Everything You Need to Know About Eurovision 2025 and How to Watch It

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is underway, bringing together countries across Europe—and beyond—for its annual music showdown. Hosted in Basel, Switzerland, the competition started with the first semi-final on May 13, with the second set for May 15. The grand final, where 26 countries will compete, takes place on May 17. Automatically advancing are the ‘Big Five’ (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK), along with host country Switzerland. Ten countries have already qualified through the first semi-final, including Sweden, Norway, Albania, and Ukraine, with the remaining ten finalists to be determined on May 15.Controversy surrounds Israel’s participation due to the ongoing Gaza conflict, reigniting debates about the role of politics in Eurovision. In response to previous criticism, the European Broadcasting Union has lifted its ban on Palestinian flags in the audience, though only official national flags are allowed onstage.For viewers in the U.S., the event streams live via Peacock at 3 p.m. ET for all three stages. Internationally, national broadcasters or the Eurovision YouTube channel offer access. Though not officially part of the contest, American audiences can vote under the ‘Rest of the World’ category.