Austria Triumphs at Eurovision 2025 with JJ’s Electrifying Hit ‘Wasted Love’

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Austria emerged victorious at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest as JJ delivered a captivating performance of Wasted Love, blending operatic vocals with a high-energy dance finale. The powerful ballad, which transforms into a club-style finale, secured Austria’s third Eurovision win—following past victories by Udo Jürgens in 1965 and Conchita Wurst in 2014.

JJ, a Vienna-born classically trained vocalist with a range spanning from countertenor to soprano, co-wrote the winning entry with Teodora Spiric and Thomas Turner. He previously competed in *The Voice UK* under his real name, Johannes Pietsch.

Following this historic win, Austria will host the 2026 edition of Eurovision. Vienna, which previously staged the contest in 1967 and 2015, is expected to be the host city once again.

This year’s competition returned to Switzerland—home of the inaugural 1956 event—after Nemo’s win in Malmö in 2024 with The Code.

Top Performers and Rankings

• 1st Place: Austria – JJ, Wasted Love
• 2nd Place: Israel
• 3rd Place: Estonia
• 4th Place: Sweden (pre-contest favorite)

The UK’s entry, What The Hell Just Happened? by girl group Remember Monday, finished 19th, scoring zero public votes despite automatically qualifying for the final. The UK retains guaranteed entry as one of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) top financial contributors.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor presented the UK jury’s votes, stepping in for Ncuti Gatwa, who withdrew due to unforeseen circumstances.

Spectacle and Show Highlights

The contest dazzled with an array of extravagant performances:

• Finland’s Erika Vikman shocked audiences with Ich Komme, finishing her act atop a gold microphone erupting in fireworks.
• Malta’s Miriana Conte altered lyrics in Serving after concerns over unintended profanity due to a linguistic overlap.
• Italy, France, and Estonia used elaborate stage effects, from massive pianos to falling sand and café-themed choreography.

Guest appearances included three-time host Petra Mede and a video message from Eurovision icon Céline Dion, who won for Switzerland in 1988.

Protests over Israel’s participation intensified, with hundreds marching in Basel, many waving Palestinian flags. The controversy followed Irish broadcaster RTÉ’s call for EBU talks after 72 former Eurovision participants urged a ban on Israel.

Israeli contestant Raphael, a survivor of the 2023 Nova music festival attack, had her rehearsal interrupted by activists. Despite the tension, she performed without incident during the final.

Australia, competing since 2015, was unexpectedly eliminated in the semi-finals. Their entry, Milkshake Man by Go-Jo, failed to make it to the final round.

With Austria’s win, excitement builds for Eurovision 2026. The contest continues to unite diverse cultures through music while navigating complex political backdrops.