AP PHOTOS: The Eurovision Song Contest is back

May 14, 2025
ap-photos:-the-eurovision-song-contest-is-back

By  MARTIN MEISSNER

 

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Eurovision has officially started, with the first round of semi-finals held Tuesday in the Swiss city of Basel.

The contest is a week of power pop and outrageous outfits that culminates in the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night. Competitors representing 37 countries are competing in one of the world’s biggest spectacles.

Dances in costume perform during an interval during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Dances in costume perform during an interval during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Melody from Spain performs the song

Melody from Spain performs the song “ESA DIVA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

KAJ from Sweden performs the song

KAJ from Sweden performs the song “Bara Bada Bastu” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song

Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Ziferblat from Ukraine performs the song

Ziferblat from Ukraine performs the song “Bird of Pray” during the dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Kyle Alessandro from Norway performs the song 'Lighter' during the dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Kyle Alessandro from Norway performs the song ‘Lighter’ during the dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Claude from the Netherlands performs the song

Claude from the Netherlands performs the song “C’est La Vie” during the dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Claude from the Netherlands performs the song

Claude from the Netherlands performs the song “C’est La Vie” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Ziferblat from Ukraine performs the song

Ziferblat from Ukraine performs the song “Bird of Pray” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

VAEB from Iceland performs the song

VAEB from Iceland performs the song “ROA” during the dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Melody from Spain performs the song

Melody from Spain performs the song “ESA DIVA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song

Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song “GAJA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song

Justyna Steczkowska from Poland performs the song “GAJA” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song

Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song

Lucio Corsi from Italy performs the song “Volevo Essere Un Duro” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Mamagama from Azerbaijan performs the song

Mamagama from Azerbaijan performs the song “Run With U” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song

Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song “Tutta L’Italia” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song

Gabry Ponte from San Marino performs the song “Tutta L’Italia” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Red Sebastian from Belgium performs the song

Red Sebastian from Belgium performs the song “Strobe Lights” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Shkodra Elektronike from Albania performs the song

Shkodra Elektronike from Albania performs the song “Zjerm” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Marko Bosnjak from Croatia performs the song

Marko Bosnjak from Croatia performs the song “Poison Cake” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Klemen from Slovenia performs the song

Klemen from Slovenia performs the song “How Much Time Do We Have Left” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Theo Evan from Cyprus performs the song

Theo Evan from Cyprus performs the song “Shh” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

KAJ from Sweden who performed

KAJ from Sweden who performed “Bara Bada Bastu” celebrate after progressing through the first semi-final to the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest,in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Kyle Alessandro from Norway who performed the song

Kyle Alessandro from Norway who performed the song “Lighter” celebrates after progressing through first semi-final to the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

VAEB from Iceland who performed the song

VAEB from Iceland who performed the song “ROA” celebrate after progressing through during the first semi-final to the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

___ For more coverage of this year’s Eurovision contest, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/eurovision-song-contest

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