Eurovision Song Contest kicks off in Basel with sunny parade and cultural celebrations, while facing protests over Israel's participation in the international event.
"The ESC is the most groundbreaking Swiss invention, after the pocket knife, the zipper and bircher muesli."
"Israel: open Gaza's borders. Let aid in."
Basel has erupted into a spectacle of sound and color, but the 69th Eurovision Song Contest launches under a shadow of intense geopolitical friction. As the Swiss city welcomes a staggering 160 million global viewers, the atmosphere is a high-voltage clash between celebration and conflict. The event burst into life on Sunday with a sun-drenched parade, yet the glitter of 37 competing nations failed to fully obscure the looming reality of the war in Gaza.
While Europop beats and dramatic staging dominate the headlines, the political backdrop is impossible to ignore. Conradin Cramer, president of the Basel City canton, boldly declared the event open, calling it "the most groundbreaking Swiss invention, after the pocket knife, the zipper and bircher muesli." Yet, even as vintage trams ferried performers along the record-breaking 1.3-kilometre turquoise carpet, the "heart of Europe" is beating with a nervous rhythm. The city is buzzing with vibrant energy, but it is also bracing for a week where kitsch collides head-on with international outrage.
The dissent was immediate and visible. As the festivities began outside Basel's iconic 500-year-old city hall, the narrative of unity was fractured by protest. Amidst the sea of fans, Palestinian flags waved defiantly, with one affixed directly above a Pride flag. Banners with stark messages like "Israel: open Gaza's borders" and "No applause for genocide" cut through the party atmosphere, challenging the event's apolitical stance.
Security forces were compelled to act, tackling a flag-waving protester who breached the parade route. The tension is not just external; it comes from within the Eurovision family itself. Nemo, the Swiss vocalist who stormed to victory in 2024 with "The Code," has openly turned against the organizers' decision to include Israel. "Israel's actions are fundamentally at odds with the values that Eurovision claims to uphold," Nemo stated, calling for the nation's exclusion. This internal rebellion from a reigning champion adds unprecedented weight to the demonstrations, proving that this year, the drama off-stage rivals the theatrics on it.
At the center of the storm stands Yuval Raphael, Israel's 24-year-old entrant, whose personal history is as dramatic as the contest itself. Raphael is a survivor of the October 7 attacks, having hidden beneath dead bodies as Hamas gunmen massacred hundreds at a music festival. Now, she steps onto the world's biggest stage with her song "New Day Will Rise," aiming to send a message of healing.
However, her presence is a lightning rod for controversy. As Raphael waved and blew kisses to the crowd outside city hall, posing with the Israeli flag, she was met with a polarized reception. While she hopes for solidarity, the streets of Basel offered a stark counter-narrative, with signs reading "Singing while Gaza burns." The contrast is jarring: a performer seeking to transcend trauma through music, facing a public that views her participation as a normalization of the ongoing war. This dynamic ensures that every moment Raphael is on screen will be charged with political significance far beyond the lyrics of her song.
Amid the noise, a fierce musical battle is underway. The semi-finals will ruthlessly cut the field, seeing 11 countries bow out before Saturday's grand final at the St. Jakobshalle arena. Sweden is currently surging as the hot favorite, with their entry KAJ delivering a comical, accordion-driven anthem about the joys of a sauna—a classic Eurovision earworm that could take the crown.
Hot on their heels is Austria's JJ with "Wasted Love," a track that flips between operatic vocals and modern beats, mirroring the style of last year's winner, Nemo. The bookmakers are also eyeing France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Finland, creating a crowded field of contenders. With only 26 nations making the final cut, the pressure is immense. While the political storm rages outside, inside the arena, the focus remains on who can deliver the perfect three-minute performance to capture the hearts of millions.
Beyond the glitter of Eurovision, Basel is asserting its dominance as a European cultural and economic heavyweight. This is a city that punches well above its weight class. With a population of 180,000, it sits strategically at the intersection of Switzerland, France, and Germany, driving an economy fueled by global pharmaceutical giants like Roche and Novartis. The skyline is dominated by the Roche Towers, soaring 205 meters into the air, symbolizing the city's industrial might.
But Basel is not just about chemicals and capital; it is a sanctuary for the arts. Home to the oldest public art collection in the world at the Kunstmuseum and the prestigious Art Basel fair, the city has a pedigree that dates back centuries. From the grave of Erasmus to the kinetic sculptures of the Museum Tinguely, Basel is a city of intellect and innovation. As it hosts this global party, Basel is reminding the world that it is not merely a venue, but a historic "heart of Europe" capable of weathering both earthquakes and geopolitical firestorms.