The EBU confirms 38 countries at Eurovision 2025

The EBU has just confirme that 38 countries will participate in Eurovision 2025, in Basel, marking the end of a period with little suspense about the list of participants.

Last year’s countries, and Montenegro’s return

All 37 countries that took part in Eurovision earlier this year, in Malmö, will be back in Basel in 2025, including The Netherlands, who had been disqualified hours before the Grand Final.

The 38th country is of course Montenegro, coming back after two years of absence, and whose broadcaster RTCG has recently selected its 2025 entry after a week of twists an turns following its national selection show Montesong.

Th full list of participants is as follows:

With all the Big Five countries confirme to return, and adding the host country Switzerland, there will be 32 countries competing in the semi-finals, which should make it an even 16 per show.

38 countries, for the first time

This number of 38 marks an the highest number of participants since 2022, when 40 countries took part (including Montenegro). The highest ever number of participants was 43, in 2008, 2011 and 2018. This is actually the only time in the contest’s history that 38 participants will take part, with every other figure between 36 and 43 having been reached since 2004 and the introduction of a semi-final in the contest.

Are you surprised by any participant? Do you want more countries to take part? What could bring them in, or bring them back? Tell us in the comments below or on social media at @escxtra!