Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest with a brief, pre-recorded message. The star won the contest for Switzerland in 1988, and it had been rumoured she would take the stage as the ceremony returns to the country this year.

Sweden has been named as a favourite to win Eurovision 2025 as the country continues to dominate the competition.

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Competition in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest kicked off Tuesday, with sauna-loving Swedish entry KAJ gaining a place in the final and five countries going home after the first of two semifinals of the pan-continental music extravaganza.

Sweden’s 2025 Eurovision entry KAJ are one of the favourites to win this year’s contest, thanks to their quirky and infectious song “Bara Bada Bastu”. KAJ are the first ever Finnish act to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest, while “Bara Bada Bastu” is the first Swedish-language song the country has submitted since 1998.

EXCLUSIVE: Express reporter Fran Winston caught up with Eurovision Song Contest favourites KAJ who admitted they didn't even expect to be in the show.

The UK is set to challenge the staggering 80/1 odds for Eurovision 2025, with Sweden tipped as the frontrunner by bookies. In the run-up to the Eurovision grand final in Basel, Sweden has been pegged at 10/11 odds to clinch the title this year.

"Bara Bada Bastu" is inspired by Finnish sauna culture and is considered a quirky, infectious entry. KAJ is considered a favourite to win, which would bring Eurovision 2026 back to Sweden after Loreen's 2024 victory.

Eurovision queen Celine Dion didn’t rule out a superstar performance at this year’s contest in Switzerland in a video message broadcast during the first semi-final on Wednesday.

With Eurovision 2025 semi-finals set for May 13 and 15 in Switzerland, leading crypto sportsbook Cloudbet reports Sweden's KAJ has emerged as the market leader. The meme-driven entry “Bara Bada Bastu” is currently trading at odds of 2.12 in Cloudbet’s outright winner market.

BASEL, Switzerland — Competition in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest kicks off Tuesday, with performers from 15 countries battling it out in Basel, Switzerland during the first of two semifinals of the pan-continental music extravaganza.