You can experience that away from the ESC in Basel

Glitzer, daring costumes, spectacular choreographies: Everything has to sit for the perfect live show when almost 160 million viewers follow the spectacle at home. The Eurovision Song Contest promises that and more Every year for almost 70 years. Almost 50 days before the final, when countless eyes from Europe and the whole world are on Basel, the excitement in the city is already noticeable.

For the ESC 2025, the safety precautions are high in Basel

This will probably be tangible, especially where the plans are currently in full swing: On the third floor of the Meret Oppenheim Hochhaus near the Basel SBB station, the team has spread that is planning – with everything that will happen in the hall and around it. On a Thursday afternoon shortly before the end of the day, a few desks are still filed on the stage design. A bearded man informs those in a video call directly at the elevators, who do not work directly in the heart of Baselabout the current state of affairs.

« Yesterday we had a crisis exercise, » says Maja Hartmann, who takes over media work for the Basel ESC edition. Usually she has her desk in the town hall of the third largest city in Switzerland. However, she has currently exchanged this for the foreseeable future for one in the ESC planning center. Together with representatives of the Swiss radio and television company (SRG) and the European Radio Union (EBU), the city of Basel is organizing the major musical event. It is the biggest event that has been with this focus on Basel so far.

You can already listen to music at many corners of Basel

« We can’t afford a mistake, » says Hartmann. Power failure, late delegations, bomb threats, all of this must not exist on this important date. A little stage fright before the big appearance is the organization team weeks before it is really serious. The joy of the show and everything you hope for in Basel through the ESC.

A group built up four alphorns directly on the promenade on the banks of the Rhine. Warm the sun’s rays, the shirt sleeves are rolled up. Before you start with her appearance, the musicians explain to a group of passers -by to a group of passers -by calmly how to use their instruments. One of the men seems ready to try it. It is not the only place in the city where you are surrounded by live music in Basel on this spring day-and be encouraged to participate.

« I randomly come directly from a live performance, » says Sandra Locher Dickinson before starting on the other side of the Rhine with her historical leadership through the city center. In the middle of Andreasplatz, a choir just picked up a video for the song contest when Locher Dickinson passed there. Together with other passers-by, she spontaneously studied a dance for the ESC hit Waterloo der Swedish band Abba One – great fun, and the other people also seemed to like it, she reports.

In Basel, the anticipation for the ESC is great

Similar scenes all over the city hopes for Basel even in the time when the ESC actually stops here. He should not only limit himself to the hall, in which the finalists fight for the title on May 17 – the event and the party around it should run across Basel.

In addition to the big stages, there are also very small ones: while the eyes of Europe Set on the glitter of the ESC showshould also decrease a little attention for all those who like to make music – but have not (yet) managed to officially represent their country at the song contest. You can sniff a bit of Eurovision air, so to speak, because there will be fixed places for street music.

Developed directly on the banks of the Rhine on the « Eurovision Boulevard » for the ESC so-called “busking stages“, Which mostly consist of small pedestals or marked areas. There are also platforms in other places in the city – and thus the chance to present the large international audience from May 10th to the final on May 17th.

Travel tip: You cannot miss the Basel buvets

At least that’s how the organization team sees it. There are no money from the city for these appearances-in contrast to the large open-air stage on Barfüsserplatz-but none that led to displeasure with some Swiss artists at the beginning of the year: the appearances are not an option for professionals.

Back to the banks of the Rhine In the time before the ESC: Immediately next to the alphörners, a group parks a few bicycles. With a cooling air breath on the face, sun on the skin and – from the so -called Kleinbasler side – the best view of the Münster is obviously decelerating on the program for many this spring afternoon. With benches, deckchairs and many other seating options, the promenades finally offer themselves to linger. There are sufficient food through the Basel buvets, as the lovingly designed snack bars are called. Even on days when there is no song contest in the city.

But what is going on in Basel from the ESC spectacle Stay when the international guests left? A question that there are different answers. Beat Läuchli, the project manager for the ESC in Basel, does not have to think long: « It should get stuck that Basel is a cosmopolitan, creative, beautiful city. » One that does not take himself so seriously and is « a bit nonchalant » as he puts it. After all, there is no creative in Basel: the city is considered the cultural capital of Switzerland and is occasionally also referred to as the « city of museums » – around 40 institutions come to around 180,000 inhabitants.

And the majority have decided that the ESC actually in Basel takes place: Two thirds voted to cancel the event due to the amount of CHF 37 million at the end of November against the proposal of the Christian Conservative Party of the Federal Eidgenössisch-Democratic Union (EDU). « It’s as clear as rare, » says ESC project manager Läuchli and there is a tailwind for him and his team. « I would have expected more people looking for the hair in the soup, » he describes the current mood, which is « very positive ». His impression: « The population is happy to be a host. » Even people he wouldn’t have thought about.

With Swiss broadcasting, you are also sure that you have found the right venue with Basel. The « epicenter », in which the enthusiasm for the ESC in Switzerland is greatest. In the end, the small difference made the application here: the creative. Because the ideas such as the stages for street music and the appearances of many local artists on the large open-air stage went beyond the normal ESC support program. And the plans for how the Basler in schools and retirement homes are to be enthusiastic about the song contest would also have convinced. « Anyone who lives here should discover what the ESC is, » explain the two executive producers of SRG Moritz Stadler and Reto Peritz.

A tour of the historic alleys of Basel

The answer at Marlene Wenger, which curates the program for the Basel House of Electronic Arts (HEK), is more restrictive. Your museum is located a little outside the city and therefore not in the immediate vicinity of the places where the music will literally play at ESC. The closest to the football stadium is still located, where there will be a big official public viewing with an accompanying show on May 17th. Wenger doubts that many people who come to Basel for the event will also find their way to the HEK. « I am excited to see if there is an overshaw and what the city is doing. »

The work of Tourguide Sandra Locher Dickinson, who is already looking forward to working with the various delegations, is directly affected by the ESC, she says in her leadership through the historic alleys of Basel. There are many history hidden between the old walls. Locher Dickinson knows a lot – and still learns with every new question. Your wish for the ESC: « that Basel is no longer perceived as boring. » Too often the city will be forgotten next to Zurich, Lucerne and Geneva. That could change.

The author researched tourism at the invitation of Switzerland.

Briefly informed:

Arrival: There are two contact points for arrival by train. Most events and the supporting program will take place between Basel SBB and Badischer Bahnhof during the ESC. The organizers recommend the public transport to everyone who drives for the song contest. Sometimes there are discounts from ESC tickets.

Museums: For lovers of contemporary art, the Kunsthaus Baselland and the House of Electronic Arts are worth a visit. A popular art museum that you can visit from Basel, for example on a beautiful bike tour, is the Fondation Beyeler.

Eat: The Basel buvets invite you to a snack or drink right on the banks of the Rhine. It also brings it up to the end of the Volkshaus Basel or in the Gasthof Zum Goldenen Star, the oldest Gasthof Basels.