Céline Dion made a rare appearance during the inaugural semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, delivering a pre-recorded message that delighted fans as the event returned to Switzerland for the first time since her iconic victory in 1988. "I'd love nothing more than to be with you," Dion expressed in her emotional clip, highlighting Switzerland’s significance in her career. "This country believed in me and afforded me the chance to be part of something extraordinary."

The event held at Basel's St Jakobshalle saw ten acts secure their spots for Saturday's grand finale, with Swedish group KAJ stealing the spotlight with their upbeat track "Bara Bada Bastu," which translates to "let's take a sauna." The comedic number, led by accordion, is currently favored to win with a 40% success prediction from bookmakers, which would mark Sweden’s eighth Eurovision title and place them at the top of the contest's all-time winners' list.

Fifteen acts competed during Tuesday's semi-final, with qualifying performances from:

- Norway: Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
- Albania: Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm
- Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
- Iceland: VÆB – RÓA
- Netherlands: Claude – C'est La Vie
- Poland: Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA
- San Marino: Gabry Ponte – Tutta L'Italia
- Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
- Portugal: NAPA – Deslocado
- Ukraine: Ziferblat – Bird of Pray

While several hopefuls, including Belgium’s favored artist Red Sebastian, faced heartbreak as they did not advance, the anticipation remains high for ten more acts to qualify in Thursday’s semi-final. The "Big Five" nations, which contribute the most to Eurovision's funding – France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and Italy – are automatically included, alongside last year’s champion, Switzerland.

Dion's video came during a key moment in the ceremony, where she reminisced about her own life-changing victory, adding, “To the people of Switzerland, thank you for your love. This night is yours.” Former Eurovision contestants paid tribute to her legacy by performing “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi,” her winning song from 1988.

Despite recent health struggles with stiff-person syndrome that have kept Dion away from the limelight, Eurovision organizers remain optimistic about her presence at the final. “We are still in close contact with her,” they stated.

As the semi-final progressed, performances were vibrant and diverse. Icelandic duo VÆB opened the night with infectious energy, while Polish vocalist Justyna Steczkowska captivated with an aerial display during her act. Moreover, the Ukrainian group Ziferblat sent a message of resilience through their poignant anthem “Bird Of Pray,” symbolizing hope amid conflict.

In the end, KAJ proved to be the audience’s favorite, bringing a fresh, playful vibe that resonated with fans clamoring for a unique take on the competition. The band expressed excitement to seize the moment, stating, “We are feeling the pressure a bit, but we're gonna go out there, have fun, bring the steam, bring the sauna culture, and we'll see how far it goes."

With anticipation building for Thursday's semi-final, all eyes will be on who will join the ranks of Eurovision legends this weekend.