In what is expected to be a first at the competition, one of the artist’s performing at next month’s Eurovision Song Contest in Basel will fly during their live performance. 

Artists have been elevated while attached to props or stood on rising platforms on the stage at Eurovision in the past, but this suggestion from Head of Contest Christer Björkman would indicate an act will be flying during a performance for the first time. 

Click to read this story at a glance

• For the first time in Eurovision history, a performer will fly during their live performance at the 2025 contest in Basel, according to Head of Contest Christer Björkman
• Flying acts have previously been restricted due to technical and safety challenges, but Björkman teased multiple aerial elements this year, including one act dancing with scaffolding towers
• Another performance will feature an artist singing upside down, with Slovenia’s Klemen Slakonja likely to be the one, based on his national final performance

In an exclusive interview with The Euro Trip, Björkman said: “I really can’t remember if we’ve had people flying before. I don’t think so. 

“There’s a few flying things this year, people for example. So that’s going to be fun. 

“We also have one act that actually has a choreographed dance with scaffolding towers. I’ve never seen that before either. 

“That is such a spectacular act – it really is. I’m looking forward to seeing that on stage.” 

It has long been forbidden to fly during Eurovision performances due to the complexities of rigging safety and flying equipment to the ceiling of arenas which are already congested with lighting rigs and other broadcast-critical equipment. 

Kate Miller-Heidke is one example of a Eurovision artist from the past who performed in an elevated position; she sang Zero Gravity alongside two backing artists while attached to a tall pole, but this wasn’t flying. 

A number of this year’s Eurovision artists performed in their national selections in elevated positions. 

Melody from Spain began Esa Diva at Benidorm Fest off the ground. 

Justyna Steczkowska from Poland was hoisted into the air during her national final performance of Gaja. 

Princ, representing Serbia, began his performance of Mila sitting on a prop replicating a crescent moon which was above the stage. 

And the finale of Erika Vikman’s performance of Ich Komme is expected to remain the same as it did in Finland’s national selection where she stands on a giant golden microphone which is then lifted into the air. 

There is the possibility one of those three artists could be the one Björkman was referencing, as he stopped short of confirming who it would be. 

A number of other artists in national finals across Europe who didn’t make it to Eurovision were raised off the ground too, including Ladybug in Norway, Greczula in Sweden, and Max Ulver in Denmark. 

Björkman also confirmed that another artist will perform their Eurovision song while upside down. 

Despite not confirming who this will be either, it is likely to be Klemen Slakonja from Slovenia who performed a portion of How Much Time Do We Have Left suspended from the ceiling during the final of EMA in February. 

You can listen to The Euro Trip’s exclusive interview with Christer Björkman on Acast, Apple Podcasts and Spotify from April 23.