The Eurovision Song Contest kicks off in Basel on 10 May after only 9 months of preparation. Numerous concerts will take place over eight days: 

• over 250 hours of live music
• a total of 13 stages in the city centre
• big shows in the St. Jakobshalle and the St. Jakob-Park

There will be plenty of food, drinks and activities. For example, in the Eurovision Village (Exhibition Centre, Hall 1):

• Forty stage performances plus performances by the ESC 2025 delegations
• Three public viewings (13 / 15 / 17 May) 
• Six bars
• Thirteen catering stands
• Eight official Eurovision sponsor activation stands and other partner activations
• Fan merchandise sales stands, a photo box, the jukebox dancer 
• Art installations such as the LoveCloud

On the Eurovision Boulevard, nine food stands in an idyllic setting will cater for the physical well-being of the visitors, while ten busking stages will provide a musical backdrop to the stroll through the city. Those who like to party late into the night should make sure to buy tickets for the EuroClub. The EuroClub is the party hotspot of the Eurovision Song Contest, where passionate ESC fan clubs as well as music lovers can get together and experience the unique Eurovision flair with numerous live acts.

A parade for the whole city: Opening Ceremony on 11 May, from 2 pm
Rarely do visitors get as close to the Eurovision stars as at the Opening Ceremony. On Sunday, 11 May, all the delegations of the Eurovision Song Contest will present themselves to the public. The longest turquoise carpet in Eurovision history will be rolled out in Basel.

The Opening Ceremony will begin with an official reception at Basel City Hall, after which the delegations will travel to the Eurovision Village in vintage trams, accompanied by a colourful parade. Among the participants will be school classes, music groups, artists and other committed groups from the region. The parade will end at the Messeplatz, where the delegations can make a stopover on the large stage in the Eurovision Village and be greeted by the public.

Arena plus: Last tickets and surprise act Marc Sway
There is just over a week to go until the big Eurovision final is celebrated in Basel. Time to announce a surprise act for the Arena plus Public Viewing Show: The Swiss singer and musician Marc Sway builds bridges between cultures and impresses with stadium-ready songs, international rhythms and an unmistakable voice. 

In the Arena plus, Swissness is the common thread running through the entire programme. Again and again, Switzerland has the opportunity to present itself as the host country of the Eurovision Song Contest. After all, Switzerland's twelve points will also be awarded from the stadium in front of millions of TV viewers from all over the world. Marc Sway will be performing together with the Sunnsite Yodellers Sörenberg. With this performance, he emphasises the unifying character of music, which creates harmony across different genres and brings people together: "Roots are there to be discovered, not to set boundaries. We are all closer than we think".

No bags in the Eurovision Village, EuroClub, St. Jakobshalle and Arena plus
The safety of all visitors is a top priority at the events. For this reason, there is a strict ban on bags at St. Jakobshalle, Eurovision Village, EuroClub and Arena plus. The organisers advise all visitors to read the prohibited items list on the website and only bring items that fit in their trouser pockets.