Basel in the Spotlight of Europe

By Pepe Strub, March 7th, 2025.

The start of Carnival this coming Monday March 10, the European Song Contest (ESC) in May and the women’s European Soccer Championship just after will put Basel in the spotlight of Europe this year.

The Carnival in Basel, better known as the “Basler Fasnacht,” is one of the most significant and vibrant cultural events of Switzerland. It takes place in the days leading up to Lent, starting on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasting for three days. The festival is renowned for its unique traditions, elaborate costumes, and lively music, making it a highlight of the Swiss cultural calendar.

The origins of Basel’s Carnival date back to the Middle Ages, with some historical references dating back to the 14th century. The event was initially a time for revelry and feasting before the solemn period of Lent. Over the centuries, it has developed into a distinct celebration that reflects the city’s cultural identity.

The Basler Fasnacht is characterized by several unique traditions: “Morgestraich” is the official beginning at 4 AM on Monday when the city goes dark and is illuminated by lanterns, large and small.

Groups of musicians (Cliquen) participate with their own costumes and instruments, playing traditional tunes and original compositions. Parades on Monday and Wednesday afternoon include floats where participants wear elaborate disguise and carry satirical messages about current events, politics and social issues.

The music of Basel’s Carnival is a vital component of the celebration. The primary instruments used by the Cliquen include Piccolo, Drums and Bass instruments. The combination of these instruments creates a distinctive sound which is instantly recognizable and integral to the Carnival atmosphere.

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held at St. Jakob’s Halle from May 13 – 17. This is the 69th time this Contest is been held since its first edition in 1956. Originally conceived as an experiment in transnational television broadcasting, the event has evolved to a widely followed international song competition.

Nemo of Switzerland won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest with their song ‘The Code’. The country of the winner is automatically host of the next event. After a competitive selection process that saw a number of potential Host Cities narrow down to Basel and Geneva, Switzerland’s third-most-populous city won out, and will host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest. The bid process examined facilities at the venue, local infrastructure and the ability to accommodate thousands of visiting delegations, crew, fans and journalists from around the world, amongst other criteria.

There will be 37 public service broadcasters at Eurovision in Basel 2025. 31 of the 37 participating broadcasters will compete in the Semi-Finals on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May with the Top 10 from each qualifying for the Grand Final on Saturday 17 May based on public votes. Hosts Hazel Brugger, Michelle Hunziker and Sandra Studer will be presenting the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 when it comes to Basel in May.

The UEFA Woman’s Euro 2025 is jointly held in Switzerland from July 2 – 27. 16 European Teams will compete in 8 venues for the title of best women’s team. During the group stage 16 teams play to qualify for the Knockout stage from July 16 and until the Final in Basel on July 27. A tram advertising the Women’s Euro is already circulating in Basel, and other cities are to follow.

Switzerland has stated that the goal is for all matches to sell out thus increasing the benchmark for women’s sporting events. Around 720,000 tickets will be sold for the tournament with tickets starting at CHF25. As of now, over 350,000 tickets had been sold with Germany, England, Wales, France, and Norway being the countries with the highest ticket sales outside of Switzerland.