As the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 approaches, excitement is building for the grand final on 17 May at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland.
With 37 countries participating, fans and bookmakers are speculating on who will take home the coveted trophy. We go through some notable candidates to triumph in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Take a look at what we predicted for last year’s competition in our 2024 Eurovision blog
Sweden: The Frontrunner
Sweden head the betting once again, aiming for a record-breaking eighth Eurovision victory. Their entry, “Bara Bada Bastu” by the Finnish-Swedish trio KAJ, is a quirky, comedic song celebrating sauna culture.
It is Sweden’s first Swedish-language entry since 1998 and has garnered significant attention, boasting over 20 million Spotify streams, and they’re the clear favourites to win the competition, priced at 11/10.
Austria: A Strong Contender
Close behind the Swedes are Austria, represented by JJ with the song “Wasted Love.” This emotional ballad combines operatic vocals with modern pop elements, showcasing JJ’s unique talent. Austria’s odds have improved recently and they’re right behind Sweden in the betting at 5/2 to win their third Eurovision Song Contest.
France: Gaining Momentum
France’s entry, “Maman” by Louane, is a heartfelt tribute that has resonated with audiences. Initially not among the leading contenders, France has climbed the ranks and are now the joint-third favourites in the market behind the two front-runners at 9/1.
Other Notable Entries
Israel’s “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael and the Netherlands’ “C’est La Vie” by Claude are also in the mix, at 10/1 and 16/1, respectively. These entries have garnered attention for their impactful performances and have currently registered over 15 million combined listens on Spotify.
United Kingdom: An Underdog Story
The UK is represented by the girl band Remember Monday with their country-pop track “What The Hell Just Happened?” Despite their growing popularity on TikTok, they’re a long shot to pull off winning the competition, and are 66/1.
Who won Eurovision 2024?
Switzerland won the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest with a performance by Swiss rapper and singer Nemo, who triumphed with “The Code,” a diverse song blending drum-and-bass, opera, rap, and rock elements. Croatian artist Baby Lasagna secured second place, while Germany’s Isaak took third.
How Does Eurovision Voting Work?
Eurovision voting combines two elements: national jury votes and public voting. Each participating country awards two sets of points: one from a professional music industry jury and another from viewers at home. The points range from 1 to 8, then 10 and finally 12 for the nation’s top pick.
After each country’s jury votes are announced live during the broadcast, the public votes from all countries are combined and revealed in dramatic fashion. This dual voting system is designed to balance industry expertise with popular opinion, and it often results in unexpected final outcomes.
It’s also worth noting that you can’t vote for your own country, and each nation’s votes are independently verified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ensure fairness.
Conclusion
While Sweden stands as the favourite, the dynamics of Eurovision means surprises are always possible. With strong contenders from Austria and France, and potential dark horses like Israel and the Netherlands, the 2025 contest promises to be an exciting event.
Bet on the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with William Hill
