Eurovision Song Contest 2025: A celebration for all
Note: All content relating to the ESC is currently only available in English.
The ESC 2025 will become an event for the whole of society through projects and events and is therefore more than just the shows in the arena. What exactly does that mean? You can find an overview of the projects which contribute to this public value here.
Feel the Beat Disco
The Project: SRG and ESC present a multisensory disco for people with or without hearing impairments. In addition to music, it appeals to the visitors on a tactile and visual level through vibrating elements on the dance floor, video clips, and a music-timed light show.
Goal: In the spirit of „United By Music“, this ESC event brings people with or without hearing impairments together and allows them to experience the world of music through their senses of sight, touch, and hearing.
Date: May 3, 2025, Voltahalle Basel
Multimedia Production Students Produce two Major ESC Events
The Project: Students of the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons FHGR will have the opportunity to create the concepts for the ‘City Handover & Semi-Final Allocation Draw’ and ‘Turquoise Carpet & Opening Ceremony’ events for the ESC. With the support of SRG they take over the recording and transmission (the international multilateral signal) of these events. Students will be creatively involved in live productions and experience the process from start to finish – from early concept meetings, preparatory work and budget work through to technical test sessions, live production and post-production.
Goal: Students will benefit from hands-on experience on one of the world’s largest TV productions and make valuable contacts which could benefit them in their careers. They furthermore receive a broad national and international stage to showcase their work.
Period: January – May 2025
Production day 1: January 28, 2025
Production day 2: May 11, 2025
Partner: University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons FHGR
Students of the University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons FHGR at the City Handover & Semi-Final Allocation Draw in Basel.
Source: Dominik Pluess
Students Create Content for the Official Social Media Channels
The Project: Students of journalism, communication and audiovisual storytelling of the Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK Cast and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW create content for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG and EBU social media channels according to a concept and under professional guidance. They work on site coached by the ESC Public Value team to develop content which portrays the social added value of the ESC. This content is then distributed on the SRG channels and made available to the EBU.
Goal: The students from both universities can deepen their knowledge, strengthen their skills and gain important professional experience thanks to individual support in the run-up to the event. They furthermore receive a broad national and international stage to showcase their work.
Period: April – May 2025
Partners: The Zurich University of the Arts ZHdK Cast and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW
School Kit – The ESC Comes to Classrooms in Switzerland
The Project: Teachers throughout Switzerland gain access to school documents to treat the topic of the ESC in their classes at the appropriate level. The material is available in the four national languages.
The Romansh language version will be available soon.
Check out how the students of one class use the school kit.
Goal: Students in grades 1 to 9 throughout Switzerland learn about the background of the major international event ESC and can for example develop an understanding of its history. They can acquire new skills such as song analysis.
Period: Most of the material became available in mid-February 2025. The Romansh language version will be available soon.
Partners: SRF school, RTR Uffants, RTS Découverte, RSI Edu
A student learns about the ESC during class. Source: SRG SSR
ESC Mascot „Lumo“ – Students from Basel Competed for the Winning Design
The Project: An ESC mascot, made in Switzerland! 1400 students and apprentices of the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW and the Basel School of Design had the chance to submit their character design and story for the ESC mascot until January 31, 2025.
The winning design „Lumo“ was submitted by Lynn Brunner, a 20-year-old student from Hünibach near Thun in the canton of Bern. Lynn has been studying visual communication at Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW since last autumn and is currently in her second semester.
Places 2 to 5 were taken up by the following students:
2nd place: Adrian Künzli, Basel School of Design
3rd place: Basil Huwyler, Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
4th place: Florence Baeriswyl, Basel School of Design
5th place: Sarah Klein, Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW
The winner received a prize of CHF 5,000, which includes the purchase of the rights to the entire design. The top five each received two tickets to an ESC rehearsal show. The Top Five were presented at an event on February 26, 2025. Where possible, the development and production of the mascot will be realised with local stakeholders.
Goal: Young talents gain professional experience in developing a design from the idea to the production. The Top Five and especially the winner receive a broad national and international stage to showcase their work.
Period: November 2024 – April 2025
Partners: Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW, Basel School of Design
Songwriting in Schools – Create Your Own Song
The Project: 16 school classes will participate in workshops to develop their own song under professional guidance by SUISA members. The workshops give the pupils exciting insights into songwriting, music production, and performing. As a grand finale, the participating classes perform their song on the public stage on Barfüsserplatz in Basel on 15 May 2025 and present their message to the audience. The participating classes come from the following cantons: AG, AR, BE, BL, BS, GE, GL, SZ, VD, TI
Goal: Students in grades 4 to 9 throughout Switzerland can practice teamwork and increase their team spirit while learning new skills in songwriting, playback production and choreography. They can strengthen their individual talents and develop a passion for music.
Dates:
Workshops: February/March
Performance: May 15, 2025, 14:00-17:00
Partner: SUISA
Students come up with original melodies for their song. Source: SRG SSR
Eurovision School Song Contest
The Project: A chance to showcase your creativity and musical talents! SRF, RTR and RSI are looking for Switzerland’s favourite school band. All Swiss school bands with members aged 12-19 can choose a song and perform it while filming themselves. The resulting videos are collected and published on the SRF school platform. The audience and jury vote for the best performance. The four favourite school bands can perform their song on the stage at Barfüsserplatz in Basel during the Eurovision week in May.
Goal: The musical education, creativity, and passion for music of students in Swiss Secondary Schools on level I and II is promoted (approx. ages 12-19). The project also strengthens team spirit and cooperation within the school bands.
Dates:
Call for action: February 17, 2025
Public voting: April 14-25, 2025, followed by jury voting
Performance of the four favourite bands: May 14, 2025, 16:00-17:00
Partners: SRF school, SRF 3, RTR, RSI
A World Record Attempt at the Biggest Over-60s Disco of all Time
The Project: Like nothing you have seen before! Together with our partners Pro Senectute beider Basel and Pro Senectute Switzerland we will realise an Over-60s party for up to 1,000 people in Basel on May 3. The disco will further boost anticipation for the ESC, exactly one week before the grand opening of the ESC show week. The needs of the target audience are considered, and emphasis is placed on accessibility.
Goal: Opportunities to socialise decrease with age. This party is designed to give people aged 60 and over the opportunity to meet up and celebrate together, improving mental health among other things. At the same time, physical health is promoted through exercise. Joy is spread through music and dance, as with the many other courses offered by Pro Senectute.
Date: May 3, 2025, 13:00-18:00, Cube Concept Club Basel
Partners: Pro Senectute beider Basel, Pro Senectute Switzerland
Sponsor: Basler Kantonalbank
Supporting Children through Music
Project: The Superar Suisse children choir and orchestra will bring smiles to retirement homes in Basel. The non-profit organisation Superar Suisse is passionate about giving children and teenagers access to musical education, regardless of their financial means or biographical circumstances. The Superar Suisse choir and orchestra come together for a public concert to open the Barfüsserplatz stage in May.
Goal: Bring generations together through the shared joy of music. Promote mental health using music’s ability to reduce depression among seniors. Increase visibility for the impactful work of the non-profit organization Superar Suisse.
Concerts in retirement homes: April 8 and 29, May 6, 2025
Public concert: May 10, 14:00-14:30
Partner: Superar Suisse
Sponsor: Novartis
The children of the Superar Suisse Choir in Basel enchant the seniors at Gustav Benz Haus with their songs. Photo: Barbara Müller
Public Value Performances all over the City
The Project: Local music groups are integrated into the ESC show week and have the unique chance to perform on one of the stages in the city. This overview shows the Public Value performances in the ESC Village, the ESC Square and the ESC Boulevard which, like all other performances in those venues, are open to anyone and free of charge.
ESC Village
May 10: Juventus Musica Basel – A young local orchestra with a 27 year old conductor.
May 12: Singsieme Choir by insieme Basel – Insieme Basel supports people with special needs in many areas of daily life. This inclusive choir doesn’t use any sheet music and is open for everyone.
May 13: Pop Choir of the School of Rock Basel: The Pop Choir connects locals across generations, from the early 20s to retirement age.
May 16: „Weischno-Chor“ by Alzheimer beider Basel – This choir is open to singers with and without dementia and shows how music can connect people despite anything.
May 17: Music School „Knaben- und Mädchenmusik Basel“ – Children of the concert orchestra, the piccolo ensemble, and the Basel drum academy will show their skills.
May 17: Band „Kickin‘ Jazz“ of the Music School Münchenstein: Local adolescents bring jazz to the inner city with wind instruments and a rhythm section.
Show times and stages to follow soon.
ESC Square
May 10, 14:00-14:30: Superar Suisse Choir and Orchestra: Superar Suisse gives children access to music education, regardless of their financial means or biographical circumstances.
May 11, 16:30-17:30: Choir of Nations: An international choir in Basel which shows that music knows no borders.
May 13, 20:30-21:15: Project orchestra of the „Musikverband beider Basel“, uniting brass musicians from up to 70 local music associations.
May 14, 16:00-17:00: School Song Contest: The four most popular school bands show their skills.
May 15, 14:00-17:00: Songwriting Workshops: All participating classes perform their song.
ESC Boulevard
May 14-18: Cooperation with „Das Tanzfest Region Basel“
More information to follow soon.
SRG SSR On the Road to Basel: Switzerland united in music
Project:
„SRG SSR On the Road to Basel: Switzerland united in music“ will tour Switzerland from January to May 2025 and celebrate the diversity of Swiss music. Visitors can look forward to four up-and-coming artists who will musically represent their respective regions and perform their own songs: MATTIU from Romansh Switzerland, Cachita from German-speaking Switzerland, Looppoli from Italian-speaking Switzerland and Marie Jay from French-speaking Switzerland. The artists will perform their own songs and together perform a new interpretation of the ESC song „Ne partez pas sans moi“ by Céline Dion in four languages, accompanied and coached by Gjon’s Tears. The tour starts in Lugano, leads via Chur to Lausanne and ends in Basel on Barfüsserplatz as part of the ESC.
Goal:
In addition to the musical journey through the language regions of four young up-and-coming artists, talks and retrospectives will remind us of the history of the ESC and the importance of cultural diversity for the cohesion of Switzerland.
Concerts:
30. Januar 2025 Lugano, Studio Foce / SSR.CORSI
12. April 2025, 16.30 Uhr Chur, Landwirtschaftsausstellung Agrischa / SRG.R
2. Mai 2025, 19.00 Uhr Lausanne, Studio 15 / SSR.SR
14. Mai 2025, 19.00 Uhr Basel, Barfüsserplatz / SRG.D
Urban Art Initiative
The Project: Local street art talents create a piece of art in a prominent location in Basel.
Goal: After the shows this Urban Art serves as a long-term memory of the ESC. Due to its great visibility, local street art talents receive the opportunity to show their work to a broad national and international audience.
Time period: April/May 2025
More information to follow soon.
Special Exhibitions
The Project: Exhibitions bring the ESC to public spaces in Basel. Locals and visitors can learn about the history and development of the ESC including original souvenirs and reports by eyewitnesses.
Goal: Locals and visitors become more familiar with the ESC and its history. The visibility of ESC in the city further boosts anticipation for the ESC week in May.
Time period: April/May 2025
More information to follow soon.
