Each country's Jury awards one set of 12, 10, 8–1 points to ten songs as 50% of the votes, while Televote matches the result with another 50% of the points awarded percentage-wise proportionally.
Thirty-seven countries participated in the contest. It was announced that Belgium, China and Ireland returning after one-episodes absences respectively. While Iceland and Poland announced that they would not be taking part.
The following countries improved their results: Cuba. Cuba qualified for the final for the first time. It was the first time that Belgium, San Marino, Serbia and Vietnam failed to make it to the final.
The Q1-2025 contest took place in Hobart, Australia, which received the right to host after its victory in the previous competition. It was the second time that Australia hosts the contest (after the Q2-2023 contest). The selected venue is the 5,500-seat MyState Bank Arena.
City bidding process
After the final of the previous season, the organizers began preparing for the competition by searching for a host city. A total of 9 cities submitted their applications for consideration for the host city of the anniversary season of the competition. On March 14, four cities were announced as contenders for victory: Sydney, Adelaide, Cairns, Hobart. On March 15, Hobart was announced as the host city, and the competition itself will take place at MyState Bank Arena.
Format
Two semi-finals has stayed with the same rules in this episode.
Voting changes
After the end of the Q4-2024 contest, many delegations of participating countries expressed their dissatisfaction with the ability of television viewers to vote for their country. In April 2025, the contest supervisor Mark Solovyov announced that each country could now only involve one viewer in the voting and without the right to vote for their country.
Semi-Final Allocation Draw
On May 25, the organizers of the contest presented the composition of the baskets for the draw. Thus, 31 countries were distributed into 6 countries in 4 baskets and 7 countries in 1 basket. This was the second time that the allocation of the Autofinalist countries to the semi-finals was determined by a pictogram lottery: each semi-final was assigned three specific emojis (dolphin, starfish, yacht, sunglasses, palm tree and deck chair). The heads of delegation of the Autofinalist countries chose one of the pictograms and received one of the two semi-finals. The draw for the semi-finals was broadcast at 20:30 CET on 1 June. The draw also determined which semi-final each of the six automatic qualifiers – host country Australia and "Top-5" countries from the previous edition (Spain, Italy, Norway, Japan and ranking best Israel) – would vote in and be required to broadcast.
On April 26, the organizers of the competition announced thirty-seven participating countries in Hobart. Among the participants in the competition were Belgium, China and Ireland. Iceland and Poland canceled the competition in this season. On April 29, the organizers named the 6 auto-finalists of the season: the top 5 of the previous competition (Australia, Spain, Italy, Norway, Japan) and the country leading in the overall standings over the past three seasons - Israel.
Semi-Final 1
The first semi-final took place on 17 June 2025. Fifteen countries took part in the first semi-final. Those countries along with Italy, Japan and Norway will vote and perform in this semi-final.
Each country had a televoting who awarded 12, 10, 8 - 1 point(s) to their top seven songs. All 15 countries competing in the first semi-final voted, alongside Italy, Japan and Norway. The ten qualifying countries were announced in no particular order, and the full results of how each country voted was published after the final had been held.
The second semi-final took place on 19 June 2025. Fifteen countries took part in the second semi-final. Those countries along with Australia, Israel and Spain will vote and perform in this semi-final.
Each country had a televoting who awarded 12, 10, 8 - 1 point(s) to their top seven songs. All 16 countries competing in the first semi-final voted, alongside Australia, Israel and Spain. The ten qualifying countries were announced in no particular order, and the full results of how each country voted was published after the final had been held.
Twenty-six countries took part in the final, composed of the host country Australia, another five countries with its best result from the previous edition, and the ten best-ranked entries of each of the two semi-finals. The broadcast of the Grand Final took place on 29 June, 2025, at 21:45 (GMT +3). All thirty-seven participating countries with jury and televote will vote in the final.
Public voting representatives of participating countries
The viewers of the participating countries could be other members of the organization or other invited persons. Each competing participating country could invite up to one spectator.
Mark Solovyov
Belgium
China
Ireland
Iceland
Poland
Italy, 
Japan and 
Norway will vote and perform in this semi-final.
Hungary
Armenia
Thailand
Lebanon
North Macedonia
France
Cuba
Croatia
Portugal
South Korea
Vietnam
Kazakhstan
Brazil
Israel and 
Spain will vote and perform in this semi-final.
Canada
San Marino
Cyprus
New Zealand
Azerbaijan
Serbia
Netherlands
United States
Denmark
Albania
Switzerland
Sweden
Germany
Bosnia & Herzegovina
United Kingdom
ROTW
Carlos Edwardo Rodriguez Rojas
Kiran Sebastian
TBA
TBA
AI (GPT-4o)
Alena Markelova
Polyna Synevich
TBA