Prior to the 2025 contest, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Switzerland sixty-four times since its first entry at the inaugural contest in 1956.[1] It won that first edition of the contest with the song "Refrain" performed by Lys Assia. Its second victory was achieved in 1988 with "Ne partez pas sans moi" performed by Canadian singer Céline Dion. Switzerland won the contest for the third time in 2024, with "The Code" performed by Nemo. Since the introduction of semi-finals to the format of the contest in 2004, Switzerland has thus far managed to qualify to the final on ten occasions, five of them being all the contests it participated in since 2019, which included three top five results.[1]
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, SRG SSR organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster had opted for both national finals and internal selections to select its entries throughout the years, sticking to the internal selection method since 2019. SRG SSR confirmed its intention to compete in and host the 2025 contest immediately after the 2024 final,[2] later announcing that it would again use an internal selection to determine its entry.[3]
Before Eurovision
SUISA songwriting camp
Between 27 and 29 May 2024, the annual SUISA songwriting camp took place in Maur, Zurich; the songs composed in the event are usually submitted to SRG SSR as potential Eurovision entries.[4] Participants in the camp included Ashley Hicklin (a seven-time Eurovision entrant as a songwriter), Linda Dale (a two-time Eurovision entrant as a songwriter, including with "The Code", the winning Swiss entry in 2024) and Teya (one of the 2023 representatives for Austria).[5]
Internal selection
SRG SSR opened a submission period between 8 and 22 August 2024 for interested artists and composers to submit their entries. Artists and songwriters of any nationality were able to submit songs, with priority given to Swiss nationals or residents.[3] At the closing of the window, 431 entries had been submitted.[6] The selection process was implemented in collaboration with YouGov Schweiz[de]. Submissions were assessed in various rounds by a Swiss public panel, an international public panel, and a 25-member international expert jury; the public panels consisted of Swiss and international audience members, while the international jury consisted of former national jurors for their respective countries at the Eurovision Song Contest.[3] The announcement of the artist and the release of the song are set for 10 March 2025.[7]
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Switzerland