Céline Dion made a rare appearance at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest during Tuesday’s first semi-final in Basel, Switzerland.
The Canadian-born singer, who won the 1988 competition for Switzerland, addressed fans in a brief video message recorded ahead of the event.
"I'd love nothing more than to be with you," Dion said. "Switzerland will forever hold a special place in my heart. It's the country that believed in me and gave me the chance to be part of something so extraordinary."
The singer, who has been largely absent from public life due to stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition, last performed at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Eurovision's return to Switzerland heightened speculation about a live appearance, though this was not realised on the night.
Sweden’s KAJ, a trio whose name reflects the initials of members Kevin, Axel and Jakob, were among ten acts to qualify for Saturday's grand final. Their entry, "Bara Bada Bastu", a comic accordion-led anthem celebrating sauna culture, is a strong contender, with bookmakers giving it a 40% chance of winning. A win would mark Sweden’s record eighth Eurovision title.
Other qualifiers include acts from Ukraine, Iceland, Albania, and the Netherlands.
The final line-up will be completed following Thursday’s second semi-final. Automatic spots are reserved for the “Big Five” countries—France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and Italy—alongside last year’s winner, Switzerland.
Dion concluded her message by thanking Switzerland for its support and expressing hope and pride for the night’s events. Former contestants then performed her winning song, "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi", in tribute.
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