Eurovision 2025: What you need to know before the final of the 69th edition of the competition, this Saturday evening on France 2

The song contest is 69 years old and is the biggest talent show in the world. Music, kitsch, competition, a high-definition LED wall, and plenty of pyrotechnics vie for the attention and votes of some 160 million viewers in Europe and beyond.

The competition remains a hugely popular event. Some 500,000 visitors came to Basel during the week, according to the Swiss city. And while the Sankt Jakobshalle can only accommodate 6,500 spectators, 36,000 will be watching the final from the FC Basel stadium across the street.

"We started this whole thing with the hope of restoring a sense of unity, calm, and solidarity in a complicated world," says Martin Green, the contest's president, with tears in his eyes. "I'm simply speechless that (Eurovision) is sending such a profound and beautiful message to the rest of the world."

Organizers feared that Israeli participation would attract the crowds seen last year in Malmö marching against the war in Gaza, as Israel intensified its offensive in the Palestinian territory.

But the turnout has been low so far. A rally is still planned for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. GMT), shortly before the start of the competition at 9:00 p.m.

And the winner...

Sweden remains the oddsmaker's favorite with comedy trio KAJ's catchy, catchy ode "Bara Bada Bastu," which evokes the joys of a sauna.

In stark contrast but hot on the heels of the trio, countertenor JJ dazzled for Austria with "Wasted Love," about squandered love, a performance enhanced by a Harcourt studio black and white.

Louane, for France, was automatically selected for the final, but her song "maman" (Maman), a tribute to her late mother, intensely performed and a restrained set design symbolizing the passing of time in an hourglass, allowed her to rise to third place according to the bookmakers.

Adrenaline

Norwegian Kyle Alessandro will open the show with an explosion of flames, followed by Luxembourg's Laura Thorn and "the doll turns up the volume." A possible surprise.

In a light-hearted tone and in French, the singer denounces patriarchy by invoking "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", written by Serge Gainsbourg and whose interpretation by France Gall gave victory to Luxembourg 60 years ago.

Albania will be the last to perform before a long sequence that will lead to the announcement of the result, the presentation of the crystal trophy and a life turned upside down.

The contestants will be decided by votes: the jury and a separate vote from viewers in each of the 37 participating countries, with equal weight. In addition, viewers from the rest of the world will vote.

"The race for the winner is set to be tight," says Thomas Niedermeyer, the Eurovision voting master.

Hope and Desire

Amid calls to boycott Israel at Eurovision, Israeli singer and survivor of the October 7 attack, Yuval Raphael's popularity has risen over the weeks, earning him a spot in the final with his rendition of "New Day Will Rise."

The 24-year-old woman, who survived by pretending to be dead under a pile of corpses during the Hamas massacre, wants to send a universal message of "hope and solidarity."

Finland's Erika Vikman also celebrates life, but in her own way. Wearing a studded leather bodysuit and thigh-high boots, and singing "Ich Komme" (I come) at the top of her lungs, the singer soars through the air on a giant microphone, from which sparks fly.

It was the only one whose audience chanted "Erika", "Erika, Erika", reflecting the growing enthusiasm for the one who had to hide buttocks that Eurovision could not see.

And there's the mystery that's becoming an obsession for the media and fans in Basel: will Celine Dion, who is suffering from a serious illness, participate in the final on Saturday, 37 years after winning the prize? "Santa Claus exists, and we'll have to wait and see" what will happen, replies Martin Green, the competition's director.