Ten countries qualify for the Eurovision final after the first semi-final

 The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest kicked off on Tuesday with a semi-final filled with fireworks and colorful musical performances, ranging from Portuguese guitar riffs to thumping Belgian techno.

Fifteen contestants from across the continent competed on a state-of-the-art stage in Basel, Switzerland, for ten places in Saturday's Eurovision final.

After performing three-minute rousing performances, the contestants' fate lay not in the hands of the 6,500 spectators packed into St. Jakobshalle Square, but in the hands of millions watching on television.

The Finnish comedy trio Kai, representing Sweden, are the favorites to win this year's Eurovision with their sauna-themed song "Para Bada Pasto."

"The Eurovision audience gave us all their love and support, and hearing them sing along with us was like everything we could have dreamed of," band member Kevin Holmström said after qualifying for the final.

Tommy Cash of Estonia also qualified.

"I felt like I was in an action movie," Cash said. "At one point, I was on stage."

The evening saw the surprise elimination of Belgium's Red Sebastian, who had risen to third place among the favorites in many bookmakers, on his 26th birthday.

"We were robbed," fan Robin Verdonk said, with a Belgian flag draped around his shoulders. "I don't understand it," he told AFP.

Alongside Sweden, Estonia, and the Netherlands, who are considered favorites to win the competition, Albania, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Ukraine, Iceland, and Portugal also qualified for Saturday's final.

In contrast, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Slovenia, and last year's runner-up Croatia were not so lucky, exiting alongside Belgium's Red Sebastian.

The spectacular stage in Basel this year differs from the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, extending deep into the stadium with audiences on three sides.

Pyrotechnics, 4,500 pulsating lights, lasers, and ever-changing giant screens set the tone for each song.

After the second semi-final on Thursday, 26 countries will compete in the final on Saturday evening before a television audience of between 160 and 200 million viewers.

Although 10 teams advance from each semi-final, the results are not announced until after Saturday's final, maintaining the excitement and making it difficult for both performers and fans to gauge the momentum of the competition.

Switzerland last hosted Eurovision in 1989, after Canadian singer Celine Dion won the competition the previous year. This victory helped boost Dion's stardom.

Organizers are remaining tight-lipped about whether Dion, who has been battling health issues, might surprise everyone with a star-studded appearance.

"I wish I was with you in Basel right now," she said in a video message shown during Tuesday's semi-final. "Music unites us, not just tonight, not just in this wonderful moment. It is our strength, our support, and our support in times of difficulty."

When asked about the possibility of Dion's participation, a Eurovision spokesperson told AFP, "We remain in close contact with her."