Basel and Geneva: Finalists for Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Host City

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Basel and Geneva have been selected as the two finalist cities in SRG’s ongoing process to determine the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland in May 2025. The final decision will be made public in late August.

Selection Process Details

Cities had until the end of June to submit their bids to SRG, based on a comprehensive set of requirements. The evaluation focused on:

  • Arena concept
  • Public transport links
  • Sustainability
  • Available hotel accommodation
  • Security and waste disposal plans
  • Investment
  • Event experience
  • Citywide support and enthusiasm

Thorough Assessment

Proposals from Basel, Geneva, Zurich, and Berne/Biel were carefully examined by an ESC core team working group. The review included both quantitative and qualitative factors, as well as the cities’ commitment and innovative ideas to ensure ESC 2025 is a standout event.

The review process was overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Following the recommendation of the core team, the ESC 2025 Steering Committee, led by SRG Director General Gilles Marchand, chose Basel and Geneva as the leading candidates.

Significant Investment – Economic Opportunities

Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler, co-executive producers of ESC 2025, personally informed the finalist cities of their status and outlined the next steps. The project team remains available to assist Zurich and Berne/Biel with any planned Eurovision-related activities, such as public viewings.

Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest is a major investment but promises substantial economic benefits. According to a study by the University of Liverpool, the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 brought an economic boost of EUR 62 million to Liverpool. In May 2023, 175,000 hotel rooms were booked in the city, and 600 jobs were created over the year.

Celebrating Diversity and Unity

The Eurovision Song Contest in May 2025 aims to be a grand celebration for the host city and an event that promotes diversity, music, and culture. It seeks to unite people and foster a sense of community.

Stay updated with Eurovisionfun for all the latest news on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: SRG-SSR

Serbia: Songs submission for Eurovision 2025 begins!

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The country’s national broadcaster, RTS, is starting the process of selecting the entry that will represent Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

“Pesma za Evroviziju 2025” according to the commentary of the state television will again be the place where Serbia will watch, admire and choose the best songs from the world of the most popular music of the country. The process for the entries submission will be open until November 1, 2024.

From the submitted entries, the RTS Selection Committee will select the compositions based solely on their artistic quality. If no entry meets the required musical quality, RTS has the right to independently select the entry.

The selection of the entry that will represent Serbia and RTS in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be made by a special jury consisting of prominent musicians and creators and the public, according to the Eurovision 50% – 50% principle.

Applications for the competition must be submitted by November 1, 2024 through the below link

https://www.rts.rs/page/rts/ci/eurosong-prijava.html

Source: RTS

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Israel: The artist for Eurovision 2025 will be selected through Hakokhav Haba!

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Israel’s public television (KAN) continues the successful recipe of Hakokhav Haba (The Rising Star), the talent show through which it basically chooses the artist to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest. Read more

Εurovision 2025: The two potential host-cities will be anounced this Friday

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The Swiss newspaper “Blick” reports that the SSR-SRG will select tomorrow evening the possible cities that will host Eurovision 2025, reducing the number of candidate cities from four to two. The official announcement on the selected cities will be made on Friday 19 July.

A total of four cities are bidding to host the upcoming 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich, Bern (together with Bienne) and Basel. Geneva and Zurich are the frontrunners and favourites to advance to the next stage of the race to host Eurovision 2025. Both Geneva and Zurich are bidding to host the event with strong bids and significant financial contributions.

A steering committee overseen by the business firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers will determine the city that will host Eurovision 2025. This committee, headed by Gilles Marchand (CEO of SRG), will meet tomorrow Thursday 18 July and will come up with two candidate cities.

The Eurovision 2025 committee is composed of the following members:

  • Gilles Marchand (SRG Director General)
  • Nathalie Wappler (SRF Director)
  • Mario Timbal ( RSI Director)
  • Beat Grossenbacher  ( SRG Chief Financial Officer)
  • Bakel Walden (SRG Director of Development & Services /Eurovision Reference Group Chairman)

The city that will host Eurovision 2025 is expected to be revealed at the end of August.

Switzerland will host the Eurovision Song Contest following Nemo‘s victory with his song “The code” at Eurovision 2024. This will be the third time in the history of the contest that Switzerland has hosted the contest as it has been the host country in 1956 and 1989.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: ESC Kombakt

The Netherlands: Anouk wants to return on the Eurovision stage!

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The Dutch singer Anouk wants to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest, once again, next year. During her apperance at the North Sea Jazz last Saturday, she mentioned that she has a perfect track for the Eurovision Song Contest.

In her statement she mentioned:

“I have recorded a strong track… perfect for the Eurovision Song Contest, but there’s no committee anymore, so I don’t know who to send it to.”

The singer has already taken part in Eurovision once in 2013. With the song “Birds” she managed to bring the Netherlands back to the final after 8 consecutive years of non-qualifications.

However, the participation of the Netherlands in Eurovision 2025 still remains uncertain due to the disqualification of this year’s representative Joost Klein a few hours before the Eurovision 2024 final.

Would you like to see Anouk again on the Eurovision stage? Let us know your thought in the comments below.

Source: songfestival.be

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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Cyprus: Many potential representatives | RIK has started its search for Eurovision 2025!

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Cyprus is one of the countries that traditionally begins its preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest early and this year is no exception. There are many artists that have already expressed their wish, either publicly or cladestinely, to represent the nation in the upcoming Contest in Switzerland and RIK, the Cypriot broadcaster has set off the process.

Many potential candidates for the representation

A plethora of renowned and less known artists have stated their interest in representing Cyprus at Eurovision 2025.

A singer who has turned the public interest on her several times in the past regarding Eurovision and the possibility of going there, is Josephine. Besides, Eurovision is a topic that she has been discussing a lot with her label and she would love to go up to the Eurovision stage next year, waving either the greek or the cypriot flag.

Another artist who has already submitted his musical proposal to RIK for Eurovision 2025, is Biased Beast, also known as Christophoros Ilias. He has studied music and theater in New York and through his social media presence, he has made his wish to participate at Eurovision very clear.

An artist who has some Eurovision experience is Sophia Patsalides. She represented Cyprus at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 and she recently posted a cover of “Mon Amour” in Greek, being praised for her vocal abilities.

Lastly, Feidias is an artist who has appeared in several greek talent shows and is assigned to one of the biggest record companies in Greece. He mentions that his biggest goal is to sing at the Eurovision stage on behalf of Cyprus in every interview he gives out.

Of course, there are several other artists who may have not expressed their interest publicly, but they may have negotiated with the public broadcaster privately.

 

The next representative will be based in Cyprus

RIK’s team whose duties revolve around Eurovision has proved all these years that they organise their participation meticulously and plan ahead the details.

According to our exclusive information, RIK’s decision for Eurovision 2025 is to choose an artist who is based in Cyprus. After 2 years of selecting artists who are a part of Cypriot diaspora, this year their aim to give the opportunity for a native talent to shine. How will the next representative be chosen though?

Important people from the music industry and Eurovision “experts” are taking part in a focus group, which will act advisorily and will narrow down the possible candidates that the national broadcaster will choose based on the following criteria:

  • To be able to manage the demanding Eurovision stage
  • To be based in Cyprus

If everything goes according to plan, the name of the Cypriot representative will go public in the beginning of autumn. The ultimate goal is to have a song and a stage presence that will make all cypriot people proud.

Despite being one the smallest participating countries, Cyprus has managed in the last ten years to achieve dignified results, especially taking into account that countries that are bigger than Cyprus have qualified to the Grand Final fewer times.

Cyprus was represented this year by 17-year-old Silia Kapsis with “Liar” and managed to end up 15th at the Grand Final.

https://youtu.be/c4wMioZXbMk?si=tAuhG4ZWCTYlmgq_

Who would you like to see waving the cypriot flag next May in Switzerland? Tell us in the comments!

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the upcoming news!

Switzerland: Calls for referendums against hosting Eurovision 2025!

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The Federal Democratic Union (UDF) is challenging the funding allocated for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 organization. The party has announced the launch of referendums, with the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers, closely aligned with the Swiss People’s Party (UDC), primarily targeting Zurich’s candidacy.

The ultra-conservative evangelical party UDF criticizes the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) for evolving into an event with “increasingly anti-Semitic incidents” and “more satanic and occultist contributions.” They cite protests in Malmö, Sweden, against Israel’s participation in the last ESC due to the Gaza war as an example.

According to the UDF, such manifestations predict a high-security risk for the ESC in Switzerland next May. The party aims to coordinate the collection of signatures against the funds allocated for the potential hosting cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern/Bienne.

Referendums Planned in Zurich and Bern

On Tuesday, UDF sections in the city and canton of Zurich decided to launch a referendum against the city’s 20 million francs funding framework, approved last Wednesday by the legislature. This money is intended to co-finance the event if Zurich is chosen as the host city for the ESC. The cantonal parliament also approved a 5 million francs credit on Monday.

Last Wednesday, the UDF sections in Bern decided to initiate a referendum against the credits for the joint candidacy of Bern and Bienne. In Bern, UDC and Alternative Green politicians have already submitted a referendum text. At the cantonal level, the UDC and UDF will call for a referendum if the nearly 30 million francs credit is approved by the Grand Council.

“The canton of Bern still has significant debt and some of the highest taxes in Switzerland. In this context, we want strict financial policies,” stated UDC National Councillor Manfred Bühler on Tuesday evening in Forum. He affirmed that the UDC Bern‘s opposition is motivated purely by financial concerns, not socio-cultural conservatism.

However, Cyprien Louis, co-president of the Bern Greens, countered that “the economic, visual, and audiovisual benefits that such an event can bring to the region” should also be considered.

UDF Geneva Supports the Contest

The UDF is also targeting the funding for the Geneva and Basel candidacies. In these cities, the funds have yet to be voted on by their respective parliaments.

However, in Geneva, even the UDF is enthusiastic about the potential of hosting the Eurovision. “The UDF Geneva is excited about the local economic benefits of such an event, whether cultural or sports-related. We regret the disappearance of events like the Geneva Motor Show, which hinders the local economy,” explained Lionel Dugerdil, president of UDF Geneva, in the 12h30 program.

Meanwhile, the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers is focusing on opposing Zurich’s candidacy. The federation questioned why Zurich taxpayers should co-finance the ESC, calling it “a private event,” and is set to decide on launching a referendum against the city’s funding on Wednesday.

By the end of August, the SSR will choose the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest in consultation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Potential referendums will be possible only afterward.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: RTS

Spain: The dates of Benidorm Fest 2025 | A significant change!

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Preparations for Eurovision 2025 have already begun in Spain, as today a press conference for the upcoming edition of Benidorm Fest took place.

The Benidorm Fest 2025 dates were announced at the press conference. In particular, the planning for all Benidorm Fest’s shows will be as following:

  • First Semi-Final: January 28, 2025
  • Second Semi-Final: January 30, 2025
  • Grand Final: February 1, 2025

A significant change coming to Benidorm Fest 2025

In contrast to previous Benidorm Fest editions, the specific outcomes of the semifinals will not be made public during the show. Rather, no additional information will be released other than the names of the finalists, until Benidorm Fest is concluded.

Submissions for Benidorm Fest 2025

The submission window has been open for more than one month and will remain open until October 10.

Spain: Submission window for Benidorm Fest 2025 opens today!

When the submissions are completed, a jury panel from RTVE, will assess and select 16 songs to participate in the festival and six more reserve entries.

The previous winners of Benidorm Fest and Spain’s representatives in Eurovision 2024 were Nebulossa, with their songs “Zorra” and ended up in 22nd place of the Final.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: eurovision-spain

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Court orders sale of BHRT real estate to repay debts to EBU

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A Sarajevo court orders Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Television (BHRT) to sell its real estate to pay off a debt to the EBU.

The divestment of BHRT’s large real estate is ordered by a court decision in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BHRT owes the EBU just over 8 million Euros. Because of this debt, the country’s public television has not had access to the EBU’s services since 2018 and, of course, cannot take part in the Eurovision song contest either.

BHRT owns nine properties, worth 82 million Euros. The sale of the property ordered by the court order is set for September 24. The decision has been appealed.

If BHRT repays its debt to the EBU, it opens the way for its return to the Eurovision Song Contest.

Bosnia and Herzegovina debuted in the contest in 1993 and since then has participated 19 times, with their last appearance being in 2016. Their best finish is third, at Eurovision 2006 in Athens, when they came third with Lejla .

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Eurovoix

Edward af Sillen: What does the Turkish plalyer’s suspension in EURO remind me…?

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Through a post in his personal account in X, Edward af Sillen, the scriptwriter for the previous three contests in Sweden (2013, 2016 & 2024), parallels the two cases of a contestant’s suspension, in Eurovision 2024 and in Euro, wanting to make clear, that non-compliance with the regulations, causes punishments.

Wanting to comment on the Turkish football player’s, Merih Demiral, suspension from the two following games, he made the following post:

In Türkiye’s last game against Austria in the phase of 16, Merih Demiral, celebrated their win by making the sign of the Gray Wolves, a far-right fascist organisation. The punishment from UEFA, was immediate. The Turkish player was suspended from the following two games, which means that he won’t lose the rest of the EURO 2024.

The case of Merih Demiral’s suspension is indirectly but clearly paralleled by Edward af Sillen with that of Joost Klein’s disqualification from the Eurovision 2024 final, after his violation of EBU regulations. We remind you that Joost Klein was excluded from the final of the Contest after the complaints, by a production worker, for violence against her.

The EBU stated in its recent statement on everything that happened during Eurovision 2024, that the simplification of the rules and everyone keeping up with the regulations (members of delegations, artists, fans) is of crucial importance for the smooth running of the contest in the future.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, in Switzerland!