The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is expected to be the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It would be organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the national broadcaster of the designated host country, expected to coincide with the winning country of the 2024 edition. The contest would likely take place in May 2025.
Provisional list of participating countries
Eligibility for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest requires a national broadcaster with active EBU membership that would be able to broadcast the contest via the Eurovision network. The EBU issues an invitation to participate in the contest to all active members.
Countries that are a part of the "Big Five" and the host country of the 2025 edition are expected to be automatically allocated a place in the final of the contest, whilst all other countries will be placed in one of the two semi-finals.
As of May 2024,[update] the following countries have confirmed their intention to take part in the contest:
Provisional list of participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Albania – In early May 2024, Andri Xhahu, Eurovision commentator and spokesperson for the RTSH, revealed that preparations had started for the next edition of Festivali i Këngës, the national song competition traditionally used to select the Albanian entry for the contest.[7]
Bosnia and Herzegovina – In its broadcasting program for 2024, Bosnian broadcaster BHRT outlined its plans for the year, including a statement that "it is high time to consider the possibility of returning [...] to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025". The broadcaster is still currently under EBU sanctions due to debts.[8]
Croatia – Replying to an Ask Me Anything on Reddit in April 2024, the Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević stated that Zagreb is ready to host Eurovision in 2025 if Croatia is to win the contest in 2024, and that Zagreb Arena is already booked for the event.[9] In early May 2024, prior to the 2024 contest, it was reported that the Croatian national broadcaster HRT had asked Zagreb Arena not to book any events for April and May of 2025, to ensure availability in the event of a Croatian victory in 2024.[10]
France – On 27 November 2023, during the winner's press conference of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023, deputy director general of France Télévisions Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez announced the broadcaster's intention to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in order to host the 2025 edition.[11]
Germany – On 6 September 2023, it was reported that German broadcaster NDR, which has been responsible for the country's Eurovision participations since 1996, was considering handing over responsibility to a different member of the ARD network in 2025, with MDR being the most likely candidate.[12] According to reports, an official agreement for MDR to be in charge of the German selection from 2025 was finalised by 22 January 2024.[13]
Ireland – In January 2024, Michael Kealy, the head of the Irish delegation in the contest, expressed his hopes that in 2025 RTÉ will be able to produce a national final format independent from The Late Late Show, plans for which were halted in 2023 following a financial scandal.[14]
Lithuania – Shortly before the beginning of the 2024 contest, the head of the Lithuanian delegation, Audrius Giržadas [lt], discussed the possible cities that could host the contest in Lithuania in the event of a victory, which include Kaunas and Vilnius.[15]
Luxembourg – On 11 July 2023, the head of Eurovision at RTL, David Gloesener, stated that the country's return in 2024 was "not a one-shot thing", indicating the intention to participate in 2025 as well.[16] On 26 November 2023, Gloesener affirmed that the broadcaster is ready to host the 2025 contest in the event that Luxembourg wins the 2024 edition,[17] confirming previous statements by Luxembourgish prime minister Xavier Bettel.[18] On 3 February 2024, it was reported that all profits from Luxembourg's 2024 participation would be reinvested into the Luxembourg Song Contest, the format used as the country's national selection in 2024.[19]
Montenegro – On 5 January 2024, Montenegro's national broadcaster RTCG published a report from a public debate held on 4 December 2023 concerning their production plans for 2024. In the report, the broadcaster states that it "plans on organising a music festival to promote Montenegrin artists and authors, and which would (depending on the budget) be used as a way to select the representative for Eurovision 2025".[20][21] Montenegro last took part in 2022.
Norway – Between 5 and 7 April 2024, the first songwriting camp for the 2025 edition of Melodi Grand Prix, the traditional Norwegian national final event, was held.[22]
Slovakia – Following a restructuring of its financing model in 2023, Slovak broadcaster RTVS was considering a return to the contest in 2025 and was actively working to secure the funding needed to participate.[25][26][27] However, in April 2024, the head of marketing communication at RTVS, Zuzana Vicelová, stated that the country would not compete in 2025 due to budget cuts.[28] Slovakia last took part in 2012.
Slovenia – On 9 March 2024, Mario Galunič [sl], editor at RTVSLO, drafted a document, with one of the points being a plan to return to selecting Slovene entries for Eurovision through the national final EMA [es; sl] from 2025 until 2028.[29][30] In 2023 and 2024, the broadcaster selected its entries internally, despite originally intending to organise EMA in 2024.
Switzerland – In early April 2024, commenting on Switzerland ranking first in the betting odds for the 2024 contest, Swiss head of delegation Yves Schifferle declared that SRG SSR was already holding discussions with previous host countries to assess a potential hosting in 2025 in case of victory.[31] The broadcaster proceeded to carry out a "preliminary research" among potential host cities in the country.[32]
Non-EBU members
Kosovo – On 29 October 2023, in the wake of the first edition of Festivali i Këngës, the intended Kosovan national selection event for Eurovision, the CEO of Kosovan broadcaster RTK, Besnik Boletini, reaffirmed the country's continued efforts in order to be included in the contest as early as 2025.[33] A vote on the draft of Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe took place on 16 April 2024, which was approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was set to decide on Kosovo's membership in May 2024,[34] but was removed from the agenda following Kosovo's rejection of French and German prerequisites for membership.[35] Membership in the Council would enable Kosovo to join the EBU as a full member and compete in the contest by 2025.[36][37] In May 2024, RTK announced that it would submit an application for EBU membership "soon".[38]
^"MGP Camp". The Woods Norway. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
^Lombardini, Emanuele (10 October 2023). "Eurovision 2024: scattano le iscrizioni a 'Una voce per San Marino'" [Eurovision 2024: registrations for "Una voce per San Marino" start off]. Eurofestival News (in Italian). Retrieved 24 March 2024. L'accordo è biennale, quindi è già confermato che ci sarà il concorso anche per la partecipazione all'Eurovision 2025. [It is a two-year agreement, so it is already confirmed that the contest will again be held for the participation in Eurovision 2025.]