Tell aveva mancato di poco la mela e si era dovuto quindi mandare in onda il tentativo riuscito della prova generale.

A Losanna, la Francia aveva messo in lizza una ragazza di 11 anni e Israele un ragazzo di 12. Le critiche che seguirono pubblicamente indussero l’EBU a stabilire un’età minima di 16 anni per le e gli interpreti dei brani.

Francine Jordi ESC 2002 rehearsal / Francine Jordi durante le prove dell’ESC 2002

.The ESC losing streak / Anni di magra.

In 1991, the then 22-year-old Sandra Simó (now Studer) finished fifth in Rome with «Canzone per te», launching her career as a presenter on SRF. In 1993, singer Annie Cotton came third in Ireland – the best result since Switzerland’s victory in 1988. But that was to be the last successful Swiss entry for a while. The subsequent years proved to be a complete washout.

In 1994 the Swiss entry finished near the bottom of the table, 19th out of 25. This poor performance had implications, as due to the many new participating countries and the relegation system, only those in positions 1 to 18 could take part in the contest the following year. Switzerland therefore had to miss the 1995 edition for the first time since the competition started in 1956. Until 1994, Switzerland was the only country besides Germany that had taken part in all the competitions to date.

Another setback came in 1998, when singer Gunvor Guggisberg finished last, scoring «zero points» for «Lass ihn». This was the worst result for Switzerland since 1974. The country therefore had to miss the contest in 1999 for a second time. While Switzerland was allowed to take part again in 2000, it finished 20th out of 24 with Jane Bogaert and again had to miss the 2001 contest. The same thing happened in 2002, when Francine Jordi came 22nd out of 24, so again in 2003 Switzerland was not allowed to take part.

When Switzerland returned in 2004 with Piero Esteriore & The MusicStars and the song «Celebrate!» it was eliminated directly in the newly-introduced semi-final, scoring «zero points». This was already the fifth time that Switzerland had come last. The following year, hopes were pinned on the Estonian group Vanilla Ninja, who came eighth out of 24 with the track «Cool Vibes».

This remained Switzerland’s last top ten place for some time, as in the years that followed, the country was one of the least successful in the competition.

Nel 1991 la ventiduenne Sandra Simó (oggi Studer) è riuscita a conquistare il 5° posto a Roma con «Canzone per te». Grazie a questo successo è decollata anche la sua carriera come presentatrice della SRF. Nel 1993 la cantante Annie Cotton ha conquistato in Irlanda il 3° posto, il miglior piazzamento dalla vittoria nel 1988 e l’ultimo successo della Svizzera per un pezzo. Negli anni successivi c’è stato il tracollo.

Il brano del 1994 si è collocato nella parte medio-bassa della classifica, al 19° posto su 25. Questo risultato ha avuto ulteriori implicazioni, poiché a causa del gran numero di nuovi Paesi partecipanti veniva ammesso all’edizione successiva solo chi si era classificato nelle prime 18 posizioni. Quindi la Svizzera è rimasta esclusa nel 1995, saltando per la prima volta un’edizione dalla creazione del concorso nel 1956. Fino al 1994, la Svizzera e la Germania erano stati gli unici Paesi ad avere partecipato con assiduità a tutte le edizioni.

Il fondo è stato toccato nel 1998, quando la cantante Gunvor Guggisberg è arrivata ultima a zero punti con il brano «Lass ihn». Questo è stato il peggiore piazzamento della Svizzera dal 1974 e ha comportato per la seconda volta l’esclusione della Svizzera dall’edizione del 1999. Rientrata nel 2000 con Jane Bogaert, che ha conquistato però soltanto il 20° posto su 24, la Svizzera non ha potuto essere rappresentata neanche nel 2001. Lo stesso è accaduto nel 2002, con Francine Jordi che è arrivata 22° su 24, obbligando la Svizzera a non presentarsi nel 2003.

Nel 2004 la Svizzera è tornata con Piero Esteriore & The MusicStars e la canzone «Celebrate!», che fu però eliminata con zero punti nella semifinale appena introdotta. Era la quinta volta che la Svizzera finiva ultima. L’anno successivo si è puntato tutto sul gruppo estone Vanilla Ninja, che ha conquistato l’8° posto su 24 con «Cool Vibes».

Per molto tempo, questo è rimasto l’ultimo piazzamento svizzero nella top 10, poiché negli anni seguenti la Svizzera è stata uno dei Paesi che ha incassato meno successi nella competizione. 

DJ Bobo with his wife Nancy Baumann (left) at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 ©Keystone

DJ Bobo with his wife Nancy Baumann (left) at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 / DJ Bobo e la moglie Nancy Baumann (a sinistra) in occasione dell’ESC 2007

.DJ Bobo and the vampiresDJ Bobo e i Vampire.

In 2007, DJ Bobo represented Switzerland at the ESC in Helsinki. His song «Vampires are Alive» was soon ranking as a favourite, but also caused quite a stir. The Federal Democratic Union FDU even submitted a petition with 50,000 signatures against Bobo’s song to the Federal Chancellery in Bern. The FDU claimed that the «satanically-inspired song» was an affront to people’s religious sensibilities and that the government needed to intervene «to safeguard public peace». The Evangelical Alliance also took aim at the song, saying that it could be disturbing for mentally unstable adolescents and could send people in difficult life situations over the edge. DJ Bobo still performed the song – but was eliminated in the semi-final after finishing 20th out of 28.

In 2010, there followed another low, when Michael von der Heide performed «Il pleut de l’or» in Oslo – but unfortunately it wasn’t raining gold for Switzerland: he finished last in the semi-final and was eliminated. In 2011, Anna Rossinelli competed in the ESC in Düsseldorf with the song «In Love for a While» – while she made it to the final, she only scored 19 points and came last. In 2012 and 2013, the Swiss entries again failed to make it to the final. However, in 2014, singer Sebalter finished fifth in the semi-final, taking Switzerland to the final for the first time in three years. Unfortunately, he only managed 13th place. In the years that followed, Switzerland continued to notch up mid-table results.

Nel 2007, DJ Bobo ha debuttato all’ESC di Helsinki. Il suo brano «Vampires are alive» è entrato subito nella rosa dei favoriti, sollevando però anche un gran polverone. L’Unione Democratica Federale UDF aveva addirittura presentato alla Cancelleria federale di Berna una petizione con 50’000 firme contro la canzone di Bobo. Secondo l’UDF, Bobo offendeva il sentimento religioso con la sua «canzone di ispirazione satanica» e il Governo sarebbe dovuto intervenire per «preservare la pace pubblica». Anche l’Alleanza Evangelica si era opposta al brano, affermando che avrebbe potuto arrecare danni alla salute di giovani con un equilibrio mentale precario e persone che vivono situazioni di vita difficili. DJ Bobo propose comunque la canzone, ma non riuscì a superare lo scoglio della semifinale, piazzandosi 20° su 28.

Un altro insuccesso è stato incassato nel 2010: Michael von der Heide ha esordito a Oslo con «Il pleut de l’or», ma di oro ne è caduto ben poco e il brano è stato eliminato dopo essere arrivato ultimo alla semifinale. Nel 2011 Anna Rossinelli si è esibita all’ESC a Düsseldorf con il brano «In Love for a While», riuscendo ad arrivare alla finale dove però ha terminato ultima con soli 19 punti. Nel 2012 e 2013 le proposte svizzere non sono riuscite a staccare il biglietto per la finale. Nel 2014 invece l’artista Sebalter è arrivato 5° alla semifinale, riportando la Svizzera in finale dopo tre anni di assenza. Alla finale ha però purtroppo ottenuto solo il 13° posto. Anche gli anni successivi sono stati contrassegnati da piazzamenti medi.

Luca Hänni at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 ©Keystone

Luca Hänni at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 / Luca Hänni in occasione dell’ESC 2019

.Luca Hänni and the new selection processLuca Hänni e il nuovo processo di selezione

From 2019 Switzerland introduced a new internal selection process, where the Swiss entry was decided for the first time in a multi-stage process by audiences and expert juries. In addition to a Swiss viewers jury, international audience juries also help decide which artist and song will represent Switzerland at the ESC in several selection rounds. This new process seems to have paid off: the first artist selected in this way was Luca Hänni. He performed the song «She Got Me» in Tel Aviv in 2019. «Make us lucky, Luca!» was the headline in the newspaper Blick. And Luca Hänni didn’t disappoint, finishing fourth both in the semi-final and the final. Switzerland achieved the highest ever score in its Eurovision history with this entry.

Dal 2019 la Svizzera ha introdotto un nuovo processo interno di selezione, in cui il brano svizzero viene scelto da giurie formate dal pubblico e da esperti nel corso di una selezione in più fasi. Alle diverse tornate di selezione per scegliere la canzone che rappresenterà la Svizzera all’ESC partecipa dal 2023 sia una giuria composta da spettatrici e spettatori svizzeri che una giuria formata dal pubblico internazionale. A quanto pare la nuova procedura pare funzionare: il primo artista selezionato in questo modo è stato Luca Hänni. Nel 2019 si esibisce a Tel Aviv con il brano «She Got Me». «Facci sognare, Luca!» era scritto sulla rivista Blick. E Luca Hänni non ha deluso le aspettative: dopo avere ottenuto il 4° posto nella semifinale, è riuscito a mantenerlo anche nella finale. Con questa canzone la Svizzera ha messo a segno il punteggio più alto che sia mai riuscita a ottenere nelle varie edizioni in cui è stata presente all’Eurovision.

Gjons Tears at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 / Gjons Tears in occasione dell’ESC 2021

.Switzerland is back / La Svizzera alla riscossa.

The ESC had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Fribourg singer Gjon’s Tears, who had already been selected, was therefore unable to perform «Répondez-moi» and instead represented Switzerland in Rotterdam in 2021 with the song «Tout l’univers». He achieved a fantastic first place in the jury vote and third place overall. Again in 2022, Switzerland made the final with Marius Bear and «Boys Do Cry», but only managed 17th place, finishing in the bottom half of the table. It was particularly frustrating that all 78 points came from the juries, and no points from viewers.

However, the new selection process appeared to have proven successful, with Switzerland again making the final in 2023 with Remo Forrer and the song «Watergun», although he only finished in 20th place – the worst result since 2018.

Nel 2020 l’ESC è stato annullato a causa del Covid-19. L’artista friburghese Gjon’s Tears che era stato già selezionato non ha potuto quindi presentare il brano «Répondez-moi», ma si è comunque esibito nel 2021 con «Tout l’univers» a Rotterdam. Con un risultato sensazionale: il 1° posto nella votazione della giuria e il 3° posto in assoluto. Anche nel 2022 la Svizzera è riuscita ad arrivare alla finale con «Boys do cry» interpretata da Marius Bear, rimanendo tuttavia nella parte bassa della classifica con un 17° posto. È stato frustrante in particolare che i 78 punti assegnati provenissero solo dalle giurie, mentre il pubblico non aveva dato alcun punto.

Il nuovo processo di selezione sembra però portare i suoi frutti: anche nel 2023 la Svizzera è arrivata alla finale con Remo Forrer e la canzone «Watergun», conquistando però solo il 20° posto e quindi il risultato peggiore degli ultimi anni.

.A brief summary / Ricapitolando

Overall, 25 out of a total of 60 Swiss entries have ended up in the top half of the table. But finishing last on nine occasions, including four with «zero points», Switzerland is one of the countries that has most often found itself at the bottom of the table. Switzerland has only been in the final five times since the semi-finals were introduced in 2004, making it (along with Latvia) the country most often eliminated in the semi-finals (eleven times). Nevertheless, Switzerland has notched up two wins to date, three second places (1958, 1963, 1986) and four third places (1961, 1982, 1993, 2021). Having taken part 60 times, it is also one of the countries that has competed the most times. Switzerland has never chosen not to take part, but missed the contests in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 due to poor results in previous contests, leading to relegation. Even so, Switzerland is still one of the most successful countries in the competition on average.

Sul totale di 60 brani presentati dalla Svizzera, 25 si sono piazzati nella metà superiore della classifica. Con nove ultimi posti, di cui quattro a zero punti, la Svizzera fa parte dei Paesi che sono arrivati ultimi più spesso. Con soltanto cinque presenze alla finale dall’introduzione delle semifinali nel 2004, la Svizzera e la Lettonia sono i due Paesi eliminati più spesso (undici volte) durante le semifinali. Ciononostante, la Svizzera è riuscita a incassare due vittorie, classificandosi anche tre volte al 2° posto (1958, 1963, 1986) e quattro volte al 3° posto (1961, 1982, 1993, 2021). Con le sue 60 presenze, la Svizzera è uno dei Paesi che ha partecipato più assiduamente al contest. Inoltre la Svizzera non ha mai rinunciato a partecipare e ha saltato le edizioni del 1995, 1999, 2001 e 2003 solo a causa dei piazzamenti bassi nell’anno precedente. In ogni caso, sulla base di un calcolo medio, la Svizzera è uno dei Paesi che ha ottenuto i risultati migliori all’Eurovision.

.ESC entries in the Swiss charts / Brani dell’ESC nelle classifiche svizzere.

Many Swiss entries were not major commercial successes: the winning song «Ne partez pas sans moi» by Céline Dion only made it to number 11 in the Swiss singles charts. In 1956, when Switzerland won with the song «Refrain» by Lys Assia, the Swiss singles charts didn’t exist yet. Overall, only 26 of the 60 entries have made it into the charts, including ten in the Top 10. The most commercially successful track was «Swiss Lady» by Pepe Lienhard Band in 1977, which was also the only entry to reach number one in the Swiss singles charts until 2019.Also

very successful was Simone Drexel in 1975 with «Mikado» at number two, followed by DJ BoBo in 2007 with «Vampires are Alive» and Anna Rossinelli in 2011 with «In Love for a While», both in the Top 3. Then, in 2014, Sebalter entered the charts at number six with «Hunter of Stars». This was not surpassed until 2019, when Luca Hänni topped the charts – the first number one hit since 1977. After Gjon’s Tears only just made it into the charts at 100 despite the cancellation of the contest in 2020, his 2021 entry went straight in at number one, but only a week after the contest. At the same time, his previous year’s hit «Répondez moi» re-entered the charts, this time at 42.

Molti brani svizzeri non sono diventati grandi successi commerciali: il titolo vincente «Ne partez pas sans moi» di Céline Dion si è classificato appena undicesimo nella hit parade dei singoli in Svizzera. Nel 1956, all’epoca del brano vincente «Refrain» di Lys Assia, non esisteva ancora una hit parade dei singoli nazionale. Nel complesso soltanto 26 dei 60 brani hanno raggiunto le classifiche e di questi solo dieci sono arrivati nella top 10. Il maggiore successo commerciale lo ha ottenuto nel 1977 il brano «Swiss Lady» della Pepe Lienhard Band, che fino al 2019 è stato anche l’unico a raggiungere il primo posto nella classifica svizzera dei singoli.

Un ottimo riscontro è stato ottenuto anche da Simone Drexel nel 1975 con «Mikado» al secondo posto, seguito da DJ BoBo nel 2007 con «Vampires Are Alive» e Anna Rossinelli nel 2011 con «In Love for a While», entrambi top 3. Nel 2014 Sebalter con «Hunter of Stars» è arrivato sesto nella classifica dei singoli. A scalare di nuovo la cima della classifica ha provveduto Luca Hänni nel 2019, l’unico a raggiungere la prima posizione dal 1977. Mentre il brano del 2020 di Gjon’s Tears è entrato per poco nella classifica al numero 100 nonostante l’annullamento del concorso, la sua canzone del 2021 è balzata direttamente al primo posto, ma solo nella settimana successiva all’Eurovision. Inoltre,  la sua hit dell’anno precedente «Répondez moi» ha fatto nuovamente capolino nelle classifiche, raggiungendo questa volta il 42° posto.

.And now Nemo / Adesso è la volta di Nemo.

On May 11th 2024, Nemo (25) from Biel won the ESC in the final in Malmö, Sweden, representing Switzerland with a great performance. In front of 9000 spectators in the arena and an estimated 150 million viewers worldwide in front of the screens, Nemo prevailed against the opposition and won with the song «The Code». Nemo after the victory: «This victory not only belongs to Switzerland and the Swiss music scene, but it is above all a victory for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. I am so proud to be the first non-binary person to win the ‹ESC›!» 

Nemo came out as non-binary in 2023 and uses the pronouns they/them in English. In 2016, Nemo became an overnight rap sensation in Switzerland when their performance on SRF Virus (#Cypher) went viral on social media.

Nemo won four Swiss Music Awards (SMA) in one night at the age of 18, just a year after taking home the SMA Award «SRF 3 Best Talent».

Nemo’s song «The Code» was written at an ESC Songwriting Camp, organised in 2023 by the collecting society Suisa in collaboration with Pele Loriano Productions. The song was composed by Nemo, Lasse Nyman, Linda Dale and Benjamin Alasu. Nemo’s sister – 22-year-old photographer and creative director, Ella Mettler – was in charge of artistic vision. The song «The Code» combines the musical genres of rap, drum ‘n’ bass, and opera. Nemo says: «‹The Code› is about the journey I went on when I realised I didn’t identify as a man or a woman. The journey to my true self was a long and often difficult one. It’s an incredible honour for me to represent Switzerland at the ESC. The Eurovision platform offers a huge opportunity to build bridges between different cultures and generations. That’s why it’s really important to me as a genderqueer person to stand up for the whole LGBTQIA+ community.»

The performance was staged by Swedish choreographer and theatre director Benke Rydman, who was also responsible for the staging of the Swedish act Mans Zelmerlöw who won the ESC in 2015 with the song «Heroes».

Lo scorso 11 maggio grazie alla sua grande performance, Nemo, il venticinquenne di Bienne che rappresentava la Svizzera all’ESC, è riuscito a imporsi nella grande finale di Malmo, in Svezia. Nemo ha sbaragliato la concorrenza davanti alle 9000 persone presenti nell’arena e a circa 150 milioni di telespettatrici e telespettatori in tutto il mondo di fronte ai loro schermi, aggiudicandosi il primo posto con la canzone «The Code». Nemo dopo la vittoria: «Questa vittoria non appartiene solo alla Svizzera e alla scena musicale svizzera, ma è soprattutto una vittoria per l’intera comunità LGBTQIA+. È un onore essere la prima persona non binaria ad aver vinto l’ESC!»

Nel 2023 Nemo si è dichiarato non-binario e non utilizza quindi alcun pronome in italiano, francese e tedesco. Nemo ha ottenuto una notorietà fulminea come rapper nel 2016, quando la apparizione in SRF Virus (#Cypher) è diventata virale sui social media.

Ad appena 18 anni Nemo ha fatto in una serata incetta di quattro Swiss Music Awards (SMA), dopo avere portato a casa un anno prima il premio SMA come «SRF 3 Best Talent».

La canzone di Nemo «The Code» è stata scritta nel 2023 durante un songwriting camp per l’ESC, organizzato dalla società di gestione Suisa in collaborazione con Pele Loriano Productions. Il brano è stato composto da Nemo, Lasse Nyman, Linda Dale e Benjamin Alasu. La direzione creativa è stata affidata alla sorella di Nemo, la fotografa e direttrice creativa Ella Mettler (22 anni). Il brano «The Code» mescola i generi musicali del rap, drum ‘n’ bass e lirica. Nemo ha dichiarato a proposito del brano: «”The Code” parla di un viaggio che io ho intrapreso con la consapevolezza di non essere né uomo, né donna. La via per arrivare a me è stata un processo lungo e spesso difficile. È un onore incredibile poter rappresentare la Svizzera all’ESC. Il palcoscenico dell’Eurovision Song Contest offre una grandissima opportunità per creare ponti tra culture e generazioni diverse. Per questo ritengo molto importante, come persona genderqueer, difendere la causa di tutta la comunità LGBTQIA+».

La Svizzera sfida gli altri concorrenti nella seconda semifinale del 9 maggio 2024. Il direttore della messa in scena è il coreografo e regista teatrale svedese Benke Rydman, che ha già curato nel 2016 la messa in scena dell’esibizione di Mans Zelmerlöw con «Heroes», la canzone che ha vinto l’ESC 2016.

.The ESC 2025 in Switzerland / L’ESC 2025 in Svizzera.

Thanks to Nemo’s victory, the ESC 2025 will be held in Switzerland. For the SRG SSR it is a great honour and responsibility to organize and host the biggest music event in the world. Preparations already begun on the Sunday after the victory in Malmö. An internal SRG SSR task force immediately began the initial work, in a first step focussing on the challenging process of selecting the implementing city.

For more information on the ESC, see:

In seguito alla vittoria di Nemo, l’ESC 2025 si terrà in Svizzera. Per la SSR è un grande onore e una grande responsabilità poter organizzare il più grande evento musicale del mondo e contribuire direttamente alla sua realizzazione. I preparativi sono già iniziati domenica scorsa, il giorno dopo la vittoria di Nemo a Malmö. Una task force interna della SSR ha iniziato subito i lavori preliminari, concentrandosi innanzitutto sull’impegnativo processo di selezione della città ospitante.

Per saperne di più sull’ESC:

• Switzerland at Eurovision: the colourful hits and misses 

Is this the year? Will Nemo win the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland and break a 36-year drought? In anticipation of victory, here’s a look at some of Switzerland’s highs and less highs at the kaleidoscopic competition.

On Thursday 24-year-old rapper Nemo was chosen to represent Switzerland in the Swedish city of Malmö. Nemo’s entry, The Code, a feisty mixture of rap, drum’n’bass, opera and artcore, has been well received, and British bookmakersExternal link reckon it’s got a chance (at the time of writing Croatia seems the tune to beat).

Whether The Code will convince voters in around 140 countries in the semifinal on May 9 and then, hopefully, the final on May 11 remains to be seen, but we wish Nemo well.

Mind you, it’s probably best not to get your hopes up too high. Apart from when Switzerland won the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in Lugano in 1956 and Céline Dion’s victory for Switzerland in 1988, it’s only been downhill and disappointment. In 1956 Lys Assia won with Refrain and represented Switzerland again in 1957 and 1958. She also submitted songs in 2011 and 2012 (aged 87-88) but the Swiss selectors chose other artists (one judge said her song was like “cruise ship” fodder, triggering a bizarre row).

For the first decade or so, Switzerland welcomed non-Swiss acts, whether it was from neighbouring Germany, France or Italy or from further afield, for example Esther Ofarim from Israel in 1963 and Yovanna from Greece two years later.

It initially appeared that Ofarim had won the competition with her song T’en va pas (Don’t leave), but Norway then (allegedly) changed their votes to give victory to Denmark, who pipped Switzerland by two points. Grr. Not that it prevented Ofarim from going on to have a successful career and, with her husband Abi, scoring a massive international hit, including reaching No 1 in the UK, with Cinderella Rockefella in 1968.

After that came 20 years of Swiss singers and 20 years without success (although Daniela Simmons was runner-up in 1986). This included the Pepe Lienhard Band, who in 1977 headed to London to perform Swiss Lady, a jaunty bit of Schlager – catchy, sentimental pop – which came a creditable sixth and was a big hit in Switzerland. Not bad for a song that started with an alphorn solo.

Despite the title, the lyrics were all in German, complying with a Eurovision demand in place between 1977 and 1999 that a song must be performed in one of the national languages of the country participating. For Switzerland that meant German, French, Italian or Romansh (Switzerland’s sole entry in RomanshExternal link was in 1989).

And then came a 20-year-old girl from Canada. Ne partez pas sans moi, sang Céline Dion live in front of a television audience of 600 million in 1988. Don’t leave without me. The juries in 20 other countries didn’t care whether it was about pleading with a lover or running for a bus, they knew talent when they heard it.

Apart from the jury of historic rival Austria, that is, which gave the Swiss “nul points” (Switzerland returned the favour and Austria finished last). Neighbouring France also felt the Swiss effort was worth only one point. Germany, on the other hand, along with Portugal and Sweden, awarded Switzerland the maximum 12 points. Geopolitics à la Eurovision.

Switzerland sat out the 2001 contest (OK, it was relegated for coming in the bottom six in 2000), and in 2002 returned with Dans le jardin de mon âme (In the garden of my soul) written and performed by Schlager singer Francine Jordi. Even a disappointing 22nd place couldn’t wipe the perma-smile off Jordi’s face. She would go on to have a successful career as a singer and television presenter.

We now enter the Dark Ages for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest, when the country rarely qualified for the finals – and if it did, it usually ended up in the middle of the pack. The Swiss were so keen to do well that in 2007 the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SWI swissinfo.ch’s parent company) chose bona fide dance music star and household name in Switzerland René Baumann, better known as DJ BoBo, to represent the country. “It’s a shame for Swiss taxpayer money from the TV licence fees to go to fund a foreign act, and the people should resist that,” BoBo reckoned.

Hopes were high – BoBo had shifted more than ten million records worldwide – but Vampires Are Aliveflopped, failing to make the final. Even a controversy involving Christians who complained about satanism failed to generate any interest or buzz.

The surprise choices continued in 2013, when a Salvation Army band, featuring 95-year-old Emil Ramsauer on double bass, was named the Swiss entry. Things didn’t start well when they were told they couldn’t compete under the name “Heilsarmee” (German for Salvation Army) or wear their uniformbecause of rules forbidding political and religious content. They thendid a PrinceExternal link and became Takasa (The Artists Known As Salvation Army). Not that it helped – they too failed to qualify for the final. Ramsauer, still the oldest Eurovision participant, died in 2021 aged 103.

The disappointments continued until 2019, when telegenic bricklayer-turned-pop singer Luca Hänni, who had won the German version of Pop Idol in 2012, came fourth with She Got Me. It was Switzerland’s first top-five finish since 1993.

Gjon Muharremaj, known professionally as Gjon’s Tears, then went one better at the next contest in 2021 (Covid-19 put the kibosh on 2020) with Répondez-moi (Answer me).

Nemo will be following Remo Forrer, whose Watergun, a power ballad about conflicts and feeling powerless, failed to trouble the scoreboard in Liverpool last year. Ukraine had actually won the previous year but was unable to host the event for obvious reasons. It seems that Forrer, a fine singer, went for serious politics at a time when people possibly wanted a bit of flamboyance and escapism. If that is still the case, things could be looking good for Nemo.

• La Svizzera all’Eurovision Song Contest e i suoi variopinti alti e bassi.

È l’anno buono? Nemo vincerà l’Eurovision Song Contest per la Svizzera interrompendo una desolante sequela di sconfitte durata 36 anni? In attesa di una vittoria, una panoramica degli alti e bassi elvetici in questa caleidoscopica competizione.

A fine febbraio, il rapper svizzero Nemo è stato scelto per rappresentare la Svizzera nella città svedese di Malmö. La sua canzone, The Code, un esuberante mix di rap, drum’n’bass, opera lirica e artcore, è stata ben accolta, al punto che il 24enne è balzato in testa ai pronostici come vincitore della gara.

Resta da vedere se The Code saprà convincere il pubblico che voterà da circa 140 Paesi durante la semifinale il 9 maggio e poi, si spera, durante la finale l’11, ma gli facciamo gli auguri.

Attenzione, comunque. È meglio non farsi troppe illusioni. Parte del problema è che la Svizzera nel 1956 vinse la prima edizione dell’Eurovision Song Contest, giocata in casa, a Lugano, e da allora è riuscita a inanellare solo una serie quasi ininterrotta di delusioni.

Lys Assia vinse con Refrain e rappresentò la Confederazione anche nel 1957 e 1958. Partecipò alla selezione nazionale anche nel 2011 e nel 2012 (all’età di 87-88 anni), ma la giuria svizzera preferì altri artisti (un giudice paragonò la sua canzone a materiale da “nave da crociera”, innescando una peculiare polemica).

Per il primo decennio circa, la Svizzera accolse anche artisti non elvetici, da Germania, Francia e Italia, o da più lontano, Esther Ofarim, da Israele nel 1963, e Yovanna, dalla Grecia, due anni dopo.

Inizialmente, sembrò che Ofarim avesse vinto la competizione con la canzone T’en va pas  (Non andartene), ma si dice che la Norvegia abbia cambiato i propri voti regalando la vittoria alla Danimarca, che superò la Svizzera per due punti. Grrrr.

La vicenda non intaccò la brillante carriera di Ofarim che, con il marito Abi, raggiunse comunque un grande successo internazionale, ad esempio con Cindarella Rockefella che nel 1968 salì in testa alle classifiche nel Regno Unito.  

Iniziò poi un ventennio di cantanti con passaporto svizzero e di insuccessi (anche se Daniela Simmons raggiunse la seconda posizione nel 1986). Tra loro si conta la Pepe Lienhard Band, che nel 1977 presentò a Londra Swiss Lady, un pimpante tormentone orecchiabile di pop sentimentale che ottenne una discreta sesta posizione e fu una hit in Svizzera. Non male per una canzone che inizia con un assolo di corno delle Alpi.

Nonostante il titolo, la canzone era in tedesco, in osservanza a una richiesta dell’Eurovision in vigore dal 1977 al 1999 che obbligava a presentare un’esibizione in una delle lingue nazionali del Paese partecipante. Per la Svizzera significava tedesco, francese, italiano o romancio (l’unica canzone in romancioCollegamento esterno presentata dalla Svizzera, Viver senza tei, risale al 1989).

Poi arrivò dal Canada una 20enne. Ne partez pas sans moi, cantava Céline Dion in diretta davanti al pubblico televisivo di 600 milioni di persone nel 1988. “Non partire senza di me”. Alle giurie degli altri 20 Paesi non importava se parlasse a un amante o all’autista di un bus, sapevano riconoscere il talento quando lo sentivano. Con l’eccezione della storica rivale della Svizzera, l’Austria, che diede alla canzone presentata dalla Confederazione “nul points” (la Svizzera ricambiò il favore facendo finire il Paese vicino in ultima posizione).

Anche la Francia non salutò positivamente lo sforzo elvetico e diede a Dion un solo punto. La Germania, invece, assieme a Portogallo e Svezia, premiarono la Svizzera con il massimo dei punti, 12. Geopolitica all’Eurovision.

La Svizzera decise di non partecipare all’edizione 2001 (Ok, fu retrocessa per essere finita negli ultimi sei nel 2000) e nel 2002 ritornò con Dans le jardin de mon âme (Nel giardino della mia anima) scritta e interpretata dalla cantante pop Francine Jordi. Anche un deludente 22esimo posto non riuscì a scalfire il sorriso permanente dal volto di Jordi che ebbe una carriera di successo come cantante e presentatrice televisiva.

Entriamo ora nell’epoca oscura della Svizzera all’Eurovision Song Contest, quando il Paese si classificò raramente per la finale – e, se ci riusciva, terminava il concorso a metà classifica. La Confederazione aveva tutte le intenzioni di far bene nel 2007 e la Società svizzera di radiotelevisione (di cui fa parte anche SWI swissinfo.ch) scelse la star elvetica della dance René Baumann, meglio conosciuto come DJ Bobo (che raggiunse il successo internazionale con brani del calibro di Chihuahua). “È un peccato che gli svizzeri che pagano il canone finanzino un’esibizione straniera. La gente dovrebbe opporsi”, disse DJ Bobo.

Le aspettative erano alte – DJ Bobo, dopotutto, aveva venduto milioni di dischi a livello globale – ma Vampires are alive (I vampiri sono vivi) non arrivò neppure in finale. Quell’anno l’intera gara si tinse di note più inquietanti, molto probabilmente a causa della vittoria l’anno precedente della band finlandese Lordi, i cui membri, vestiti da mostri diabolici, avevano sbaragliato la concorrenza “politically correct” con la loro Hard Rock Hallelujah.

If we all give a little (Se tutti donassimo un po’) della band svizzera six4one, creata a tavolino quell’edizione 2006, non ebbe alcuna chance contro i finlandesi.

L’anno seguente, neppure una polemica attorno a critiche di satanismo da parte degli ambienti cristiani riuscì a creare il “buzz” sufficiente per aiutare DJ Bobo.

Le scelte sorprendenti proseguirono nel 2013, quando una band dell’Esercito della salvezza, con la partecipazione del 95enne Emil Ramsauer al contrabbasso, fu nominata concorrente per la Svizzera. Le cose non iniziarono con il piede giusto, in quanto non poterono competere con il nome “Heilsarmee” (tedesco per “Esercito della salvezza”) o salire sul parco in uniforme, a causa del divieto di portare in scena contenuti politici o religiosi. Fecero quindi come Prince e divennero “Takasa” (acronimo di “The Artist Known As Salvation Army”, L’artista noto come Esercito della salvezza).

Comunque, non aiutò, e anche loro non accedettero alla finale. Ramsauer, ad oggi ancora il più vecchio partecipante di sempre all’Eurosong, morì nel 2021, a 103 anni.

Le delusioni proseguirono fino al 2019, quando il telegenico muratore divenuto pop-star Luca Hänni, che nel 2012 aveva vinto la versione tedesca del format “Pop Idol”, si classificò quarto. Era dal 1993 che la Svizzera non raggiungeva la top-5.

Gjon Muharremaj, alias Gjon’s Tears, fece meglio nel 2021 (il Covid fermò la competizione nel 2020) con Répondez-moi (Rispondimi) finendo sul terzo gradino del podio.

Il partecipante di quest’anno, Nemo, succede a Remo Forrer, la cui Watergun (Pistola ad acqua), una power ballad che parla di conflitti e senso di impotenza, non riuscì a scalare la classifica nel 2023 a Liverpool.

A vincere fu l’Ucraina che, per ovvie ragioni, non può ospitare quest’anno l’evento. Forrer scelse un tema serio in un momento in cui, forse, la gente aveva più voglia di evadere dalla realtà. Se sarà così anche quest’anno, le cose potrebbero mettersi bene per Nemo.