Switzerland’s culture mecca Basel has been hosting Eurovision 2025 and what a partnership it’s been. The music, culture and community have been front and centre around the city and not just for those with a ticket. A stroll around provides plenty of ESC vibes.
I’m sat on the rooftop terrace of my good Basler friend, Patience. I ask her what it means to Basel to host the world’s biggest music event. Oh, it’s massive she tells me. It’s no surprise. Basel has always been open in its attitude she explains but it’s even more so now. She likens the event to having taken inspiration from last year’s Paris Olympics where rather than one event there are several dotted around the city making it attractive and inclusive. And as you wander through the city you can see what she means. Steinenvorstadt renowned for its bars and restaurants is renamed Eurovision Street and Messe, Basel’s Exhibition Square has been transformed into the first-ever indoor Eurovision Village.
I move indoors and get chatting to its host Odette Hella’Grand, who’s from Basel and Switzerland’s most famous drag queen. What does Eurovision mean for the city I ask? It puts Basel well and truly on the world map she tells me as she towers over me in her heels and Swiss designer dress. “It shows that Basel doesn’t stand in the shadow of other Swiss cities like Geneva or Zurich”. Basel is no stranger to hosting huge well-run annual events such as the world-renowned Art Basel fair and the ancient traditions of the Herbstmesse and Fasnacht festivals.
Back outside in the sunshine there’s a chance to wander amongst the giant inflatable art sculpture of Swiss artist Claudia Comte. Basel wouldn’t be Basel without a thought-provoking piece of art to muse over. It’s shaped appropriately like undulating sound waves and is a chance for people to walk through and experience this living artwork.
Here I get chatting to Angelika, a Basler who’s soaking up the atmosphere. We don’t want the protests that we saw in Sweden last year; we want a peaceful event she says. In a direct democracy, it’s hardly surprising to hear a Swiss speak like this about having a voice. Eurovision has always been seen as a safe and friendly space for its dedicated community but in a politically-turbulent world it’s an event which attracts its share of controversy. Again this year, there were protests about Israel’s participation and some artists were angered to learn they were restricted to taking only their country’s flag on stage and no others.
I ride the tram to Eurovision Street where media from around the world are asking passers-by for their thoughts. Distinctive in his Ukranian Vyshyvanka top I get speaking to Andrii, a journalist working for Suspilne – a Ukrainian TV station. His country are represented with the song ‘Bird of Pray’ performed by Ziferblat. “We’re grateful for Europe’s support in the war”, he tells me, “but on this occassion we are here for the music and that’s what people are talking to us about. We don’t have high hopes of Ukraine getting to the final but we are proud of our music and of what we do differently”.
Just a few meters away at Barfusserplatz or Eurovision Square crowds are gathering at the open-air stage for the next act on Eurovision Day. The cafés are teeming with young and older, sipping their Swiss café Schalle and soaking up the sunshine and the atmosphere. They’re also counting the days until Basel becomes one of eight venues across Switzerland to host the Women’s EURO 2025 football championship in July. Once again St. Jakob-Park will proudly welcome fans and a well-rehearsed Basel will be set for another major economic boost.