The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is more than just music – it’s art too

Media release 29.04.2025

Basel is the cultural capital of Switzerland with the country’s highest number of museums and home to the renowned Art Basel. In May, the metropolis will be taken over by the Eurovision Song Contest. What will be on offer during this time to art enthusiasts from all over the world? Those in charge provided information at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen.

Ugo Rondinone, we are poems, 2011, Neon, acrylic glass, translucent foil, aluminum, Object 370.5 x 1000 x 14.5 cm / 145 3/4 x 393 3/4 x 5 3/4 in, Private Collection, Switzerland, Courtesy Studio Rondinone, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Sadie Coles HQ, Esther Schipper Gallery, Mennour, Gladstone Gallery, and Kukje Gallery, © Ugo Rondinone.

The Eurovision Song contest is colourful, diverse, enriching and uniting. The event will take place in Basel over the course of a week from 11 to 17 May. During this time, music and visual forms of expression will encounter a diverse range of art, in public spaces, museums and special exhibitions.

The ESC is bringing all aspects of Europe’s cultural diversity to Basel, explained Conradin Cramer, president of the cantonal government of Basel-Stadt, at the presentation. «Artists from the region and further afield are capturing the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest and translating it into impressive artistic statements. Every work and exhibition is a sign of the creative power of art and the cultural city of Basel.»

Basel Tourism with «Tell your friends»

Basel Tourism’s «Tell your friends» campaign invites you to discover personal highlights and share them with your friends. It’s an initiative that makes the select offerings in the city visible and sparks inspiration. The entire art world is celebrating too, turning Basel into a vibrant scene where art captures the sound of the moment – and reinterprets it. An overview of what’s on offer can be found on the new Basel – Welcome Home app (download for free here).

Fondation Beyeler: «Over the Rainbow»

The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen is presenting a special exhibition of its collection to mark the occasion of the Eurovision Song Contest. Inspired by the classic song of the same name, «Over the Rainbow» will pay homage to music and colourfulness, aspects that characterise the Eurovision Song Contest. Ugo Rondinone’s iconic «We are poems» rainbow (2011) will shine from the roof of the museum. In addition to this, the Northern Lights exhibition will invite visitors to immerse themselves in the secretive world of the Nordic landscapes.

9–18 May 2025 | Reduced entry during the ESC week

Claudia Comte: «Lightning Symphony»

Lightning Symphony by Swiss artist Claudia Comte is a monumental inflatable sculpture next to the ESC Village at the Messeplatz which will transform the sound into a physical spatial experience. The installation, which is shaped like undulating sound waves, stretches horizontally across the floor – two colossal sound waves that become tangible – and forms an accessible corridor that invites visitors to experience the architecture of music for themselves.

As the artistic centrepiece of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, the Lightning Symphony will be a lively celebration of the rhythm, community and the uniting power of sound – an experience that is not to be missed!

«For the Eurovision Song Contest, I wanted to create an immersive installation that recognises the extensive interplay of sound, movement and contemporary art. This installation, called «Lightning Symphony», transforms the Messeplatz into a stage and place of refuge at the same time. It is a symbol of community, inviting all people – regardless of ethnicity, language or background – to experience music as a universal language that transcends boundaries.» Claudia Comte

Basel Tourism would like to thank the Christoph Merian Stiftung for its support.

From 10 May | Messeplatz | Open to the public

Jahic & Roethlisberger: «I Drove All Night – Thinking About You»

With their neon installation «I Drove All Night – Thinking About You», Swiss artists Jahic & Roethlisberger are making a poetic statement in a public space. Iconic pop song titles are turned into language and sculpture at the same time. «I Drove All Night» (Céline Dion, 2003) and «Thinking About You» (Whitney Houston, 1985) will transform the façade at Klybeckstrasse 18 in Basel into a stage for memories, emotions and collective projection.

The work comes from the series «Music – A Conversation Through Song Titles», in which Jahic & Roethlisberger have been exclusively exchanging song titles for years. The illuminated letters will be visible 24/7, but the work will reveal its full atmospheric effect at dusk and in the night, when the language of pop culture will light up in neon.

The installation is part of a more extensive collaboration with the Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger, where the «Music» exhibition provided in-depth insights back in 2021. Basel Tourism would like to thank the Kulturstiftung KBH.G for its support and involvement.

From 10 May | Klybeckstrasse 18 | Open to the public

Other art projects in the list are at the end of this announcement.

Young creatives at ADC Switzerland with national ESC campaign

In December, the ESC project team announced that it was forming a creative partnership with ADC Switzerland. Young members of the association were able to submit ideas for sparking joy among the public for this mega music event. Together with the winning team from the agency TBWA\ Switzerland, a captivating image campaign was created and presented on Monday at the Fondation Beyeler. It will take effect across Switzerland from28 April 2025.

The winning team of Naomi Gulla (Art Director), Alisea Ferrara (Junior Art Director), Selina Engeli (Junior Copywriter Creative) and Fabrice Studer (Junior Motion Designer) were accompanied by Manuel Wenzel (Chief Creative Officer), Sarah Rüegger (Creative Director), Claudia Sigg (Group Account Director) and Domenico Catena (DoP and Edit).

ADC president Thomas Wildberger says, «It was great to see how many young creatives responded to our call. We received so many ideas that went in various directions. It’s really interesting to see how young people think. We chose an idea that was true to the message and even pushed it to the limit in a viable way, so that it could be adapted for a number of channels. This ultimately achieves the most important campaign goal, namely to inspire not only ourselves, but also the public, who can now really look forward to the ESC. A huge thank-you and 12 points to the team from the TBWA\ Switzerland agency!»

Contact

Media Relations ESC Host City
Maja Hartmann
+41 79 859 10 75
esc-media@bs.ch

Contact

Communications Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Edi Estermann, Head of Communication ESC
+41 58 136 13 84
press@esc2025.swiss

Contact

ADC Switzerland
Hanna Jackl
+41 44 262 00 33
hanna.jackl@adc.ch

Other art projects during the ESC

Kunstmuseum Basel – After Work Drawing: Eurovision Special
Basel, Switzerland
15 May, 5 pm. Drawing on the theme of music & sound. No previous knowledge necessary. Attendance fee: CHF 7. Basel
https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch/de/besuch/agenda/detail/3869/after-work-drawing-eurovision-song-contest-special

Basel Paper Mill – Greetings from all over the world
Basel, Switzerland
Interactive exhibition with embroidered postcards. Collaboration with the Institut für Textiles Forschen. Basel
https://www.baslerpapiermuehle.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/C_BP_Leporello_170x120_AprilJuni2025_Final.pdf

Basel Historical Museum – ESC Memory Box
Basel, Switzerland
Interactive exhibition with fans’ objects connected to the ESC. Items can be lent or donated.
10-25 May, 11 am – 7 pm Basel
https://www.hmb.ch/en/news/news/esc-memory-box/

Natural History Museum Basel – ESC-week: Glitter & Glamour
Basel, Switzerland
”Wildlife Photographer of the Year” extended to 29 June
13–17 May: Free entry with special programme highlights such as a unicorn, telephone box disco and public viewing on 15 May. Basel
https://www.nmbs.ch/de/events/agenda.html

Anatomical Museum of the University of Basel – United by anatomy
2–30 May
Eurovision Song Contest fanpoint Basel
United by anatomy

Wall of Fame – Gerbergässlein
Graffiti wall with musical icons such as ABBA, Billie Eilish and Nirvana. Initiated and supported by L’Unique. Basel

The gateway to Basel – façade art on Heuwaage
Basel, Switzerland
Temporary artwork by sprayer collective 8.7 on the high-rise on Heuwaage. April to September 2025. Basel

Kunsthalle Basel
Kunsthalle Basel invites you to a special cultural programme during the ESC week:
Thursday 15 May 2025: Opening of Dala Nasser’s exhibition with free entry, food, a bar and music – held in the courtyard if weather is nice.
Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 May 2025: Free entry to all exhibitions. Basel https://www.kunsthallebasel.ch/event/vernissage-dala-nasser/

Von Bartha – IHR camille graeser
This exhibition at the von Bartha gallery provides a close-up view of the creative process of Swiss avant-garde artist Camille Graeser. Sketches and designs offer an insight into the artistic process in all its complexity.
Kannenfeldplatz 6, 4056 Basel
Opening times: Tues–Fri 2–6 pm | Sat 11 am – 4 pm Basel
https://www.vonbartha.com/exhibitions/camille-graeser-3/

CFA JUWELIA LIVE – Love Songs, Berlin Songs & Beauty Veil Dance
14 May 2025, 7 pm. CFA Basel presents a performance by Berlin-based drag queen Juwelia in the exhibition Take A Walk On The Wild Side by Annette Frick. Juwelia Soraya from Berlin’s Neukölln is the subject of a number of Frick’s portraits and will be performing love songs, Berlin songs and a beauty veil dance.
Contemporary Fine Arts Basel, Totengässlein 5, 4051 Basel basel.com,
https://cfa-gallery.com/news/juwelia-live-at-cfa-basel/

Kunsthaus Baselland – Short guided tours as part of the ESC
13–17 May 2025, 4 pm: Short guided tours of the current exhibition and the new architecture with the Kunsthaus team.
 Language:

  •  Tuesday (13/5), Wednesday (14/5), Thursday (15/5 with bar open until 8 pm): German
  •  Friday (16/5): French
  •  Saturday (17/5): English

 Price: Entry CHF 12 / 9, guided tour free.
 https://www.kunsthausbaselland.ch

Performances & events

 
Open air & special locations

  • POPup TEAclub – Theaterplatz
    10 & 17 May: Outdoor living room with tea performance, straw bale sofas & mobile forest. Collaboration with GroenlandBasel, Chrüterhüsli and Theater Basel. Basel
    https://theaterplatz-quartier.ch/#teaclub
     
  • BVB karaoke tram
    Mobile karaoke on rails! (Düwag No 628)
     
  • Basler Personenschifffahrt – ESC boats
    ABBA Boat, Sunset Cruise & more | 10–17 May, daily departures & dance on board
    https://www.bpg.ch/esc
  • Novartis Campus
    Information to follow – involved in the official ESC framework programme   
    https://www.novartis.com/eurovision
     
  • Helvetia Campus
    Supporting the ESC – programme details on the website

Dance & participation formats

Concerts & parties

Overview of the ESC events: https://www.basel.com/de/esc/esc-2025/erlebnisse#/event

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