Sawt Falasteen - Showtime as Eurovision Song Contest final begins

An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand.

And the drama could be turned up to the max if Canadian star Celine Dion -- who won Eurovision in 1988 when competing for Switzerland -- makes a show-stopping appearance, despite concerns around her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome, a painful autoimmune disorder.

Sweden has long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win the 69th edition of the glitzy contest with the comedy trio KAJ's "Bara Bada Bastu" song on the delights of sweating it out in a sauna.

But Austria, France, Finland, the Netherlands and Israel are eyeing the chances of an upset after strong performances throughout Eurovision week.

And there could always be a surprise in store, with Estonia, Albania and hosts Switzerland all thought to have an outside chance when viewers' votes come in.

- 'I'm so excited! -

Some 6,500 lucky ticket holders packed out the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, dressed up to the nines and ready to party.

"This is my first live show at Eurovision. I have goosebumps, I'm so excited! This is one of my life dreams," said Luena Beeler, 20, wearing a red sequin-covered Tirol-style dress, and a big Austrian flag on her shoulders.

Sascha Loth, 36, from Germany, said his money was on Estonia's wobbly-legged Tommy Cash, with his light-hearted Italianesque song "Espresso Macchiato".

"For me it's Estonia because he's so funny. He's pretty unique in his charismatic style. I really like the song, it's in my head relentlessly."

The 26 finalists took the stage carrying their national flags at the start of the show, to the thundering sound of a traditional drum corps.

Norway's Kyle Alessandro, at 19 the youngest competitor at Eurovision 2025, was then the first act to perform, opening the concert with "Lighter", appropriately amid jets of flame shooting up from the stage.

Next in the running order was Luxembourg's Laura Thorn in an LED dolls' house, then Estonia's Cash.

- Awe and orgasmic -

Eurovision director Martin Green said the excitement was palpable.

"The creative direction in some of those acts is extraordinary," he said.

"I am just in awe of this thing for making a really profound, beautiful statement to the rest of the world," he said.

As for whether Dion would appear, Green said only: "Father Christmas exists, and you'll have to wait and see."

The 26 songs in contention are a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes.

They include a Portuguese guitar ballad, a Maltese diva, Lithuanian alternative rock, Austrian operatics, an Italian singalong, a Greek power ballad, ethereal Latvian choral folk and German booming beats.

Finland's Erika Vikman has been gaining momentum during Eurovision week with the orgasmic "Ich Komme" -- finishing with the singer hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone.

- Pro-Palestinian protests -

Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael, singing "New Day Will Rise", survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds.

Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 has drawn a series of protests in Basel over the war in Gaza.

A pro-Palestinian demonstration was held in the city as the show was starting, with clashes between demonstrators and police.

Amid a sea of Palestinian flags, demonstrators carried signs stating: "No Music for Murder", "Stop Genocide" and "Liberate Eurovision".

Some of the protesters burned giant Israeli and US flags, while others sprayed red and green smoke into the air.

- The final countdown -

After a whirlwind tour around the continent, France, San Marino and Albania have the final slots.

Following two hours of performances, the nail-biting drama will begin as the votes come in from around Europe.

Separate jury and viewer votes from each of this year's 37 participating countries -- with equal weight -- plus an extra vote from the rest of the world combined, will decide who wins the coveted microphone-shaped trophy.

The juries' votes are already in, based on Friday's untelevised full dress rehearsal.

Eurovision voting supremo Thomas Niedermeyer said this week's semi-finals -- when 20 countries progressed and 11 were eliminated -- had been "really close".

"It has been an exciting race and it's going to be a close race for the winner."

Some 36,000 partygoers were watching a live transmission of the show at the football stadium opposite the arena.

Basel said more than 500,000 people had turned out during Eurovision week.

"Everyone (is) united by music," host city project leader Beat Lauchli said.

F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST