Basel prepares for Eurovision extravaganza

Preparations in Basel are in full swing to get the traditional Eurovision Village for candidates and delegations – for a first time completely indoors – ready for 10 May. Eurovision hopefuls will thus be housed in Hall 1 of the Basel convention district, one of the biggest in Europe with over 141,000m² of exhibition surface.

From 11–17 May, the programme includes daily live shows and public screenings, with the main one held in Arena Plus on the day of the final, and viewers can further expect numerous Eurovision-centred activities, food, and drink all around.

St. Jakobshalle 

This 20,000-square-metre hall is the location of the main event. One of the most advanced multifunctional event spaces in Europe, the St. Jakobshalle has hosted large-scale events for over 45 years and was completely renovated and remodelled seven years ago.

Arena Plus

Arena Plus will allow up to 36,000 fans to follow the Eurovision final together via public screening. A spectacular pre-show with national and international artists, as well as former Eurovision stars is planned. The site also houses numerous shopping centres and restaurants, so viewers should have plenty to do on the big day.

EuroClub & Café

EuroClub & Café will host daily after parties at 11pm from 11–17 May. It should be noted that tickets for these parties are limited, so follow updates on eurovision.tv to catch the opening of sales.

© Image by  Envato Symbolbild

Further events and locations of interest

Local and regional acts are meanwhile scheduled to perform daily on an open air stage, called Eurovision Square, in the Basel city centre. Entry is free, and performances will include acts from Switzerland, Germany, and France.

The 'Steinenvorstadt' suburb will be home to the Eurovision Street, which will give a chance to street musicians to perform in front of a fully decorated background. Local businesses are also invited to participate in the Eurovision-centre offer.

Finally, Eurovision Boulevard is set to connect two major train stations – 'Gare Basel SBB' and 'Basel Badischer Bahnhof' – and also prominently feature Eurovision in its temporary makeover.

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