After Switzerland's win in the 2024 contest, the local authorities of Geneva expressed interest in hosting the 2025 edition at Palexpo and submitted a formal application.[3][4] On the same day, the president of the Basel-Stadt government Conradin Cramer also expressed interest in Basel hosting the 2025 event.[5] On 12 May, Olma Hall in St. Gallen was proposed as a potential venue.[6][7] On 13 May, 1956 host city Lugano ruled out a bid to host the 2025 edition, while the president of Bern's cantonal government Philippe Müller expressed his reluctance to hosting the competition in the de facto Swiss capital, citing "a rise in antisemitism" in the contest.[8][9] Müller was publicly contradicted by the whole cantonal Bernese government on 15 May; the council congratulated Nemo and announced its support in organising the contest in Bern.[10] Meanwhile, the Zurich City Council was reported to have held a "high priority" meeting to discuss a bid.[11][12] On 14 May, 1989 host city Lausanne ruled out bids to host the 2025 edition, citing a lack of infrastructure.[13]
On 15 May, Biel/Bienne, Nemo's hometown, declared its interest to be associated and co-host the event.[14] On 17 May, the local government of Fribourg stated that they were examining a potential bid to host the contest.[15]
The host broadcaster SRG SSR launched the bidding process in the week of 27 May 2024, by issuing a list of requirements for interested cities. Those cities will have until the end of June to prepare their bids, and the selected host city is expected to be announced by the end of August.[16]
Provisional list of participating countries
Further information:
Big Five
" and the host country Switzerland are expected to be automatically allocated a place in the final of the contest, while all other countries will be placed in one of the two semi-finals.
As of June 2024,[update] the following countries have publicly confirmed their intention to participate in the 2025 contest:
Provisional list of participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Albania – In early May 2024, Andri Xhahu, Eurovision commentator and spokesperson for Albanian broadcaster RTSH, revealed that preparations had started for the next edition of Festivali i Këngës, the national song competition traditionally used to select the Albanian entry for the contest.[31]
Bosnia and Herzegovina – In its broadcasting program for 2024, Bosnian broadcaster BHRT outlined its plans for the year, including a statement that "it is high time to consider the possibility of returning [...] to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025". The broadcaster is still currently under EBU sanctions due to debts.[32] Bosnia and Herzegovina last took part in 2016.
Czechia – On 17 May 2024, the Czech Assistant Head of Press revealed that a decision on the Czech participation in 2025 was made on 10 May, and that it would be ratified and announced after August.[33][34]
Latvia – On 15 February 2024, a petition was created on ManaBalss.lv for Latvia to withdraw from the contest, citing high costs and that participants tend to behave "promiscuously"; it suggests that the money should be allocated to underfunded national sports teams. The petition received more votes than the 10,000 required for it to be reviewed by the Saeima.[35]
Lithuania – In April 2024, Audrius Giržadas [lt], the head of the Lithuanian delegation, commented that the superfinal round, introduced in the 2024 national final, was "fully successful" and would continue to be used.[36] He and the head of the telecommunications company also promised to work so that the final results in future editions would be counted faster and more smoothly.[37]
RTCG published a report from a public debate held on 4 December 2023 concerning its production plans for 2024. In the report, the broadcaster states that it "plans on organising a music festival to promote Montenegrin artists and authors, and which would (depending on the budget) be used as a way to select the representative for Eurovision 2025".[38][39] Montenegro last took part in 2022
.
Norway – Norwegian Head of Delegation Stig Karlsen stated that Norway intends to participate in 2025, but that its participation depends on "actions the EBU will take to ensure that we do not face another season filled with polarization, politics, and security concerns", referring to the controversies of the 2024 contest.[40]
, the broadcaster selected its entries internally, despite originally intending to organise a national final in both years.
Non-EBU members
Kosovo – On 29 October 2023, in the wake of the first edition of Festivali i Këngës në RTK, the intended Kosovan national selection event for Eurovision, the CEO of Kosovan broadcaster RTK, Besnik Boletini, reaffirmed the country's continued efforts in order to be included in the contest as early as 2025.[43] In May 2024, RTK announced that it would submit an application to the EBU in June 2024 to compete in Eurovision in 2025.[44]
Liechtenstein – In May 2024, the Liechtensteiner Vaterland newspaper reported that the country's national radio broadcaster, Radio Liechtenstein, was in the process of seeking membership in the EBU with the aim to debut in the Eurovision Song Contest.[45][46]
Confirmed non-participation
Slovakia – On 8 April 2024, the head of marketing communication at Slovak broadcaster RTVS, Zuzana Vicelová, stated that the country would not return in 2025 due to budget cuts.[47] Slovakia last took part in 2012.
^Cramer, Conradin [@ConradinCramer] (12 May 2024). "Herzliche Gratulation an Nemo" [Warm Congratulations to Nemo] (Tweet) (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 12 May 2024 – via Twitter.
^"Štengl: Politika na Eurosongu je neizbježan faktor" [Štengl: Politics at the Eurovision Song Contest is an inevitable factor]. Croatian Radiotelevision (in Croatian). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024. Štengl je rekao kako novi proces kreće čim se malo odmore. Idemo raditi nove prijedloge ugovora, otvoriti novi natječaj uz nadu da će se na valu LET 3, Baby Lasagne prijavljivati izvođači svih različitih vrsta glazbe, mladi, stari. Tko god ima dobar proizvod, neka se prijavi, rekao je. [Štengl said that the new process starts as soon as they rest a little. We are going to work on new contract proposals, open a new competition with the hope that performers of all different types of music, young and old, will apply for the wave LET 3, Baby Lasagna. Whoever has a good product should apply, he said.]
^Zaikaner, Avi (31 May 2024). "ישראל מאשרת השתתפות באירוויזיון 2025" [Israel confirms participation in Eurovision 2025]. EuroMix (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
^"MESC Music Exchange Camp – Regulations"(PDF). Public Broadcasting Services. 6 May 2024. p. 6. Retrieved 13 May 2024. The compositions (lyrics and music) created during the MEC [The Malta Eurovision Song Contest Music Exchange Camp] 2024 must not be commercially released before the next edition of the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2025 and the Malta Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024