This year’s 69th song contest has already seen 37 countries will take to the stage ahead of the Grand Final with this year’s finalists now confirmed
22:26, 15 May 2025Updated 23:10, 15 May 2025
KAJ representing Sweden performs during the Semi Final Round 1 of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest(Image: Getty Images)
The 26 countries that will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 have finally been officially confirmed ahead of this weekend’s grand final.
Basel, a lively cultural hotspot and picturesque city along the Rhine River in northwestern Switzerland, is the host of the 69th world music event, with the country the host of the very first contest back in 1956.
This year’s song contest has already seen a total of 37 countries will take to the stage ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday (May 17), which will take place at the .
The top ten countries from each Semi-Final, which took place on Tuesday (May 13) and Thursday (May 15) have made it through.
As one of the Big Five countries – United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Italy – the UK’s Remember Monday, had already guaranteed place in Saturday’s Grand Final and host country Switzerland was also guaranteed a place in the Grand Final thanks to Nemo’s victory in 2024.
As already mentioned, the UK is represented at this year’s contest by the trio Remember Monday, the first time since 1999 the country has sent an all-female group to the contest, with their track ‘What The Hell Just Happened?’
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest is taken place in Basel, Switzerland(Image: AP)
Viewers in the UK will be treated to a “Super Saturday” of viewing on May 17, as prior to the Eurovision grand finale airing, a Eurovision themed episode of Doctor Who – The Interstellar Song Contest – will air, and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer from 8am on Saturday.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor will later deliver the UK National Jury results live, with the coverage of the event begnning at 8pm (BST) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with Graham Norton back on commentating duty.
To present this year’s show, Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer and Michelle Hunziker will be amongst the glitz and the glam as they take on the challenge.
But who has officially made it through to this year’s Eurovision Grand Final? The full list of countries taking part – in no particular order – are:
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Poland
- Estonia
- Ukraine
- Sweden
- Portugal
- Norway:
- San Marino
- Albania
- Netherlands
- Latvia
- Armenia
- Austria
- Greece
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Denmark
- Luxembourg
- Israel
- Finland
As mentioned, Irish broadcaster Graham will oversee proceedings from the commentary box in the arena for audiences watching at home, as the 26 countries, including the United Kingdom, vie for the number one spot of being crowned Eurovision champion.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast across BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds this May. In its 69th year, millions will be tuning in to see who will be crowned the new Eurovision Song Contest 2025 champion.