How To Watch Eurovision 2025 Live From Anywhere

Eurovision will be broadcast for free on BBC iPlayer and RTÉ when it starts on 13 May 2025. The contest is generally readily available in most participating European countries, but there’s a good chance it’s not accessible if you live in other regions.

How can I watch Eurovision 2025 outside of Europe? A VPN makes it possible to watch the 69th edition in HD from anywhere.  For the first time, the song contest will air live from Basel Switzerland¹ (Eurovision World, 2025). Premium VPNs have servers in the country and encrypt your connection for private online streaming. By hiding your real IP address, a VPN also helps you avoid ISP throttling.

ExpressVPN is my top choice for watching Eurovision live in HD. It gave us the fastest speeds of the 50+ VPNs we tested, ideal for streaming without added buffering. Apps are also user-friendly and include native ones for Apple and Android TV. Since it offers a money-back guarantee for first-time users, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days. Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

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Short on Time? Here Are the Best VPNs for Eurovision in 2025

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

How To Watch the Eurovision Contest Live From Anywhere: Step-By-Step Guide

As a public service broadcaster, the BBC streams British content for free via iPlayer, including Eurovision. That means that if you have a valid UK TV license, you can watch Eurovision live for free on BBC iPlayer.

Who’s hosting Eurovision? The 2025 edition will be hosted by Graham Norton² (Twinkl, 2025), so it’s sure to be entertaining. While England has had the most contests (9) held in its country³ (Esctoday, 2025), Ireland and Sweden are tied for the most Eurovision victories, a whopping 7⁴ (Eurovision TV, 2025). So, it’s no surprise the Irish comedian is presenting this year even though it’s from Switzerland.

The only catch is that BBC iPlayer is only available to viewers in the UK. That includes its Eurovision radio program and The Big Eurovision Party build-up show. So, the only way to follow the BBC broadcast is to get a UK IP.

A VPN makes it possible to securely stream the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC iPlayer from anywhere. A VPN also keeps your viewing habits private and uninterrupted by encrypting your connection. For example, by shielding your traffic from your ISP to avoid bandwidth-based throttling.

1. Get a VPN

Choose a VPN with multiple UK server locations and fast speeds to stream Eurovision from uninterrupted anywhere. With reliable servers in 6 UK locations, ExpressVPN is ideal for streaming BBC iPlayer. Its MediaStreamer smart DNS feature also lets you watch US and UK content on gaming consoles, Roku, and smart TVs that don't have native VPN support.

You'll also find the official apps on your smartphone or TV app store

2. Connect to a Server

Launch the VPN app and select a server in the United Kingdom for secure streaming on BBC iPlayer. The closer the server is to your location, the better your streaming speeds will be.

All ExpressVPN servers are automatically optimized for streaming

3. Create a BBC iPlayer Account

Go to BBC iPlayer and click Sign in to log in or create an account. You’ll be asked for your email to check whether you have an existing account before providing your other details or password. You need to fill in your birth date, gender, and UK postcode to complete registering a BBC iPlayer account.

Although it's completely free, you need an account to watch anything

4. Stream the Eurovision Song Contest Live

Log in to BBC iPlayer and search for Eurovision. There are often past shows and replays in addition to live coverage, so make sure you pick the right one. The first time you stream anything, the BBC iPlayer will ask you to confirm you have a TV license, but no poof is required.

You can enable/disable subtitles and choose the stream quality

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Where To Watch the Eurovision Song Contest Online

Eurovision is broadcast by multiple networks across Europe and the world, with many offering free live streams. In most European countries, public broadcasters provide free coverage through their streaming platforms. Outside Europe, some regions have exclusive broadcasting rights.

Some platforms have dedicated Eurovision Song Contest streams, while others will air it on specific channels. So, different channels may show different stages of the 3-part competition. Where applicable, we also listed which individual channels to keep your eye on for full Eurovision access.

Best VPNs To Watch Eurovision from Anywhere in 2025

A reliable VPN with multiple server locations in Eurovision broadcasting countries offers secure access to live streams in HD quality. My international team and I tested dozens of VPNs and selected these based on their streaming performance and compatibility with official Eurovision broadcasters like BBC iPlayer and SVT Play.

1. ExpressVPN — Fastest Speeds for Watching Eurovision in UHD From Anywhere

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice Try Risk-Free for 30 Days
Tested April 2025

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try ExpressVPN >

www.expressvpn.com

We never had buffering or quality drops when streaming Eurovision with ExpressVPN. Its proprietary Lightway protocol uses less code, so it’s faster than the others we tested. It’s also great for streaming on mobile, as your battery life will last longer. We tested several UK and US ExpressVPN servers and got average speeds of 195.47Mbps — many times more than you need for UHD streaming (25Mbps).

ExpressVPN has plenty of worldwide servers for securely accessing Eurovision online from anywhere. It also frequently updates its IP pools to avoid them getting blocklisted. ExpressVPN worked seamlessly with several platforms that broadcast the song contest, including RTÉ, Peacock, and BBC iPlayer.

While more expensive than the other VPNs listed (starting at $4.99/month), you can get up to 61% off, thanks to ExpressVPN's regular discounts, which include free months of service. All purchases also have a 30-day money-back guarantee*, so first-time users can test it for streaming Eurovision without risk.

2. CyberGhost — Dedicated Servers Make It Easy to Stream Eurovision Online

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer Sky More

Try CyberGhost VPN >

www.cyberghostvpn.com

It's convenient to stream Eurovision with CyberGhost's optimized servers for BBC iPlayer, RTBF, RaiPlay, SBS, Peacock, and more. The VPN team regularly checks and updates these servers to confirm they work and provide smooth, reliable connections. We could stream Eurovision without interruptions during tests and got speeds of 132.64Mbps — only slightly slower than ExpressVPN. We didn’t face issues or delays watching the Eurovision Handover Ceremony or the draw.

On the downside, the VPN's monthly plan only has a short refund period and is pretty expensive. However, long-term offers are available starting at only $2.03/month and have all the same features. Even better, you can test Eurovision with CyberGhost for 45 days using its extended money-back guarantee.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Worldwide Servers for Reliable Access To the Eurovision Contest

Works With:

Netflix Disney+ APV Max

Hulu BBC iPlayer More

Try Private Internet Access >

www.privateinternetaccess.com

PIA has the largest network in Europe, with thousands of IP addresses available. So, it’s easy to find one that’s uncongested and works for streaming Eurovision securely from anywhere. While not platform-based like CyberGhost, it also has streaming servers in several participating countries, including the UK and the US. In our tests, PIA worked reliably with BBC iPlayer and DasErste.

PIA's many customization options might be overwhelming for beginners. However, all settings come pre-configured, so you can securely stream Eurovision within seconds of connecting to a server. Starting at $2.03/month, PIA’s prices are pocket-friendly. All purchases include a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try PIA risk-free.

Our Methodology for Testing VPNs for Eurovision

We evaluated VPNs based on their streaming capabilities with official Eurovision broadcasters around the world. So, reliable streaming on platforms like BBC iPlayer and consistently high speeds for HD streaming were key. We mainly chose VPNs with solid server coverage in participating countries and compatibility with popular streaming devices.

How To Watch Eurovision Without a TV License

BBC iPlayer requires a TV license, but several alternative platforms offer Eurovision coverage without one. Here are legal ways to watch the Eurovision Song Contest without a TV license:

• Peacock TV. You can watch Peacock for English Eurovision commentary, and it has apps for Android and Apple devices.
• YouTube official stream. The Eurovision YouTube channel broadcasts the semi-finals and final live in select regions, completely free.
• SVT Play (Sweden). As the host country for 2024, SVT offers free streaming with Swedish commentary.
• tv. The French broadcaster provides free Eurovision coverage with French commentary.
• ARD Mediathek. German viewers can watch for free with German commentary.

Eurovision 2025 Schedule and Time Zones

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 takes place in Switzerland, with all shows starting at 21:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time). Each show runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, with voting windows open during and shortly after performances. The typical programming schedule for each show is as follows:

• Pre-show coverage starts 30 minutes before the main event
• Live voting period lasts 15 minutes after the performances
• Results announcement takes about 30 to 45 minutes
• Post-show interviews and celebrations follow the results

Here's the complete schedule with updated time zone conversions:

*Next day in Australia

FAQs on Watching Eurovision Online

Can I watch Eurovision for free?

Yes, Eurovision.tv, YouTube, and various other broadcasters will stream Eurovision for free. While the Eurovision.tv and YouTube streams are available in most countries, they don’t feature commentary. Services like BBC iPlayer, RTÉ, and RTVE also offer free Eurovision streams and include commentary.

Is it legal to watch Eurovision with a VPN?

Yes, it’s legal to watch Eurovision with a VPN in most countries. VPNs are tools that protect your privacy and security online. Premium VPNs can stream Eurovision securely from anywhere in the best quality. However, note that some countries like China and Russia either restrict or ban VPN use, so you need to proceed with caution. The team and I advise you to always check and respect your local laws.

Will Netflix and TikTok stream the 2025 Eurovision Contest live?

No, Eurovision has not renewed its partnership with TikTok for 2025. While Netflix offers the Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga comedy movie, it doesn’t offer live or on-demand Eurovision coverage. The best way to stream the Eurovision Song Contest live is on BBC iPlayer with its iconic commentary by Graham Norton.

How can I watch Eurovision from the USA?

Eurovision can be watched on Peacock in the USA. This is a paid platform that, unfortunately, no longer offers a free trial. It’s also possible to watch Eurovision live on YouTube. A VPN makes it possible to securely access free European broadcasters like BBC iPlayer from anywhere to stream all 3 nights of The Eurovision Song Contest 2025. 

Can I use a free VPN to stream Eurovision live?

It might be possible, but it’s not recommended. This is because free VPNs generally only offer small amounts of data per month, which makes viewing for longer than an hour nearly impossible. They also usually offer slow speeds, which makes streaming unbearable, and their server networks are small. It’s best to stick with a premium VPN when streaming Eurovision. Most offer money-back guarantees for risk-free testing.

How do I watch Eurovision on demand after the live broadcast?

Most official broadcasters keep Eurovision performances available for 30 days after the live show. The official YouTube channel posts individual performances shortly after as well. BBC iPlayer typically offers the full contest, including semi-finals, for catch-up viewing. Peacock subscribers in the US can access on-demand replays immediately after the live broadcast ends.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs to watch Eurovision from anywhere...

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: Intego, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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References

1. https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2025/event/
2. https://www.twinkl.com/event/eurovision-song-contest-2025/
3. https://esctoday.com/194368/how-many-countries-and-cities-have-hosted-eurovision/
4. https://eurovision.tv/about/facts-and-figures/