Basel in ESC fever: JJ as favorite – fans are already booking for 2026!

Basel in ESC fever: JJ as favorite – fans are already booking for 2026!

On May 17, 2025, the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will take place in Basel, Switzerland. The anticipation for the major musical event is already noticeable. Fans in Basel firmly believe that artist JJ, who is considered one of the big favorites, will win the competition. In fact, some experienced ESC fans have already reserved hotel rooms for the next event in Vienna in 2026, underlining the fans' confidence. The betting odds support this opinion, as JJ is in second place, while he is even ranked first in the jury rankings. oe24 reports that the community in Basel is optimistic about JJ's chances and hopes that the next ESC will take place there.

However, the expectations are not undisputed. There are rumors of a possible “conspiracy” against JJ from Sweden, while competitor Hunziker is mentioned as a new challenge for him. Despite this, JJ remains positive and is reportedly planning a "cunning ploy" to win the climax of the competition. In Basel, the artists and fans are feeling the excitement, as the price tags for accommodation reflect the great interest - recently over 1,000 euros per night were charged for accommodation in dormitories.

Keep an eye on the competition

While JJ is in the favorites lists, there are also other artists who are making people sit up and take notice with their contributions. From Israel, Yuval Raphael performs “New Day Will Rise,” a song sung in multiple languages ​​– English, Hebrew and French. Raphael is a survivor of the Hamas massacre at the 2023 Supernova Festival, an experience that significantly shapes her contribution. It became the focus of the discussions that are expected during the ESC in Basel. According to Krone, their song will cause a stir due to its special content that goes beyond the typical ESC contributions.

Another candidate is Claude from the Netherlands, who wants to delight the audience with his hit “C’est La Vie”. He has made a name for himself with over 100 million streams of his songs and plans to reach a wider audience through the ESC. Many also see him as serious competition, as he benefits from the combination of ballad and upbeat pop track. He is listed at number 5 in the betting odds.

Historical context and audience interest

The ESC, which has been a tradition since 1956, attracts attention worldwide. Last year's winner Nemo from Switzerland is often mentioned as a three-time winner of the competition after he scored a total of 591 points with his song "The Code" in Malmö. Germany will be represented in 2025 by the duo Abor & Tynna with their song “Baller”. However, the ratings show a worrying trend; There were around 163 million viewers worldwide in 2024, which represents a slight increase compared to 2023. In Germany only 7.38 million people tuned in, a decline compared to the previous year. Despite this, the ESC remains an important event on the TV calendar, even if the number of viewers does not reach the heights of previous years. Statista states that Ireland and Sweden are the most successful countries in the history of the competition, with seven wins each.

The anticipation for the ESC is great, and fans will be keen to see how the competition develops over the course of the event. The next few weeks will be crucial to see who can ultimately take home the long-awaited title.