Art metropolis Basel wants to shine as a party city with the ESC
Published: Friday, Aug 30th 2024, 11:00
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With a population of just 183,000, the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Basel is an art metropolis of European standing and a center of life sciences. As a pop and party city, however, the tradition-steeped city on the border triangle with France and Germany has so far played more of a minor role.
With "Crossing Borders", Basel successfully campaigned to be considered as a venue for the European Song Contest (ESC) 2025. It was a campaign that was supported by a large part of the population.
A sign of this was a resolution in the Basel parliament, which was passed in June with a three-quarters majority - even with votes from the right-wing SVP, which is more moderate in left-green Basel than elsewhere in Switzerland.
Federal Councillor Beat Jans (SP), the first Basel representative in the Swiss government for decades, described Nemo's ESC victory as a stroke of luck and a call to take better account of the interests of non-binary people. In his previous role as President of the Basel cantonal government, Jans had obtained a progressive equality law in this regard.
The official Basel hopes that the ESC will enhance its image as a pop and party city. Zurich is the clear leader in this respect throughout Switzerland, but even tranquil Bern has overtaken Basel when it comes to major pop open-air events. The recently renovated St. Jakobshalle is also hoping that hosting the ESC will wake it up from its slumber.
Splendor as an art metropolis
The rich city on the banks of the Rhine shines above all as an art metropolis. Art Basel, the world's most important art fair, takes place here every year. With the Kunstmuseum Basel and the Fondation Beyeler, Basel is home to two of Europe's leading art museums.
Basel's position as a research and business center for the life sciences also ensures an international flair. Novartis and Roche, two of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, are based in Basel.
Otherwise, it is more traditional events that characterize Basel's cultural and social life. First and foremost is the Basel Carnival, which has been on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage since 2017, but is not held as an exuberant festive event like elsewhere.
In 2025, the city of Basel will not only ensure international appeal as the venue for the ESC, but also as the main host of the European Women's Football Championship. Switzerland's largest football stadium, the home ground of former Swiss football champions FC Basel, will host the opening match and the final, among others.
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