The time everyone's been waiting for has finally come. The Eurovision Song Contest of 2025 is unlike any other. While fans from two dozen countries await the suspenseful reveal of the victor, national finals are already descending upon Malmö, Sweden. With no clear front-runner for the coveted glass microphone award, we find ourselves thinking who the ultimate victor will be. As we reach the climactic battle, two critical pieces of information are revealing themselves: public opinion and betting lines. Together these suggest a very distinct profile of the winner.

In this post, we'll look at what Eurovision is all about, the current front-runners according to the Eurovision fan community, and the most recent odds from Stake.com to see who might just win.

What Is Eurovision?

Known by several names, Eurovision, or the Eurovision Song Contest, stands tall as one of the most widely watched television events in the world. Since its first edition in 1956, the contest has burgeoned to form a cultural phenomenon of sorts that unites so many nations through music. Each participating country sends an original song to be performed live during the semi-finals and the final, and a winner is picked through the jury and public votes.

In line with its new dimension, Eurovision moved past the traditional pop ballad industry and now stands as a stage for innovation, diversity, and international art. For most artists, Eurovision becomes the platform leading to worldwide fame and such as ABBA, Måneskin, and Loreen.

Now in 2025, all eyes are on Malmö as the city hosts the event for the third time following Sweden’s victory in 2024.

What Makes a Eurovision Winner?

Winning Eurovision is no walk in the park. Sure, you need musical talent, but there are a few other key ingredients that can really make a song shine: 

1. Memorable staging: Visual storytelling plays a huge role. The more dramatic or emotionally captivating, the better. 
2. Universal appeal: Songs that break through language barriers tend to resonate more with audiences from around the world. 
3. Vocal performance: A perfect live rendition can either elevate a contestant's chances or bring them crashing down. 
4. Narrative & originality: Tracks that tell a unique story or throw in an unexpected genre twist often find themselves at the top.

With the voting split evenly between national juries and public televotes, striking the perfect balance between artistry and popularity is essential.

Fan Favorites: What Polls and Communities Are Saying?

What we do intuitively tells us that the Eurovision fan group is one of the most passionate groups ever. And fan polls are often dependable signs of early sentiment. Votes and predictions got flooded on platforms such as Wiwibloggs, ESCUnited, r/Eurovision on Reddit, and the My Eurovision Scoreboard app.

Here are the top five favorites based on aggregated fan poll data as of mid-May:

1. Italy: Elisa with “Lucciole”

Italy continued its record of strong entries, and Elisa's powerful ballad `ucciole` found favor among fans for its utility in uttering poetic lyrics and the chilling effect of its delivery. The live rendition of the song at rehearsals was known for its elegance and heartfelt urgency.

2. Sweden: Elias Kroon with “Into the Flame”

Representing the home country, Sweden has a dramatic synth-pop anthem with crisp staging and confident vocals. With an engaging presence from Elias and slick choreography, he has found himself more than comfortably in the upper echelons of the 2022 betting odds.

3. France: Amélie with “Mon Rêve”

A bilingual ballad that effortlessly blends classic French chanson with contemporary production. “Mon Rêve” has been dubbed a jury favorite thanks to its sophistication and impeccable vocal delivery.

4. Ukraine: Nova with “Rise Again”

Ukraine comes back with a striking electronic tune complete with folk touches. The visuals put on stage have symbolic imagery that evokes the themes of endurance and resurrection, earning standing ovations during rehearsals.

5. Croatia: Luka With “Zora”

One of Luka’s standout entries this year includes an electro-folk fusion Zora, which unites Balkan sounds with contemporary EDM. Its distinctiveness and regional charm captured the attention of fan forums immediately.

Although these rankings are based primarily on fan excitement, we all know that Eurovision never fails to bring some unexpected turns. In fact, in recent years, the winning favorites in the fan polls have sometimes not made it past the jury or performance scrutiny, falling victim to the jury or performance scrutiny.

Eurovision Betting Odds 2025 – Who’s Leading the Race?

If fan polls are about passion, betting odds are about probability. And with Eurovision betting available at Stake.com, punters can get an analytical perspective on who’s most likely to win.

Here are the current top 5 contenders according to Stake.com odds (as of May 15th):

Key insights:

• Sweden and Italy are virtually neck-and-neck, and both offer high production value, strong vocals, and Eurovision pedigree.

• Ukraine’s consistent top-5 finishes in recent years keep them in strong contention.

• The UK’s entry, though not leading in fan polls, is a classic dark horse. NEON’s “Midnight Caller” is gaining traction post-rehearsal, especially among jurors.

• Betting odds involve not only a show's popularity but also factors such as rehearsal footage, press reaction, and historical trends in wins. Stake.com keeps those markets very much active, so one can actually follow the changes in real time.

Wildcards & Underrated Gems to Watch

Every Eurovision year brings unexpected shakeups, and 2025 is no exception. A few dark horses have emerged that could defy expectations:

Georgia—Ana with “Wings of Stone”

Initially overlooked, Ana’s raw, stripped-back ballad has gained steam following a haunting semi-final rehearsal. Jury bait for sure.

Portugal—Cora with “Vento Norte”

Combining traditional Portuguese instrumentation with ambient vocals, “Vento Norte” is niche but memorable, especially with its dramatic staging.

Czech Republic—VERA with “Neon Love”

An up-tempo pop song with TikTok potential, VERA’s confidence and visual aesthetic are starting to turn heads. A potential crowd favorite on the night.

Eurovision history is filled with underdog stories, and just think of Italy in 2021 or Ukraine’s shock win in 2022. Never count out a well-executed performance, no matter what the odds say.

The Tournament Continues

Just hours before the staggering final act in Malmö for Eurovision 2025, the frontrunners are remaining clear, though some surprises might still pop up. Fan polls support Italy and Sweden, while the host country’s odds are slightly ahead on Stake.com, but countries like Ukraine, France, and even the UK are still in the running.

Whether you’re following the music, memorizing the antics, or placing your bets, the spectacular occurrence is sure to seize you. For those planning to wager, Stake.com has special betting markets tailored for Eurovision 2025.

No matter the outcome, one thing is certain: everyone will have something to talk about during and after the grand final.