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Céline Dion made a rare public appearance during the first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, delivering a heartfelt pre-recorded message to mark the competition’s return to Switzerland for the first time since her victory in 1988.
“I’d love nothing more than to be with you,” Dion said, seemingly ruling out a live performance. “Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It’s the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary.” The pop icon, who won the contest for Switzerland in Dublin by a single point over the UK, appeared during the interval as votes were being cast.
While Dion’s appearance was limited to video due to ongoing health struggles related to stiff-person syndrome, her inclusion was a coup for organizers. Her emotional message praised the country that launched her to stardom and reflected on the victory that changed her life.
Speculation over Dion’s involvement had grown since Swiss singer Nemo’s 2024 victory brought the contest back to Swiss soil. Organizers have not ruled out a surprise appearance in the final, stating, “We are still in close contact with her.”
The semi-final, held at Basel’s St Jakobshalle, saw 15 acts perform, with 10 progressing to Saturday’s grand finale. Among the qualifiers was Sweden’s KAJ, a trio whose comedic sauna-themed anthem Bara Bada Bastu has become a runaway favorite. Performed in the Vörå dialect, the accordion-led song has dominated the Swedish charts and boasts a 40% chance of victory, which would make Sweden the most successful Eurovision nation with eight titles.
Also qualifying were acts from Norway, Albania, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine. Notably missing from the list was Belgium’s Red Sebastian, whose upbeat rave track Strobe Lights was tipped to reach the top five but failed to make the cut—on his 26th birthday.
Performances ranged from emotional tributes, like Slovenia’s Klemen singing upside down in honor of his cancer-survivor wife, to theatrical stunts like Poland’s Justyna Steczkowska floating midair. Estonia’s Tommy Cash even staged a mock stage invasion during his quirky track Espresso Macchiato.
The second semi-final will determine the remaining finalists. The “Big Five” countries and Switzerland, last year’s winners, are already guaranteed spots in Saturday’s show, which promises surprises—and possibly another appearance by Dion.
