Flowers, a sauna and skyscapes: today the first seven countries have had their rehearsals. We tell you everything we know about the first 4, and update on the other three will follow.
EBU has decided to release photo’s of it only tomorrow. But still we can show you (if available) the national final performance or any other live performance so you got an idea what the artists are capable of. Disclaimer: for the description of the performance, we have to do it with what the EBU tells us.
🇺🇦 Ukraine
Ukraine’s Ziferblat open as the first band of the 2025 rehearsals. Since their Vidbir performance, they’ve made several changes to their staging. The wide-legged, puff-shouldered suits remain, but each member now wears a bright, sparkling colour. The three backing vocalists appear in gold pantsuits. Instead of the naturalistic set from Vidbir, the LED wall now displays pulsing pink and green neon graphics that intensify with the music. Precise lighting and camera work highlight every movement. Low smoke covers the stage from the start, and fireworks punctuate the instrumental section. Ziferblat deliver a stylised and deliberate performance that clearly reflects their visual and musical identity.
🇸🇪 Sweden
Sweden is represented in 2025 by Finnish trio KAJ, performing Bara Bada Bastu in Swedish—marking Sweden’s first entry in its own language since 1998. Though KAJ are Finnish nationals, they come from the Swedish-speaking region of Finland, making this a cross-cultural moment. The performance is a humorous but polished invitation to unwind, sauna-style. Staging updates from Melodifestivalen include a larger central firepit styled like a traditional sauna heat box, a tilted log store for the dancers, and the familiar green-brown suits. A prominent oversized sausage opens the act. The LED backdrop shifts from a serene forest to a neon-lit party at the key change. Flames, smoke jets, and laser lighting complete the performance.
🇵🇹 Portugal
Portugal’s NAPA close the first day of rehearsals with their entry for Eurovision 2025. The five-member band from Madeira perform in the same formation as seen at Festival da Canção, with slight staging updates for the Basel arena. The group now wears colour-coordinated long-sleeved jackets and shirts in varying shades. The LED wall displays slow-moving clouds and animated skyscapes, which shift in colour in sync with the LED arch above the stage. These visual elements support the calm and atmospheric tone of the song. The vocal arrangement remains faithful to their national final performance, with carefully layered harmonies.
