A special draw was held today at Basel’s iconic City Hall in order to distribute the 31 semi-finalist countries into one of the two 2025 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals, scheduled to be held on 13 and 15 May in Basel.
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest Semi-final Allocation draw was held today in Basel and was conducted by Jennifer Bosshard and Jan van Ditzhuijzen under the supervision of the EBU.
Semi-final allocation draw results
Fifteen countries will compete in the first semi-final on 13 May, whilst another sixteen countries will compete in the second semi-final on 15 May.
A total 31 countries were distributed into 5 pots and were allocated into one of the two semi-finals by a draw. During the the draw it was also determined in which half of the semi-final the allotted countries are to perform.
Another draw was held to determine which semi-final the Big 5 countries and Switzerland are to vote in. Switzerland, Italy and Spain will vote in the first semi-final on 13 May whilst France, Germany and the United Kingdom will vote in the second semi-final on 15 May.
Semi-final #1
First Half
- Estonia
- Iceland
- Poland
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Ukraine
Second Half
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Netherlands
- Norway
- San Marino
Semi-final #2
First Half
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Greece
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Montenegro
Second Half
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Finland
- Georgia
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Serbia
A total of 37 countries will participate at the forthcoming 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. 31 countries will compete in the semi-finals, whilst the Big 5 and Switzerland are automatically qualified to compete in the Grand Final.
Martin Osterdahl (ESC Executive Supervisor/EBU) says:
We’re excited to begin another exhilarating chapter for the Eurovision Song Contest here in Basel. Following the outstanding shows in Malmö last year, Basel is ready to take the torch and deliver an extraordinary Contest. The ESC returns in 2025 with 37 broadcasters participating and a growing global audience. We can’t wait to showcase in May the very best of diverse international music and courageous creativity, with a Swiss touch, to the hundreds of millions watching around the world.
Reto Peritz and Moritz Stadler (ESC 2025 Executive Producers) say:
The ESC has officially returned to its birthplace. With the handover from Malmö to Basel and the Semi-Final Draw completed, we have reached another key milestone and look forward to welcoming guests from around the world to Basel soon.
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be held on 13, 15 and 17 May at the St.Jakobashalle in Basel, Switzerland.
Source: EBU/SSR-SRG
Photo credit: EBU/Chris Fox
