Tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 have officially gone on sale today, January 29, 2025, at 10:00 CET. Excitement surrounds this year’s contest, set to take place May 13, 15, and 17, 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, especially following Switzerland’s recent victory with their representative, Nemo, during the 2024 contest held in Malmö, Sweden.
This year, approximately 50,000 to 60,000 tickets are available for fans eager to witness the colorful spectacle of Eurovision live. Interested buyers were required to pre-register for ticket sales at Ticketcorner.ch, giving them access to one-time codes for purchasing tickets. This process aimed to mitigate the effects of ticket scalpers, which have been infamous at large-scale events.
The general ticket sale opened today, with the chance to purchase up to four tickets per order, ensuring fair access for those who registered before the January 10 deadline. The tickets are priced between 10 CHF (approximately 10.50 Euro) for limited-view seats during the afternoon previews, and up to 350 CHF (approximately 371 Euro) for standing tickets at the grand finale. Nonetheless, high demand has led to some challenges for fans attempting to secure their places.
Users took to social media to express their frustrations. Many reported difficulties accessing the ticketing site, with comments such as, “I logged on 50 minutes early but couldn’t get to the queue. No tickets for me.” The disappointment echoed through various platforms, as customers experienced issues with both the website and ticket availability. Ticketcorner responded, saying, “We understand the disappointment. The demand was significantly higher than the offer,” addressing user concerns about accessibility.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 is officially scheduled for three nights of live performances across its nine shows. The schedule includes two semi-finals on May 13 and 15, leading up to the grand finale on May 17, where the winner will be crowned. Each ticket order must be completed within 12 minutes, per regulations to avoid dilapidation and loss of opportunities. If participants can’t secure tickets during today’s sale, hopes remain for two additional ticket sale waves expected at later dates.
According to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), preparations are gearing up to accommodate the extensive audience expected during the event. "Tickets can only be resold at the printed original price," added EBU representatives amid concerns about potential resale markup by opportunists. The organizers and Ticketcorner aim to protect fans from inflated prices and limited availability, which has been typical of popular concerts.
The formats of the shows include evening and afternoon preview events, which will provide fans with unique experiences akin to the live broadcasts. The first preview event showcases the final rehearsal with juries, reflecting the competitive spirit of Eurovision. Previews serve to give audiences insights, excitement, and the chance to participate actively during performances.
While some fans celebrate their successful ticket purchases with exclamations of joy like, “Oh yeah baby,” others lament the high costs, sharing sentiments such as, “230 Euros is too expensive for me and my friends.” Nevertheless, the euphoric atmosphere is undeniable, as international attention converges on Basel for this cultural celebration.
The public viewing event, dubbed "Arena Plus," will run concurrently with the live finals on May 17 at the nearby St. Jakob-Park stadium, which holds about 36,000 spectators. Tickets for these community-screening events will also be available from January 30 onwards, allowing even more fans to partake in the excitement. This viewing experience includes additional live performances and engage with the build-up leading to the contest finale.
Regardless of the ticket sales chaos, the anticipation for Eurovision 2025 continues to grow as fans worldwide prepare for one of the biggest musical celebrations to date. The European music community is eagerly awaiting the contest where culture, creativity, and competition unite.