Not even a week after Nemo’s win at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, and speculation has arisen about who will host the 2025 edition of the contest. Now Switzerland’s unofficial capital city Bern has been encouraged to submit a bid to host next year.
Another city encouraged to bid
The most recent push to see Bern host the contest comes from the nearby municipality of Biel/Bienne. In a recent meeting of the municipal government, the council of Biel/Bienne has stated its desire to see Bern host the 2025 edition of the contest. The nearby city sits within the same canton as Bern and would likely see an increase in tourism from the city hosting. At the time of writing the city of Bern had made no formal outlines over its plans to submit a bit to host or not. Three other cities across the country however have expressed a desire to host.
Bern
Unofficially referred to a Switzerland’s capital (despite the country having no city with such status), the city of Bern sits within the canton that shares it name. At just shy of 150,000 people, Bern would be one of the smallest cities to host the contest if it were to win the rights to do so. The city boasts Switzerland’s largest indoor arena; PostFinance Arena. The primarily hockey venue has a capacity of up to 17,000 at concerts.
Switzerland’s Eurovision Journey
Switzerland both hosted and debuted in the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Their first participation was successful, as they won with Lys Assia’s “Refrain”. Since then, they have participated on 63 occasions, making the Grand Final 52 times.
Switzerland’s most recent participation saw them being represented by Nemo with their song “The Code”. Performing in the second semi-final, they qualified for the Grand Final for a fifth consecutive participation. At the end of voting in the final, it was revealed Switzerland had won the contest. Nemo scored 365 points with the national juries, as well as 226 points with the televote. The overall winning score for “The Code” was 591 points. This win marks Switzerland’s third win in the contest following on from Lys Assia in 1956 and Celine Dion in 1988.
Are you wanting to see the contest go to Bern next year? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we head towards rehearsals for Eurovision 2024!
Source: Biel/Bienne municipal government
Image Credit: CucombreLibre / Wikimedia
Rory Gannon 
That Eurovision Site