The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland, following the nation’s victory at the 2024 competition in Malmö. While cities including Plovdiv and Varna were mentioned in various discussions regarding potential interest, neither city was formally shortlisted or selected to host the event, which remains under the strict organizational control of the EBU and its Swiss member broadcaster, SRG SSR.
Selection Process for the 2025 Host City
The EBU and Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR officially announced on August 30, 2024, that Basel had been selected to host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest. The decision followed a competitive bidding process where cities were required to meet stringent infrastructure, security, and financial criteria.
According to the official EBU announcement, the St. Jakobshalle in Basel was chosen for its capacity to accommodate the technical demands of the broadcast and its proximity to international transport hubs. Geneva was the final runner-up in the selection process. While local interest in hosting large-scale international events often surfaces in various European cities, the Eurovision Song Contest is exclusively open to bids from cities within the winning country—in this case, Switzerland—that hold membership in the EBU.
Why Basel Was Chosen
The selection of Basel centered on three primary factors: venue capacity, financial guarantees, and logistics.
- Venue Infrastructure: The St. Jakobshalle offers the necessary floor space and height clearance for the elaborate stage designs typical of Eurovision productions.
- Logistics and Accommodation: Basel’s location at the intersection of Switzerland, France, and Germany provides extensive hotel capacity and rail connectivity, which are essential for the thousands of delegates, journalists, and fans who attend the event.
- Host Broadcaster Requirements: SRG SSR required a city that could provide significant financial support and local municipal infrastructure, as the host city is expected to contribute to the costs of staging the event, which are estimated in the millions of euros.
Eurovision Host City Requirements
Host cities must adhere to a detailed set of regulations set by the EBU. These include:
- Venue Availability: The venue must be available for at least six weeks prior to the event for stage construction and rehearsals.
- Airport Connectivity: The city must have an international airport with sufficient capacity to handle the influx of international delegations.
- Media Facilities: The host must provide a dedicated press center capable of hosting over 1,000 journalists and media personnel.
- Financial Commitment: The host city must provide a substantial financial contribution to the production budget, often supplemented by regional or cantonal government support.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Can any city bid to host Eurovision?
No. Only cities within the country that won the previous year’s contest are eligible to bid.
What is the role of the EBU in host selection?
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) oversees the entire process, evaluating bids against technical, financial, and logistical criteria to ensure the contest can be broadcast globally without technical failure.
Who funds the Eurovision Song Contest?
Funding is a mix of participation fees from all competing broadcasters, commercial sponsorship, and the financial contribution provided by the host country’s public broadcaster and the host city itself.
Worth a look