Following the announcement that Eurovision would be held in Basel in 2025, fans of the greatest music competition on Earth have been eagerly waiting for tickets to be released. Now, officials have confirmed the exact dates for the event, when tickets will be available and how much they will cost.

Switzerland to host its third Eurovision Song Contest

In the early hours of May 12, 2024, Nemo became just the third artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland with their hit song The Code. The singer from Biel / Bienne was propelled to victory by winning 365 points from the jury and 226 points from voters, securing the win ahead of Croatia and Ukraine.

With the victory, the alpine nation is now set to host its third Eurovision, having held the inaugural contest in Lugano in 1956 and the 1989 competition in Lausanne. For the latter, Switzerland won the 1988 contest thanks to a song performed by none other than Celine Dion. 

On August 30, the St. Jakobshalle in Basel was chosen as the venue, beating out rival bids from Geneva, Zurich and Bern. With a referendum against hosting the competition being resoundingly defeated in November, the city is now cleared to host the event. "My hope is that we can show the world that Basel is a beautiful city,” local cantonal councillor Conradin Cramer (FDP) told 20 Minuten.

What you need to know about ESC 2025 in Basel

With this in mind, here’s all you need to know about the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Basel, when it will be held and how to get tickets.

Dates for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision in Basel will be held between May 13 and May 17, 2025. Two semi-finals on May 13 and 15 will precede the grand final on May 17. As it stands, 38 different countries will attend the competition.

The theme of the 2025 event is “Welcome Home”, a reference to the fact that the first Eurovision Song Contest was held in Switzerland. In terms of content, organisers said they want to infuse modern music like techno with Swiss traditions like alphorns and yodelling, as part of what they called “unity shapes love”.

How to get tickets for Eurovision in Basel

If you want to be in the stands cheering on your home nation or your favourite act, tickets for Eurovision 2025 will go on sale on January 29, 2025. However, in order to secure tickets, you have to register with Ticketcorner by January 10.

Those who are registered will be given special access to the booking portal, which will go live on January 29. If you are unable to get a ticket in this first wave, the ESC is planning two and possibly three rounds of extra tickets, the dates for which will be announced at a later date.

How much will an ESC ticket cost?

By Swiss standards, Eurovision tickets for 2025 are relatively cheap, coming in at between 40 to 350 Swiss francs. For reference, a ticket for the 2024 grand final in Malmö costs 450 francs.

The 40-franc tickets will grant visitors entry to the so-called “afternoon shows.” These are the dress rehearsals for the semi-finals and final, and are identical to the live events minus the voting. Tickets for the live semi-finals will be more expensive, while tickets to the final will cost the full 350 francs.

What events are being planned in Basel during Eurovision?

Even if you are unable to get a ticket, officials in Basel promised that the heart of the city will be transformed into Eurovision heaven. "We want to show that we have short distances in Basel; many international guests are perhaps not used to being able to reach everything on foot. We want to create an ESC feeling when you walk from place to place," Cramer noted.

Between Basel SBB and Basel Badischer Bahnhof, the local council will create an “ESC Boulevard” full to the brim with live performances and activities. Eurovision Square will be set up on Barfüsserplatz, sporting live performances by acts from Switzerland and beyond. Various live screenings of the competition will also be held outside.

SBB to put on extra trains to and from Basel

In terms of getting to Eurovision in Basel, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is planning to put on an extra 85 trains during the week, to make sure travellers from Swiss cities and beyond can make the shows on time.

Cramer added that for those lucky enough to live in or have purchased a hotel room in Basel, public transport, walking and cycling should be the options of choice. Finally, for those who aren't fans of the musical carnival, he assured that "anyone who doesn't want to have anything to do with the ESC should be able to avoid the event." 

Eurovision 2025 in Basel explained

Want to register for tickets for Eurovision 2025 in Basel? Check out the official website.

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