Only one nation will leave with the trophy
Each May, a continent pauses to ask what music can say about belonging, identity, and shared joy — and on the 15th, Eurovision 2025 answered part of that question by naming the ten nations that will carry their stories into Saturday's grand final in Basel. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta, and Greece join the automatic qualifiers and host Sweden to form a field of twenty-six, each chasing not only a crystal microphone but the honor — and burden — of welcoming the world the following year. The contest, for all its sequins and spectacle, remains one of the few stages where small nations and large ones stand in equal measure before the same audience.
- Austria arrived at the second semifinal as the second-strongest favorite in betting odds, raising the pressure on every other act sharing the stage.
- Fifteen nations competed for only ten spots, meaning five countries — including Montenegro, Ireland, Australia, Czech Republic, and Serbia — saw their Eurovision journey end Thursday night.
- Spain's Melody debuted her revised staging of 'Esa Diva' in the first semifinal, giving supporters their first real look at a revamped production that had been quietly refined for the live moment.
- The Big Five — Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — plus host Sweden bypass the semifinal gauntlet entirely, a structural advantage that shapes how the remaining nations must compete.
- With all twenty-six finalists now confirmed, the race for the crystal microphone — and the right to host Eurovision 2026 — enters its decisive and most watched phase on Saturday at the St. Jakobshalle.
The second semifinal of Eurovision 2025 closed on Thursday, May 15, locking in the final ten qualifiers and completing the roster for Saturday's grand final. Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta, and Greece punched their tickets through, joining the automatic qualifiers and host Sweden to bring the competing field to twenty-six nations.
Austria's passage was among the most anticipated — the country had entered the semifinal as the second-strongest favorite in the betting markets, a reflection of both its entry's appeal and the fierce competition surrounding it. Fifteen nations had taken the stage in the second round, each representing a different corner of European — and occasionally non-European — musical identity, but only ten could advance.
Earlier in the week, Spain's Melody had performed 'Esa Diva' during the first semifinal. The entry hadn't commanded strong odds in the lead-up, but the live debut offered something polling cannot: a full production, revised staging, and the energy of the Eurovision stage. For Spanish fans, it at least resolved the uncertainty of what their country's bid would actually look like.
The contest's structure means the Big Five — Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — advance automatically to the final, as does the host nation, a system rooted in the historical funding contributions of those countries. That leaves the semifinal rounds as the true crucible for everyone else.
The stakes on Saturday extend well beyond a trophy. The winner inherits the responsibility of hosting Eurovision the following year — a cultural and logistical undertaking of enormous scale. Switzerland's Nemo set the benchmark last year with 591 points on 'The Code.' For the ten nations that just qualified, and for Spain competing despite modest expectations, the real contest now begins.
The second semifinal of Eurovision 2025 wrapped on Thursday, May 15, and the field for Saturday's grand final is now set. Ten countries punched their tickets through the competition's second round of voting, joining the automatic qualifiers and the host nation to form a full slate of twenty-six performers vying for the crystal microphone.
Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta, and Greece emerged from the semifinal bracket. Austria's showing was particularly noted—the country arrived as the second-strongest favorite in the betting odds, a position that reflected both the strength of its entry and the intensity of the competition. The fifteen nations that took the stage in the second semifinal represented a geographic and stylistic cross-section of European music: alongside Austria came entries from Lituania, Montenegro, Grecia, Irlanda, Australia, República Checa, Dinamarca, Luxemburgo, Georgia, and Serbia, each bringing their own vision of what might capture the contest's prize.
The road to this moment began earlier in the week. Spain's representative, Melody, performed her entry "Esa Diva" during the first semifinal on Tuesday. The Spanish entry had not commanded strong odds in recent months, but the live performance on the Eurovision stage offered the first chance for fans and voters to see the full production—new staging, revised costume, and all the refinements that come with a live debut. For Spanish supporters, the performance settled at least one question: they now knew exactly what to expect from their country's bid.
The Eurovision Song Contest operates on a tiered qualification system. The Big Five nations—Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France—automatically advance to the final regardless of semifinal results, a privilege tied to their historical contributions to the contest's funding and reach. Sweden, as the host country for this year's competition, also advances automatically. These seven nations, combined with the twenty qualifiers from the two semifinals, create the full roster of twenty-six that will compete on Saturday.
The contest itself carries real weight beyond the spectacle. The winner inherits not just the symbolic crystal microphone but also the responsibility of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in their country the following year—a massive undertaking that shapes the cultural calendar and brings international attention and tourism. The previous year's victor, Switzerland's Nemo, had won with 591 points on the strength of "The Code," setting a high bar for whoever claims the title this time around.
Saturday's final will take place at the St. Jakobshalle, where each of the twenty-six entries will perform once more. The stakes are clear: only one nation will leave with the trophy. For the ten countries that just qualified—and for Spain, which will compete despite its modest polling—the real competition now begins.
Notable Quotes
The winner inherits the crystal microphone and the responsibility of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in their country the following year— Contest structure
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Austria's position as the second favorite matter so much in a contest like this?
Because it signals that the betting markets and the hardcore fans see something genuinely strong in that entry. It's not just hype—it's a real contender, which means the semifinal voters validated what the experts already suspected.
And Spain's Melody—the fact that she didn't qualify through the semifinal, that she got the automatic spot—does that put her at a disadvantage?
Not necessarily a disadvantage, but it's different. She gets to see how the other entries land with a live audience before the final. She knows where she stands. The question is whether that knowledge helps or just adds pressure.
What's the actual significance of hosting the contest the year after you win?
It's enormous. You're not just winning a trophy—you're committing your country to organizing one of Europe's biggest televised events. It's expensive, it's logistically complex, and it puts your country on the map in a specific way.
So when you say twenty-six nations will compete, that includes everyone—the Big Five, the host, and the semifinal qualifiers?
Exactly. It's a full house. No one gets left out of the final once they've qualified or earned their automatic spot.
Do the betting odds actually predict the winner?
Sometimes. But Eurovision voters are unpredictable. The odds capture what the engaged fans think, but the actual voting—especially the jury votes mixed with the public votes—can surprise everyone.