Eurovision 2025: Key Contenders and Standout Performances Ahead of the Grand Final

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is being hosted in Switzerland, marking a return to the country where the first edition took place. With 26 nations competing in the grand final, Sweden’s entry ‘Bara Bada Bastu’ by comedy group KAJ is the current favorite, thanks to its quirky sauna theme and viral popularity. Austria is represented by JJ with ‘Wasted Love’, a powerful operatic ballad, while the Netherlands’ Claude delivers an emotional bilingual tribute to his mother, ‘C’est La Vie’.

Other highlights include French singer Louane’s touching piece ‘Maman’, and a moving performance from Slovenia’s Klemen Slakonja, who dedicates his song to his wife’s battle with cancer. The UK is represented by the all-female trio Remember Monday with ‘What the Hell Just Happened?’, hoping to improve on past results.

The event continues to reflect a mix of heartfelt storytelling and over-the-top performances. Notably, entries from Estonia and San Marino lean into absurd humor, while Malta and Finland push the boundaries of lyrical content.

Geopolitical tensions remain a backdrop, particularly surrounding Israel’s participation amid the Gaza conflict, while Ukraine returns with the rock ballad ‘Bird Of Pray’. The final promises a diverse and emotionally charged evening of music.