How to Watch Eurovision: A Fun Guide for First-Timers and Superfans

Eurovision 2025 is coming to Basel—and whether you're a die-hard fan or just here for the chaos, you’re in for a show.
Here’s how to watch it from anywhere in the world (sequins optional).

FYI - if you’re travelling abroad and want to catch all the Eurovision drama on the road, make sure you’ve got the all the mobile data you need.

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What Is Eurovision?

Think of Eurovision as the Olympics of pop music—if the Olympics were a glitter-soaked, key-change-filled, wildly unpredictable talent show where everyone pretends it's not political.

Launched in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest brings together countries from across Europe (and a few extras like Australia, because why not?) to compete for continental glory. Each country sends one act to perform a three-minute original song. That’s right—just one shot to win hearts, points, and maybe an awkward trophy.

The competition includes:

• Two semi-finals (so the really bad ones get weeded out early)
• One grand final (where televotes can flip everything)
• An often confusing but deeply loved voting system combining national juries and public votes

Past winners include ABBA (Sweden), Celine Dion (Switzerland, weirdly), and Loreen (twice, Sweden again). Expect ballads, bangers, and at least one guy in a cape.

When and Where Is Eurovision 2025?

Mark your calendars and cancel your plans—Eurovision 2025 is taking over Basel in Switzerland! (Check out our Basel guide here)

Here’s the typical breakdown:

• Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, May 6
• Semi-Final 2: Thursday, May 8
• Grand Final: Saturday, May 10

Each show starts at 9PM Central European Time (CET) — here’s when to watch depending on your location:

UK: 8PM BST

USA (East): 3PM EDT

USA (West): 12PM PDT

Australia: 5AM AEST (next day)

Ireland: 8PM IST

Sweden: 9PM CEST

Thailand: 2AM ICT (next day)

The Grand Final is where the chaos peaks: 26 countries, 3 hours of drama, and enough glitter to blind a small nation.

How to Watch Eurovision 2025 in Your Country

Whether you're tuning in from a cozy couch in Dublin or streaming on-the-go in New York, here's how to catch all the glittery action of Eurovision 2025:

United States

• TV Channel: Not available on traditional TV.
• Streamer: Peacock (Live coverage of all shows)

United Kingdom

• TV Channel: BBC One
• Streamer: BBC iPlayer

Ireland

• TV Channel: RTÉ One
• Streamer: RTÉ Player

France

• TV Channel: France 2
• Streamer: France.tv

Germany

• TV Channel: Das Erste (Final), One (Semi-finals)
• Streamer: ARD Mediathek

Sweden

• TV Channel: SVT1
• Streamer: SVT Play

Portugal

• TV Channel: RTP1
• Streamer: RTP Play

Netherlands

• TV Channel: NPO1
• Streamer: NPO Start

Australia

• TV Channel: SBS
• Streamer: SBS On Demand

Everywhere Else

• Streamer: Eurovision's Official YouTube Channel (Live streams available in select regions)

Pro Tip: If you're traveling or your country isn't listed, consider using a VPN to access streams from other regions. Just make sure to comply with local laws and streaming service terms.

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And if you're abroad during Eurovision? Don’t get stuck with hotel Wi-Fi or brutal roaming charges. Grab a travel eSIM for instant data in 200+ destinations—including the UK, Ireland, Sweden and more. Stream every semi-final in glorious HD, no buffering, no stress.

What to Expect – The Vibe of Eurovision 2025

Eurovision isn’t just a song contest. It’s a glam-pop fever dream wrapped in glitter, questionable fashion, and the occasional screaming sax solo.

Here’s what you’re in for:

The Performances

Expect everything. Torch ballads, EDM bangers, folk-metal hybrids, and one guy who insists on yodelling while standing in a wind tunnel. Three minutes per act, no second chances, and often no shoes.

The Outfits

Subtlety left the building years ago. Think: sequins, LED suits, capes, interpretive dance, and that one contestant who looks like a budget superhero—and owns it.

The Voting Drama

Votes come from juries and public televotes. Cue chaos. A jury darling can be obliterated by public vote (or vice versa), and politics definitely don't influence the scoreboard (wink).

The Lingo

• “Nul points” – zero points. Ouch. It happens.
• “Douze points” – 12 points. The Holy Grail.
• “Bloc voting” – when neighboring countries always give each other top marks. Allegedly.
• “The Big Five” – UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. They auto-qualify because they bankroll the thing.

The Chaos

There’s always at least one moment that lives rent-free in your brain: a singing turkey puppet (2008), a man in a hamster wheel (2014), or Moldova’s sax guy (forever). Eurovision doesn't ask why. It asks, why not?

Missed It Live? Here’s How to Catch Up

It’s OK. Life happens. Time zones are rude. But don’t worry — Eurovision lives forever on the internet.

Watch the Full Shows

• Head to the Eurovision YouTube channel. Full semi-finals and the Grand Final will be uploaded and timestamped.
• BBC iPlayer (UK), SBS On Demand (Australia), and other national broadcasters keep replays for a few days (or weeks).

Best of the Best (and the Worst)

• Can’t commit to 3+ hours? Watch the official recap videos with 30-second clips of every song.
• Or just Google “Eurovision 2025 weirdest moments” and spiral from there.

Relive It in Audio Form

• The full album will be on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Perfect for judging songs again in your car like it’s the jury final.

Post-Show Podcasts & Commentary

• Try The Euro Trip, ESC Insight, or Wiwibloggs for post-show reactions, interviews, and “HOW did that song win?!” debates.

Whether you're cheering for power ballads, Balkan beats, or a man in a glitter cape playing a flaming accordion, Eurovision 2025 is ready to deliver.

So fire up your eSIM, charge your devices, and remember: in Eurovision, the weirdest act might just win.

Douze points to you for making it this far.

See you at the final.