Η Ελλάδα secured its spot in the grand finale of Eurovision 2025 on Thursday night, May 15, as Klavdia captivated the audience with her performance of the song “Astromata”.
The Greek entry advanced from the second semi-final held in Basel, Switzerland, securing one of the ten coveted spots for the spectacular evening on Saturday, May 17.
Alongside Greece, the following countries also made it to the final, in the order announced by hosts Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer:
Lithuania
Israel
Armenia
Denmark
Austria
Luxembourg
Finland
Latvia
Malta
Change in Result Announcement Format
This year saw a change in how semi-final results were announced. Instead of the traditional country-by-country presentation, entries were revealed in groups of three. From each trio, only one country was selected, keeping the suspense alive until the end.
The second semi-final featured 16 countries, including Greece, all aiming to secure one of the ten final spots.
The competitors were:
- Australia
- Montenegro
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Armenia
- Austria
- Greece
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Georgia
- Denmark
- Czech Republic
- Luxembourg
- Israel
- Serbia
- Finland
Additionally, viewers from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom were allowed to vote, as their entries had already secured a direct spot in the final and were displayed out of competition.
Klavdia’s Performance
Klavdia’s stage presence was impressive. She started her performance on an elevated platform, which served as a path to a rock, previously seen during rehearsals. As she performed “Astromata,” the LED graphics on the stage floor transitioned from images of water to flames, aligning with the song’s climax.
Wearing a black dress, Klavdia ascended the rock, joined by a dancer who dramatically emerged from the stage floor. Despite her attempt to join Klavdia on the rock, she fell short, symbolizing separation.
As the performance concluded, the lights dimmed, forming a ladder of light leading to a powerful climax. Klavdia changed her outfit mid-performance, shifting from black to white, creating a striking transformation that enhanced the emotional impact of her rendition. Her vocal performance was flawless, showcasing a song co-written with Arcade.
The artistic direction of the performance was crafted by Fokas Evaggelinos, who used lighting in red, black, blue, and orange tones, along with a fiery tree and a Caryatid on the LED screens, effectively conveying themes of loss and separation.
The creative team behind Greece’s Eurovision 2025 performance includes Christos Magkanas (video artist), Deux Hommes (fashion designers), Giannis Mourikis (set designer), and Giorgos Tselos (light designer), collectively delivering a visually stunning and emotionally charged result.
Eurovision 2025: “I’ll Never Forget This” – Klavdia’s First Statements After Advancing and the Call from Elena Paparizou
Immediately after her advancement announcement, Klavdia expressed: “No matter what happens in the final, this moment was so crucial and intense. I will never forget it in my life.”
She went on to describe her overwhelming emotions: “What we experienced, my God! I truly will never forget this. No matter what happens. The heart-stopping moment both I and Greece lived through; sorry… it wasn’t our fault, guys…”, visibly moved yet smiling broadly, revealing the intensity she felt as Greece was announced last for the final.
Reflecting on the dramatic seconds preceding the announcement, Klavdia admitted: “In that moment, I started gradually to entertain the scenario that ‘listen, it’s okay if you don’t… you gave your best’.”
She shared that the messages she received post-performance were overwhelming: “The messages I received after our performance were truly amazing… ‘We love you’, ‘no matter what, you made us proud’… Just that filled me with so much joy…”
Klavdia confessed that as the evening progressed, she felt nervous: “Towards the end, I got anxious; I won’t lie. But I kept telling myself, ‘there’s no way. Fokas has never lost a semi-final with Greece.’ I held onto that because I had read it somewhere and felt it was a good omen… I started crying before it was announced that we were through.”
A highlight of the night was her phone call with Nana Mouskouri that morning. The 22-year-old singer expressed her gratitude for such a monumental moment, stating that May 15 could be the luckiest day of her life, to the extent that she contemplates getting it tattooed.
Klavdia revealed a particularly significant interaction with the only Greek Eurovision winner, Elena Paparizou, who called immediately after her performance to offer her support. Klavdia emphasized that this gesture meant the world to her.
In closing, Klavdia humorously shared a more personal backstage moment: “I took my beloved OGE’s essence and told him to… annoy me so I wouldn’t be anxious.”
The choreographer and creative director of the Greek entry, Fokas Evaggelinos, commented: “We faced some difficulties, but we were almost sure we would move on because there is love in the team, strength, and everything went really well, just as we expected“.
The 10 Countries That Advanced to the Final from the First Semi-Final
On the night of Tuesday, May 13, the first ten countries that secured their coveted spot in the grand final on Saturday were announced. Unfortunately, Cyprus will not be present as it failed to qualify.
Details
| # | Country |
| 1 | Norway |
| 2 | Albania |
| 3 | Sweden |
| 4 | Iceland |
| 5 | Netherlands |
| 6 | Poland |
| 7 | San Marino |
| 8 | Estonia |
| 9 | Portugal |
| 10 | Ukraine |
Lastly, it is worth noting that along with the host country Switzerland, the so-called “Big 5” countries—France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom—automatically advance to the final.
Eurovision 2025: The Greek Entertainment Industry Lauds Klavdia for Her Qualification
Just minutes after the results announcement, artists, actors, presenters, and comedians filled the Greek timeline with positive comments, heartfelt posts, and humorous reactions.
Angeliki Iliadi opted for a simple yet powerful statement: “Well done, Greece.”
Ketty Garbi sent her warm congratulations: “Congratulations,” while Eleni Hatziidou emotionally remarked: “Oh Klavdia, how much you moved us.”
The comedian Alexandros Tsouvelas humorously commented: “I screamed as if I were the vice-president of Eurofans!”, while Christos Mastaoras declared: “Greece’s song is wonderful, not that my opinion matters.”
Grigoris Gountaras didn’t hide his excitement and directed pointed remarks at the organizers: “Why do you treat us like this? We’re adults! Well done, Greece, well done, Klavdia!”
Noras Papadimitriou encouraged the Greek entry, writing: “Go go go!”, while Alexandros Bourdoumis praised Klavdia’s performance: “You outshone everyone in Europe.”
The renowned host Roula Koromila acknowledged the efforts of both the singer and choreographer: “Well done, my girl. Amazing voice. Well done, Fokas.”
Spyros Soulios added his humor: “You gave me a moment of relief; I’m in a critical age! Well done, Klavdia.”
Doukissa Nomikou highlighted the prevailing sense of pride: “Congratulations, we are all proud.”
Finally, Nina Lotsari praised Klavdia’s participation and her team: “We did them a favor by sending this divine being with her masterpiece Astromata and her fantastic team. Our souls are electrified.”
