Ten nations earned passage to the grand final on Saturday
Each May, forty-odd nations gather under one roof to remind the world that music remains one of humanity's most democratic languages. In Basel on May 13, fifteen countries performed at the first Eurovision 2025 semifinal, and ten earned the right to continue — Norway, Albania, and Sweden leading the way. The grand final on May 17 will bring together these qualifiers, the automatically advancing Big Five, and host Switzerland, completing a ritual that has, for decades, turned geopolitical neighbors into rivals and strangers into audiences sharing the same chorus.
- Sweden entered as the pre-contest favorite and delivered a performance that justified the expectation, raising the stakes for every act that followed.
- Ten of fifteen competing nations survived the cut — Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine joining the top three — while five others saw their Eurovision journey end in Basel.
- Spain's Melody performed 'Esa Diva' with refined staging and costume changes, giving audiences their clearest preview yet of what the Big Five contender will bring to Saturday's final.
- The second semifinal on May 15 will fill the remaining spots in the lineup, and until those results land, the full shape of Saturday's grand final remains incomplete.
On the evening of May 13, fifteen countries took the stage at Basel's St. Jakobshalle for the first Eurovision 2025 semifinal, each hoping to secure one of ten coveted spots in Saturday's grand final. When the results were announced, Norway, Albania, and Sweden had topped the rankings, with Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine rounding out the qualifiers.
Sweden had entered the night as the competition's favorite according to pre-contest polling, and their Basel performance did little to diminish that reputation. The breadth of styles on display across all fifteen acts reflected what Eurovision has become — a genuinely wide musical landscape rather than a single genre in a single key.
The venue itself carries history. Switzerland last won Eurovision just four years ago, when Nemo claimed the crystal microphone with 'The Code,' earning 591 points and handing the country the honor — and responsibility — of hosting this year's festival.
Spain's Melody also performed, though her place in the final was never in doubt. As a member of the automatic-qualifying Big Five, her semifinal appearance served a different purpose: it was the first full public look at the finished version of 'Esa Diva,' complete with updated staging and costume refinements. For Spanish fans, it was a preview; for the broader audience, a signal of intent.
The second semifinal on May 15 will determine the remaining finalists, and once those names are known, the complete lineup for Saturday's grand final will be set — the night when every qualifier performs one last time before a winner is crowned.
The first semifinal of Eurovision 2025 took place on May 13 in Basel, Switzerland, where fifteen countries performed in hopes of securing a spot in the grand final. By evening's end, ten nations had earned their passage forward: Norway, Albania, and Sweden topped the rankings, followed by Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine. These qualifiers will join the so-called Big Five countries—Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—plus host nation Switzerland, who advance automatically to the final scheduled for Saturday, May 17.
Sweden entered the competition as the favorite according to pre-contest polling, and the country's performance on the Basel stage justified the confidence. The Swedish entry was among the night's standout moments, though the full field of competitors demonstrated the breadth of musical styles that define the modern Eurovision landscape. The St. Jakobshalle, the venue hosting the competition, provided the stage for these fifteen acts to make their case to both the live audience and the millions watching from home.
Swiss broadcaster SRG selected the venue well—it has hosted major international events before and carries the weight of hosting a nation that knows Eurovision intimately. Switzerland's last victory came just four years ago when Nemo won the 2021 contest with "The Code," accumulating 591 points and claiming the crystal microphone that symbolizes the competition's highest honor. That victory meant Switzerland would host this year's festival, a responsibility the country has embraced by staging the event in Basel.
Spain's representative, Melody, also took the stage during the first semifinal, though as a member of the Big Five, her passage to the final was already assured. The performance marked the first public unveiling of the final version of her entry, "Esa Diva," complete with costume refinements and staging adjustments that had been made since the song's initial announcement. For Spanish Eurovision enthusiasts, the semifinal appearance provided clarity about what to expect when the final arrives on Saturday.
The second semifinal will unfold on May 15, two days after the first. That evening will determine which additional countries join the ten already qualified, completing the full roster of finalists. Once those results are known, the complete picture of Saturday's grand final will be set—the moment when all competing nations will perform one final time before the winner is crowned. The competition's structure, with two semifinals feeding into a single final night, ensures that every country gets its moment on the Basel stage, though only the strongest performances and most compelling songs will advance to the decisive evening.
Notable Quotes
Sweden entered the competition as the favorite according to pre-contest polling— Eurovision 2025 analysis
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that Sweden was the favorite going in? Does that actually predict who wins?
Not always. Favorites are based on betting odds and fan polling weeks before the actual performance. What matters is how a song lands on the night—the staging, the vocal delivery, the connection with the audience. Sweden had the advantage of expectation, but ten other countries still made it through.
So Norway, Albania, and Sweden topped the first semifinal. What made them stand out?
The source doesn't say exactly what their songs were or why they won the votes. We know they ranked highest, but the real story—the performances themselves, the emotional impact—that's something you'd have to watch to understand.
Spain's Melody performed during the semifinal even though she was already in the final. Why show up at all?
Because the semifinal is the only chance for the Spanish entry to be seen by the full Eurovision audience before the final. It's a dress rehearsal in front of millions. The costume changes and staging tweaks she made—those were tested in real time.
Switzerland hosted because Nemo won four years ago. Does winning the contest always mean you host the next one?
Yes, that's the tradition. The winning country gets the honor and the burden of organizing the following year's festival. It's why Eurovision rotates around Europe—the winner becomes the host.
What happens on May 15?
The second semifinal determines the remaining qualifiers. After that night, you'll know exactly which countries made the final on the 17th. Right now, ten are through. The second semifinal will add more, and then the Big Five plus Switzerland round out the full field.