Laura Thorn qui représente le Luxembourg avec la chanson "La Poupée Monte Le Son" marche sur le tapis turquoise à côté de l'hôtel de ville pendant la cérémonie d'ouverture du Concours Eurovision de la chanson 2025 à Bâle / © AFP
The Eurovision Song Contest took over the streets of Basel on Sunday with a sun-drenched parade – accompanied by protests against Israel’s participation – kicking off a week of celebrations leading up to the grand final.
The city of Basel, nestled in the heart of the Rhine region at the crossroads of Germany and France, is going all out as it hosts the 69th edition of the world’s biggest live televised music event, watched by nearly 160 million viewers.
Luxembourg’s entry, Laura Thorn, made a striking impression at the opening ceremony in Switzerland, appearing with her dancers carrying a life-sized doll as part of her performance.
While the party atmosphere is dominated by euphoric Europop, elaborate staging, and rousing choruses, geopolitical tensions are never far away. A protest took place against Israel’s participation, amid intensifying conflict in Gaza.
As the parade began in front of Basel’s 500-year-old Town Hall, around a dozen Palestinian flags were seen in the crowd. One was raised above a rainbow flag, next to a banner demanding that Israel open Gaza’s borders and allow humanitarian aid to enter.
Basel at the heart of Europe
Eurovision’s signature flamboyance was on full display, with glittering costumes and bold looks from the contestants representing 37 countries. Switzerland, where the very first Eurovision took place in 1956, is now hosting the contest for the third time, having last done so in 1989.
Conradin Cramer, the President of the canton of Basel-Stadt, welcomed the event with enthusiasm, describing it as a long-anticipated moment that had finally arrived. He said the stage was ready, excitement was in the air, and the entire city was buzzing with an energy unlike any other.
With a hint of humour, he joked that Eurovision ranks among Switzerland’s greatest inventions, right up there with the pocket knife, the zip, and bircher muesli. He also highlighted Basel’s central location in Europe, calling it the perfect place to bring people together through music, before officially opening the 2025 edition.
Festivities and demonstrations
Vintage trams and buses transported the artists along the “turquoise carpet” – the longest in Eurovision history at 1.3 kilometres. Eurovision fans lined the route, soaking up the sunny, celebratory atmosphere.
The parade featured drummers, carnival groups, brass bands, alpine horn players, and techno DJs. The procession crossed the Rhine via the Middle Bridge and ended at the Eurovision Village fan zone.
Controversy over Israeli participation
This year’s Israeli representative is 24-year-old Yuval Raphael, who survived the Hamas attack at a music festival on 7 October 2023 by hiding among the bodies of the dead. The attack, which killed hundreds, sparked the current war in Gaza. Raphael expressed hope that her song, “New Day Will Rise”, would convey a message of healing and solidarity. As she left Basel’s Town Hall, she greeted the crowd, blew kisses, and posed with the Israeli flag for photographers.
Palestinian flags were also visible along the route. At one point, a protester carrying a flag entered the parade route but was quickly restrained by police. One demonstrator held a placard reading, “No applause for genocide”, while another’s sign declared, “We sing while Gaza burns”.
Switzerland is hosting the contest this year following the victory of Swiss artist Nemo at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö with “The Code”, a deeply personal song about discovering their non-binary gender identity. Nemo, too, has joined calls for Israel to be excluded from the competition. Speaking to The Huffington Post, the artist expressed support for the campaign and argued that Israel’s actions fundamentally contradict the values Eurovision stands for: peace, unity, and human rights.
Sweden and Austria lead the pack
Tuesday and Thursday’s semi-finals will see 11 countries eliminated, with 26 nations competing in Saturday’s grand final.
Sweden is the current favourite, with the band KAJ offering a humorous song celebrating the joys of sauna culture, set to accordion riffs and a catchy chorus. Austria’s JJ is close behind with “Wasted Love”, a moody track in the spirit of “The Code” blending classical vocals with modern beats.
According to bookmakers, France, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland are also strong contenders.
