What Time Is Eurovision 2025 – Schedule, Dates and Venue
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 convened in Basel, Switzerland, with all major broadcasts commencing at 21:00 CEST across three evenings in May. The 69th edition of the competition brought together 37 national delegations at St. Jakobshalle for semi-finals on 13 and 15 May, culminating in the Grand Final on 17 May.
Viewers across Europe and beyond synchronized their schedules to Central European Summer Time as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) maintained a consistent start time for each live show. Host broadcaster SRG SSR coordinated the technical production from the 12,000-capacity venue in Münchenstein, ensuring simultaneous transmission to participating networks worldwide.
Swiss hosting duties followed Nemo’s victory in Malmö the previous year with “The Code,” marking Switzerland’s third time staging the competition. The 2025 event adhered to the traditional Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday format established in recent decades.
What Time Does Eurovision 2025 Start?
- Universal Start Time: All three main shows began at 21:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time), equivalent to 20:00 BST in the United Kingdom.
- Semi-Final Schedule: Semi-final 1 aired Tuesday 13 May; Semi-final 2 followed on Thursday 15 May, with 15 and 16 participating countries respectively.
- Grand Final Timing: The concluding broadcast commenced Saturday 17 May at 21:00 CEST, featuring 26 competing acts.
- Pre-Event Programme: The Turquoise Carpet event opened Eurovision week on 11 May 2025, proceeding from Basel Town Hall through Middle Bridge to Messe Basel.
- Participation Scale: 37 countries participated in total, with 31 nations competing across the two semi-finals.
- Host Presentation: Comedians Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer hosted the semi-finals, with television presenter Michelle Hunziker joining for the Grand Final.
- Advance Allocation: The semi-final allocation draw determined performance halves on 28 January 2025 at 12:30 CET in Basel.
| Show | Date | Start Time (CEST) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final Allocation Draw | 28 January 2025 | 12:30 CET | ~1 hour |
| Turquoise Carpet | 11 May 2025 | Afternoon | ~3 hours |
| Semi-final 1 | 13 May 2025 | 21:00 CEST | ~2.5 hours |
| Semi-final 2 | 15 May 2025 | 21:00 CEST | ~2.5 hours |
| Grand Final | 17 May 2025 | 21:00 CEST | ~4 hours |
| Arena Plus Screening | 17 May 2025 | 21:00 CEST | Concurrent with Final |
When Are the Eurovision 2025 Dates?
Semi-Finals Scheduling
The competition structure mandated two semi-final broadcasts to filter the 31 competing nations down to 20 Grand Final qualifiers. Semi-final 1 on 13 May featured 15 countries vying for 10 advancement slots, while Semi-final 2 on 15 May hosted 16 delegations for the remaining 10 positions. Both contests adhered to the 21:00 CEST commencement time, with running orders partially determined by draw and partially by producer discretion to ensure balanced pacing.
Grand Final Date
Saturday 17 May 2025 marked the culminating broadcast, assembling 26 participants: the 20 semi-final qualifiers plus the pre-qualified “Big Five” nations (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and host Switzerland. The Grand Final running order was finalised by producers following the second semi-final, incorporating random draw positions for half the entries and strategic placement for the remainder.
For viewers outside Central Europe, 21:00 CEST converts to 20:00 BST (London), 15:00 EDT (New York), and 12:00 PDT (Los Angeles). The EBU confirms that all participating broadcasters received the identical satellite feed simultaneously.
Where Is Eurovision 2025 Being Held?
Venue Specifications
St. Jakobshalle, located in Münchenstein near the Basel-Stadt border, provided the primary competition infrastructure with approximately 12,000 spectator capacity. The multi-purpose arena underwent extensive technical modifications to accommodate the elaborate staging requirements, including dynamic LED platforms and augmented reality capabilities. Secondary programming occurred at St. Jakob-Park stadium, which screened the Grand Final under the “Arena Plus” banner with live musical performances.
Host City Infrastructure
Basel’s selection followed Nemo’s 2024 triumph, fulfilling the EBU’s tradition of awarding hosting rights to the winning nation. The city’s location at the Swiss-German-French border facilitated international attendee access, with the eurovision-basel.ch portal coordinating public events throughout Eurovision week. The Turquoise Carpet route deliberately highlighted Basel’s architectural heritage, traversing the historic Middle Bridge before reaching the exhibition centre.
Travel planning for major cultural events often requires precise timing calculations similar to domestic rail journeys. Those interested in transportation scheduling methodologies might consult our Glasgow to Edinburgh Train – Times, Fares and Stations Guide for comparison with Swiss transit systems.
How Can You Watch Eurovision 2025?
Broadcast Platforms
Broadcast distribution occurred through Eurovision.tv, the official YouTube channel, and national public broadcasters within participating nations. Host broadcaster SRG SSR managed the international feed, ensuring HD and 4K availability where infrastructure permitted. The EBU’s satellite distribution network delivered identical programming to 37 participating broadcasters simultaneously at 21:00 CEST.
Eurovision.tv provided unrestricted live streaming for audiences in non-participating regions, while geo-blocking applied in territories with exclusive broadcaster agreements. YouTube archives remained accessible globally for delayed viewing following each broadcast.
International Viewing Options
United Kingdom audiences viewed via BBC One, with broadcasts commencing at 20:00 BST. Australian viewers accessed the competition through SBS, while Canadian audiences utilised OMNI Television. United States distribution remained limited to selected streaming platforms and delayed broadcasts, with no live terrestrial carriage.
Individual broadcasters exercised editorial discretion regarding commentary, advertising breaks, and interval content. The precise programme duration varied by territory due to local scheduling requirements, though the core competition timing remained synchronised to the 21:00 CEST feed.
Eurovision 2025 Event Timeline
-
Switzerland wins Eurovision 2024 in Malmö with Nemo performing “The Code,” securing hosting rights for 2025. -
Basel confirmed as host city following Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) selection process. -
Semi-final allocation draw conducted at 12:30 CET in Basel, determining performance halves for competing nations. -
Turquoise Carpet ceremony inaugurates Eurovision week, proceeding through Basel city centre. -
Semi-final 1 commences 21:00 CEST with 15 competing countries; top 10 qualify for Grand Final. -
Semi-final 2 airs 21:00 CEST featuring 16 countries; additional 10 qualifiers determined. -
Grand Final broadcasts 21:00 CEST from St. Jakobshalle with 26 participants.
Confirmed Details and Speculative Elements
| Established Information | Information Subject to Change |
|---|---|
| All shows confirmed for 21:00 CEST start time | Specific artist performance order within each half (determined by producers) |
| Venue fixed at St. Jakobshalle, Basel | Interval act selections and guest performers |
| Dates fixed: 13, 15, 17 May 2025 | Precise broadcast end times (variable by show length) |
| 37 participating countries | Technical staging details and set design specifics |
| Host trio: Brugger, Studer, Hunziker | Opening ceremony runtime and content |
The EBU published definitive start times six months in advance, enabling broadcasters to secure primetime slots. However, the running order for semi-finals remained provisional until the allocation draw, while Grand Final sequencing awaited semi-final results. Such procedural timelines resemble administrative decision-making processes where certainty emerges sequentially, not unlike awaiting determinations in pension reform discussions similar to those covered in our When Will WASPI Get a Decision – 2026 Update and Timeline coverage.
Why Did Basel Host Eurovision 2025?
Switzerland earned hosting duties following Nemo Mettler’s victory at the 2024 contest in Malmö, Sweden. The non-binary artist’s operatic-pop fusion “The Code” accumulated 591 points, securing Switzerland’s third Eurovision title and first since 1988. Basel competed against Geneva and Zurich in the domestic bidding process, ultimately selected by SRG SSR for its compact city centre layout and existing venue infrastructure.
The 2025 contest marked the 69th Eurovision Song Contest and Switzerland’s third hosting stint, following 1956 in Lugano and 1989 in Lausanne. St. Jakobshalle previously hosted sporting events and concerts, requiring substantial audio-visual upgrades to meet EBU production standards for the international broadcast.
Official Sources and Documentation
Primary verification derives from the European Broadcasting Union’s official communications, supplemented by host broadcaster SRG SSR technical specifications. Wikipedia’s community-moderated entry aggregates multiple journalistic sources regarding venue logistics and participant rosters. The Basel tourism authority maintained the definitive calendar of ancillary events through the official eurovision-basel.ch portal.
The semi-finals will take place on 13 and 15 May, with the Grand Final on 17 May. All shows start at 21:00 CEST.
European Broadcasting Union, January 2025
Key Takeaways on Eurovision 2025 Timing
Eurovision 2025 operated on a rigid chronological framework, with all competition shows commencing at 21:00 CEST from St. Jakobshalle in Basel. The semi-finals on 13 and 15 May filtered 31 competing nations down to 20 qualifiers, who joined the Big Five and host Switzerland for the 17 May Grand Final. These timings, confirmed by the EBU and executed by SRG SSR, provided consistency for international broadcasters and audiences across 37 participating territories. For transport scheduling comparisons and temporal planning strategies, readers may reference our Glasgow to Edinburgh Train – Times, Fares and Stations Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Eurovision 2025 start in the UK?
British Summer Time (BST) runs one hour behind CEST, meaning broadcasts commenced at 20:00 BST (8:00 PM local time).
How long does the Eurovision Grand Final last?
The Grand Final typically extends to approximately four hours, concluding near 01:00 CEST, though precise duration varies by year depending on voting procedures and interval content.
Which countries qualified automatically for the Grand Final?
The “Big Five” nations—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—plus host Switzerland received automatic qualification for the 17 May Final.
Who were the hosts of Eurovision 2025?
Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer hosted the semi-finals, while Michelle Hunziker joined the presenting team for the Grand Final.
How many countries participated in Eurovision 2025?
Thirty-seven countries participated in total, with thirty-one competing in the semi-finals and twenty-six advancing to the Grand Final.
Where was the Turquoise Carpet held?
The Turquoise Carpet event occurred on 11 May 2025, beginning at Basel Town Hall and processing through Middle Bridge to Messe Basel for the opening ceremony.
What is CEST in relation to GMT?
Central European Summer Time (CEST) is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2), or equivalently UTC+2.
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