https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260426/geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200 geopolitics-threatens-70th-anniversary-of-eurovision Austria's JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday, with his operatic song "Wasted Love" triumphing at the world's biggest live music television event. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250518/austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Sun, 18 May 2025 09:56:32 +0200 austrias-jj-wins-eurovision-2025-with-opera-techno-fusion Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes. But what are the voting patterns, and what external factors help explain them? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250515/what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics Thu, 15 May 2025 13:40:51 +0200 what-eurovisions-voting-patterns-can-teach-you-about-european-politics The Eurovision Song Contest burst into Basel on Sunday with a sun-drenched parade -- mixed with protests over Israel's participation -- kicking off a week of revelry building up to the grand final. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250511/eurovision-song-contest-week-kicks-off-with-sunny-parade Sun, 11 May 2025 20:40:24 +0200 eurovision-song-contest-week-kicks-off-with-sunny-parade Basel will be in the international spotlight for a week of festivities surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest but the Swiss city has been at the heart of European culture for centuries. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250508/how-swiss-city-of-basel-is-the-heart-of-european-culture Thu, 08 May 2025 13:22:28 +0200 how-swiss-city-of-basel-is-the-heart-of-european-culture Swiss schoolchildren are drawing inspiration from Eurovision and creating their own songs, to be performed before an audience of thousands in the build-up to this year's extravaganza in Basel. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250509/eurovision-vibe-gets-swiss-schoolkids-songwriting Fri, 09 May 2025 11:15:48 +0200 eurovision-vibe-gets-swiss-schoolkids-songwriting Eurovision host city Basel laid on a mass over-60s disco on Saturday to whip up the party mood ahead of the event's grand final in two weeks' time. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250504/eurovision-limbers-up-in-basel-with-over-60s-disco Sun, 04 May 2025 10:45:00 +0200 eurovision-limbers-up-in-basel-with-over-60s-disco Basel will host this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) from May 13th to 17th. Local authorities want to ensure all attendees have not only a great time, but are safe from harm as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250310/basel-prepares-an-anti-violence-plan-for-eurovision-contest Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:34:07 +0100 basel-prepares-an-anti-violence-plan-for-eurovision-contest Basel will host the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest after being chosen ahead of Geneva on Friday to stage the glitzy TV extravaganza following Swiss artist Nemo's victory in this year's edition. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240830/breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:25:44 +0200 breaking-swiss-city-of-basel-picked-to-host-eurovision-2025 Swiss singer Nemo's 2024 Eurovision victory means Switzerland gets to host the glitzy TV extravaganza next year -- though battles are now raging over footing the bill. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240714/swiss-cities-battle-to-host-eurovision-2025-or-not Sun, 14 Jul 2024 11:16:51 +0200 swiss-cities-battle-to-host-eurovision-2025-or-not After Switzerland's victory in the 2024 Eurovision song contest several Swiss cities are already being considered to host next year’s event. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240513/which-city-in-switzerland-is-likely-to-host-eurovision-2025 Mon, 13 May 2024 12:10:28 +0200 which-city-in-switzerland-is-likely-to-host-eurovision-2025 Switzerland promised a joyous celebration Sunday for Nemo, the first non-binary performer to win the Eurovision Song Contest at the end of one of the most politically-charged competitions ever. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240512/gender-breakthrough-in-swiss-triumph-at-politically-charged-eurovision-contest Sun, 12 May 2024 18:41:23 +0200 gender-breakthrough-in-swiss-triumph-at-politically-charged-eurovision-contest Nemo fans partied in the streets of Biel after their hometown hero won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240512/nemos-hometown-celebrates-eurovision-win-for-switzerland Sun, 12 May 2024 11:12:57 +0200 nemos-hometown-celebrates-eurovision-win-for-switzerland Switzerland has a smaller Eurovision fanbase compared to countries like the UK, Germany, Spain, or Sweden. But when it comes to actually competing in it – it’s certainly no slouch. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230508/everything-you-need-to-know-about-eurovision-in-switzerland Mon, 08 May 2023 15:09:05 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-eurovision-in-switzerland Switzerland will be represented at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest by 28-year-old Appenzeller Marius Bear. Will he follow in the footsteps of Switzerland's most famous winner, Celine Dion? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220310/marius-bear-who-is-switzerlands-eurovision-entrant-for-2022 Thu, 10 Mar 2022 17:57:50 +0100 marius-bear-who-is-switzerlands-eurovision-entrant-for-2022 Swiss singer Lys Assia, the first-ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, has died aged 94, the competition's organisers said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180325/lys-assia-eurovisions-first-ever-winner-dies-aged-94 Sun, 25 Mar 2018 17:28:35 +0200 lys-assia-eurovisions-first-ever-winner-dies-aged-94 The competition to choose Switzerland’s entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest moves into the final stage on Sunday when the six finalists will perform in a televised show. https://www.thelocal.ch/20180202/six-finalists-compete-to-be-switzerlands-eurovision-entry Fri, 02 Feb 2018 13:01:23 +0100 six-finalists-compete-to-be-switzerlands-eurovision-entry A trio from Bern will represent Switzerland in the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday evening. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170511/timebelle-competes-for-switzerland-in-this-years-eurovision Thu, 11 May 2017 13:38:07 +0200 timebelle-competes-for-switzerland-in-this-years-eurovision Eurovision said on Thursday that a Russian singer who was barred from entering Ukraine can compete in this year's contest in Kiev via satellite, in a bid to ease a political flap clouding the competition. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170324/eurovision-says-russian-contestant-can-compete-via-satellite-link Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:43:20 +0100 eurovision-says-russian-contestant-can-compete-via-satellite-link Switzerland’s Eurovision entrant – Canadian born Rykka – failed in her bid to reach Saturday’s grand final after she was knocked out in the second semifinal in Stockholm on Thursday night. https://www.thelocal.ch/20160513/switzerlands-rykka-fails-to-make-eurovision-final Fri, 13 May 2016 11:12:35 +0200 switzerlands-rykka-fails-to-make-eurovision-final