Eurovision 2025: Sweden are the early favourites to win - will we find the next ABBA?

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The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland - on 13 May - with two semi-finals and the final taking place in mid-May. 

Switzerland will host the event after their win in 2024, when Nemo’s song The Code topped the points tally. 

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The Swiss are ranked among the outsiders at odds of 66/1 (via BetMGM) to retain their crown, with no nation having won consecutive Eurovision's, since Ireland triumphed three years in a row between 1992 and 1994. 

Ireland have enjoyed the joint-highest number of victories of the famous event with seven wins, but their 2025 entry Laika Party by the Norwegian singer-songwriter Emmy, is out at 40/1 in the betting. 

While the Irish have not won Eurovision since 1996, their fellow joint-record holders Sweden have enjoyed some recent success in the competition. 

The first of the Swedes’ seven wins came in 1974, when ABBA were catapulted to global fame with their song Waterloo. 

Six more wins have followed, including victories in 2012, 2015 and 2023. 

In addition, the Scandinavian country has also recorded the highest number of top five finishes in the 21st century, with 13 in total. 

That impressive track record has seen Sweden installed as the 7/2 favourites in the 2025 Eurovision contest betting. 

This is despite the fact that they have yet to pick the artist who will represent them in Basel. 

Sweden’s entry will be decided by the winner of the Melodifestivalen music contest, which does not take place until 8 March.

A number of countries who will participate in Eurovision have yet to select an entrant, giving much potential for major swings in the betting, leading up to the May 17 final. 

One nation that has decided upon their entry is Finland, who are the second favourites at 4/1. 

The Finns were past winners in 2006 and are looking for their second victory with Erika Vikman’s Ich Komme. 

France are the third favourites at 8/1. This ranking seems based upon their past success, with five Eurovision victories, but they have not triumphed since 1977 and will not select their entry until 15 March. 

Estonia are rated as the fourth favourites at 12/1, with the rapper Tommy Cash’s song Espresso Macchiato.

Israel are fifth in the Eurovision betting at 14/1 and will be represented by the singer Yuval Raphael, though they will not reveal their song until 9 March. 

The Israelis are the only non-European nation to have won the contest, picking up victories in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018. 

Australia are the only other country from outside Europe who will participate in Basel, but they are relative outsiders at 35/1 in the betting. 

The United Kingdom are also unfancied at 45/1, though like Australia, they have yet to reveal their entry. 

Odds are correct at the time of publishing. 

Here is the full 2025 Eurovision betting market from BetMGM: