Road to Rotterdam: Ukraine

📷 Wikimedia Commons Basel becomes the heart of Eurovision 2025 Basel becomes the heart of Eurovision 2025. The city has fully embraced its role as the host city of Eurovision 2025. Streets, public squares, and venues now display vibrant decorations, including flags, music-themed banners, and the official “United by Music” slogan. As thousands of fans arrive from across Europe, the city buzzes with celebration. Eurovision Village at Messe Basel draws huge crowds One of the main attractions, the Eurovision Village, opened its doors at Messe Basel on 10 May. Since then, it has welcomes thousands of fans each day. The Village offers a packed daily schedule of live concerts, international food stands, and hands-on fan activities, continuing through 17 May. Each day, Eurovision stars take the stage. On Monday night, Austria’s Conchita Wurst — winner of the 2014 contest — performed new songs to an enthusiastic crowd. She shared the stage with Timebelle, who represented Switzerland in 2017. Thanks to a 12,000-person capacity, the indoor fan zone has hosted large audiences, with peak hours seeing near full attendance. 📷 Albin Olsson Free concerts light up Eurovision Square Meanwhile, Eurovision Square at Barfüsserplatz has brought the party outdoors. The open-air stage offers free concerts every day this week. In total, around 50 performances are scheduled, showcasing a wide mix of musical styles — from Swiss jazz to Euro-pop and hip-hop. Organisers have given a spotlight to local and international stars alike. Luca Hänni (Switzerland 2019) and Anna Rossinelli (2011) have already performed, alongside 90s favorites Snap! and Rednex. To make the event more inclusive, the programme also features a silent disco for hearing-impaired fans and a school band contest for local youth. 📷 EBU/Andres Putting Basel promotes unity and inclusion The host city’s message is clear: everyone is welcome at Eurovision. Basel’s slogan, “Basel – Welcome Home,” appears throughout the city, along with rainbow flags and Eurovision 2025 branding. On Sunday, the contest officially kicked off with an opening ceremony. All 37 participating delegations walked the Turquoise Carpet, the longest ever used in Eurovision history. Crowds lined the route in support, turning the event into a vibrant start to the week. Businesses and fans bring the city to life As the contest progresses, the energy continues to build. Hotels and restaurants are fully booked. Meanwhile, local businesses have joined the excitement by decorating their shop windows with Eurovision-themed displays. Despite the jam-packed schedule, fans have embraced the experience. Many say choosing between events has been the only real challenge — a sign of how much the city has to offer. Basel’s effort to welcome Eurovision with open arms is being widely praised.         Share