Eurovision 2025 Set for Basel: A Cultural Boost for the Swiss City

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be hosted in Basel, Switzerland, which is expected to benefit economically from a significant influx of visitors. The event, to be held at St Jakobshalle on May 17, will see extensive local preparations and funding. Basel edged out Geneva for the hosting rights.

Next year's Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place in Basel, according to an announcement from public broadcaster SRG on Friday. The city is gearing up for an economic surge as it prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans to its restaurants, hotels, and bars. The event, which garnered 163 million viewers globally this year, will culminate on May 17 at Basel's St Jakobshalle, a venue with a capacity for 12,000 enthusiasts.

The Swiss government plans to propose a funding initiative of 34.9 million Swiss francs ($41.2 million) to the city's parliament for covering event expenses. Despite the high hosting costs, previous contests like the one in Liverpool in 2023 generated substantial economic benefits amounting to almost 55 million pounds ($72.5 million), benefiting local businesses and transportation networks.

Basel emerged as the host city after beating Geneva, thanks to its excellent transport connections, hotel capacity, and event management credentials. Earlier bids from Zurich, Bern, and Biel were unsuccessful. Basel's governing council highlighted the unique opportunity to showcase the city's cultural and modern attributes to a global audience.

(With inputs from agencies.)