In one of the most politically charged competition's yet, Austria has been named the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest winner with JJ taking the title for his pop-opera 'Wasted Love'
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Austria has won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with 24-year-old JJ's (Johannes Pietsch) operatic ballad ‘Wasted Love’.
It was a nail biting reveal, with Israel in the top spot until the very last moment — but ultimately coming in second place, followed by Estonia.
This is the third time Austria — who were also one of our predicted winners — has won the contest, with previous successes in 1966 and 2014. The country also holds the record for the longest gap — 48 years — between wins.
In an interview with Euronews, JJ explained that his song is about unrequited love and finding strength through painful emotions: “The song is quite sad, but then there's the hope that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. And if you have a short, bad phase, it means that you can overcome it because... it really is never the end of the world. You always come out of every situation on a positive note. Hope dies last.”
A total of 26 contestants took part in the ceremony, with a record number singing in their native languages — the most diverse representation since 1999.
Despite this year’s mascot symbolising ‘unity’, the contest was also gripped by political divisions over Israel’s inclusion, with pro-Palestine protests taking place outside the event, and over 70 former contestants signing an open letter demanding Israel and its national broadcaster KAN be banned.
There was also controversy over the song lyrics from Malta’s entry, resulting in Miriana Conte releasing a reworked version of her song 'Kant'.
For the most part, however, it was an evening filled with sandstorm power ballads, sauna anthems and everything in between; delivering on spectacular sets and dazzling performances that felt more novel and niche than ever before.
Take a look at our live blog to see more highlights from throughout the night.
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Live ended
Thank you so much for spending this Eurovision evening with Euronews
- Yes : 667
- No : 695
See you in Vienna 2026!
Big congratulations to Austria's JJ and his hit "Wasted Love".
Final score of Eurovision Song Contest 2025
🇦🇹 Austria - 426 points
🇮🇱 Israel - 357 points
🇪🇪 Estonia - 356 points
AUSTRIA WINS EUROVISION 2025
Austria's JJ wins Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with "Wasted Love".
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
Zero points for United Kingdom
Europe is not serving kant tonight
Malta's Miriana Conte gets 8 points.
Time for the public's vote
- Good : 200
- Meh : 155
- Bad : 170
Bottom three
At the bottom, we find:
- Iceland - 0 points
- San Marino - 9 points
- Poland - 17 points
BREAKING: Cyprus gives Greece 12 points
Ice cold treatment
Iceland and their band Væb are currently at zero (0) points at the bottom, ranking them 26th out of... 26.
Top three
- 🇦🇹 Austria - 181 points
- 🇦🇹 Switzerland - 158 points
- 🇫🇷 France - 139 points
FRRRRANCE
Currently in third place with 104 points.
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
"I have to pee so bad"
Austrian JJ is leading with 136 points. Interviewed in green room, JJ tells Basel Arena that he really needs to pee.
Austria is leading with 136 points
Is Robert Abela serving kant?
Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela FaceTimed with Maltese contestant Miriana Conte earlier today according to his Instagram.
Photo: Robert Abela Instagram
- Yes : 112
- No : 105
The Baltics made it
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa shows her support for Tautumeitas on Instagram, calling it a "Full Baltic magic ritual".
Photo: Evika Silina Instagram
Newly elected PM supports Shkodra Elektronike
Edi Rama, freshly elected Prime Minister of Albania, shows his support from Albanian entry "Zjerm".
Photo: Edi Rama Instagram
Listening to every spokesperson's intro...
JJ from Austria gets this evening's first douze points
Voting is closed
Good Luc to Laura Thorn
Current Luxembourgish Prime Minister Luc Frieden shows his support for Luxembourg's artist Laura Thorn.
Image: Luc Frieden Instagram
Fifty fifty
The odds are now showing a Swedish victory at 50% chance.
Nemo serving Leeloo from "The Fifth Element" in another opera performance
France falls in the odds
France is now at a 7% chance of winning, falling from third place at 13%.
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
Gosh, we've missed them
Baby Lasagna and Käärija performing while we're voting.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Pack your bags for Stockholm
The city of Stockholm has expressed its interest in hosting the contest in 2026. Stockholm Mayor Karin Wanngård said:
"Yes, we would be happy to do that, if the financial conditions are right. We are used to large events."
Stockholm hosted Eurovision Song Contest in 2016. Last year, the contest was held in Malmö.
It's getting hot in the sauna
Swedish entry Kaj with "Bara Bada Bastu" is now at 47% chance of winning according to betting sites.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Waiting for the results like...
But a quick reminder that the voting process once took EVEN longer — it was cut in 2006 so that each spokesperson announced only the top three votes. 😅
Will Norway's bad run go up in flames?
🇳🇴Norway has finished in final place more times than any other country, receiving "nul points" in 2024 for the twelfth time. Here’s hoping they fare better this time 🤞
- Yes : 106
- No : 276
- Yes : 134
- No : 270
ZJERM
Last song of tonight — Albania
Shkodra Elektronike with song "Zjerm", which means fire in Albanian — and they're truly bringing heat to the stage.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
San Marino breaking streaming records
“Tutta L'Italia” by Gabry Ponte has already reached 16 million streams on Spotify, making it the fourth most streamed Eurovision song of 2025.
Is San Marino feeling blue?
San Marino is sending Gabry Ponte, mostly known from Eiffel 65, the Italian Eurodance group from the 90s who made the monster him “Blue (Da Ba Dee)".
Ponte is from Turin and is singing about his home country in the song “Tutta de l’Italia”.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Sandstorm
No one:
Louane:
The cleaners at Basel Arena when it's time for Louane's performance
FRRRRRRRRAAANCE
France has quickly been climbing the odds during the last 24 hours. A pattern similar to Nemo last year.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
YXI KAKSI KOLME! BASTUBRÖDER!
Let's just sauna 🧖♀️
One of the bookies' favourites to win — and also one of ours!
Musically, there are all the right amounts of campy earwormery here, with that whispered cry of ‘sauna!’ hitting like a watery revelation to the hot rocks of our subconscious!
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Sauna with Swedish PM anyone?
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson invited band Kaj to his sauna earlier this week "no matter what happens tonight".
Photo: Ulf Kristersson instagram
Swedish (or Finnish?) fan favourites on stage
Favourites in the odds are the Swedish contestants KAJ from Finland. The three artists, Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman and Jakob Norrgård, originates from the Swedish-speaking part of Finland, Österbotten.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Danish presidency kicks off early...
...with Faroese singer-songwriter Sissal and her song Hallucination.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Who remembers?
Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 for the first time with Salvador Sobral and the song "Amar pelos dois".
From kisses to 'kant'
...And if you thought "serving kant" was scandalous — an 11-second kiss between Danish singers Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler in 1957 was considered the contest’s first big controversy.
SERVING KANT
Malta’s Miriana Conte is serving WHAT?
Conte has faced issues with her song "Serving" (that was originally called “Kant”). It was actually disqualified by the EBU.
Why? Well, Conte wasn’t referring to philosopher Immanuel Kant. The title, which means “singing” in Maltese, sounds identical to a well-known English slur….
In fact, the song features the line “serving kant”, which in queer slang means to perform with fierce energy.
The EBU asked Conte to change the title and lyrics. And she obliged, vowing to keep going with the motto: “DIVA NOT DOWN”.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Switzerland's Zoë Më takes us on a Voyage
Could Switzerland win two years in a row? According to the odds, no. But technically, it’s fully possible.
Ireland is the only country to have managed to do that. They won three times consecutively with “Why Me?" by Linda Martin (1992), "In Your Eyes" by Niamh Kavanagh (1993) and "Rock 'n' Roll Kids" by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan (1994).
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Will Armenian Parg survive this?
With "this", we of course mean running on his treadmill.
Seeing the win clearly?
Klavdia is bringing her signature glasses on stage.
“My glasses are a lucky charm for me. I think they’re a good feature that makes me stand out.”
She’s also wearing her grandmother’s earrings on stage, the same ones she wore during the national final.
“They’re my lucky earrings. I wore them for the national final, and I think they brought me good luck.”
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Greece sending "The girl with the glasses"
Many Greeks are pinning their hopes on artist Klavdia to bring the trophy back home, exactly 20 years after Helena Paparizou's win with "My Number One" 2004.
Euronews met the Greek star, read more about that below.
Klavdia brings a starry-eyed Greek ballad to Eurovision 2025
From her grandmother’s earrings to her modern Greek sound: Meet Klavdia, Greece’s 2025 Eurovision hope.
BA-LA-LA-LA-LA-ER
Mum: You can go, but only if you bring your brother
Sibling duo Abor & Tynna is bringing German techno to Basel with song "Baller".
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
When that harmonica hits!
VOLEVO ESSERE UN DUROOOOOO
Italy sends their second choice
Italy’s Lucio Corsi didn’t actually win the Sanremo Music Festival. The original winner was Olly with his song "Balorda Nostalgia", but he declined the opportunity to represent Italy at Eurovision due to scheduling conflicts with his tour. As a result, the spot went to runner-up Lucio Corsi.
Corsi is a famous indie artist in his home country with hits such as “Tu sei il mattino”.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Who does the President of Finland support?
Contrary to popular belief, President Alexander Stubb isn’t giving his 12 points to Finland. He actually has a Swede spot for someone else.
During a visit to the home turf of the Swedish entry Kaj (the municipality Vörå in Finland), the president declared:
"For me, if KAJ were to win Eurovision, it would ultimately be Finland and Vörå that win."
After going public with his Eurovision stance, the President reportedly reached out to Finland’s actual representative, Erika Vikman, to say he was sorry and that he was also cheering for her.
Finland is coming!
Controversy is no stranger to Finland's artist Erika Vikman. From her previous headline-grabbing relationship with Finnish singer Danny (who’s 50 years older) – to this year’s so-called “cover-your-butt-gate,” where the EBU reportedly asked her to tone down her outfit for a more “family-friendly” look.
Below is the EBU approved look.
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
🐑Baa baa Baasel!
Did you know that Tautumeitas are major animal lovers? Apparently, between all 6 of them, they have 150 sheep!
Stagemaxxing
Latvia is maxing out with six singers on stage, which is the maximum allowed according EBU rules.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Iceland is sending vibes to Basel
Iceland qualified in the first semi final with VÆB. Need to freshen up your Icelandic pronunciation? The band name is pronounced “vibe”.
The song is about rowing — RÓA.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
🇦🇹JJ — 'Wasted Love'
Techno trembles and operatic yearnings, yessss! Austria's entry was another of our favourites to win this year.
Euronews Culture's David Mouriquand wrote: "Quite how everything goes from the ballroom to the club in the space of two minutes and 50 seconds is beyond me. However, at a time when we’re all trying to untangle the emotional complexities the decry from the shitshow of daily life, 'Wasted Love' is a compelling case for heading straight into the eye of a storm."
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Emotional Austrian performance at sea
Austria's performance starts
Opera is in!
Fan favourite Austria with JJ and song "Wasted love" takes the stage in black and white. Opera is so back!
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
United Kingdom serving Powerpuff girls
Lizzie McGuire movie moment
Ok, but 'Volare' will only ever make us think of one thing... 
United (by music) Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a notoriously bad Eurovision track record. In 2021, they actually managed to secure exactly zero (0) points. However, the following year, they ended up in second place with Sam Ryders’ “Space Man”.
Given that the UK is one of the, so called, “big five” countries, they automatically qualify to the final.
This year, they’ve sent the girl band Remember Monday with the song "What The Hell Just Happened?".
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
🇺🇦🕊️ A flying favourite
Ah! Ziferblat's Ukraine entry 'Bird of Pray' is one of our picks to win!
“Fly. Bird. I'm begging you. Begging you, please just live" pleads the lead vocalist. For my money, it's a real standout in a year laden with one too many squeaky clean, forgettable pop songs," wrote Euronews Culture's Theo Farrant.
Who will win Eurovision 2025? Euronews Culture’s final predictions
26 countries are set to battle it out in one of the most politically charged Eurovision finals ever. Here are the three acts we believe could take home the tro…
Ukraine twinning
Fun fact: Daniil and Valentyn in the band Ziferblat are actually fraternal twin brothers!
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Did you know: This is the most diverse Eurovision yet for native languages
20 of the original 37 entries were sung in their respective national languages.
Diva o'clock
Spanish Melody is stunning in glitter diva dress.
Photo: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Us after listening to Lithuania's entry 🖤
Lithuanian post-punk anyone?
Band Katarsis with "Tavo Akys" to the stage.
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Israel takes the stage
One of the more controversial contestants this year is Yuval Raphael with power ballad "New Day Will Rise".
Getting tired? Time for an espresso maybe?
Estonia's Tommy Cash is third out to tonight! I'm already sweating like a mafioso.
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
🇱🇺 Laura Thorn — 'La Poupée Monte Le Son'
A throwback to France Gall's Eurovision classic from 60 years ago about a Poupée (meaning doll in French), Laura reworks it to be about taking back autonomy.
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Bettel betting on Thorn
Laura Thorn spotted with former Luxembourgish PM Xavier Bettel under the semi final.
Photo: Xavier Bettel Instagram
🇳🇴 Kyle Alessandro – 'Lighter'
Flames! Synchronised dancing! Norway's set is lit. 🔥
The backstory to this one is also very touching — it was inspired by 19-year-old singer Kyle Alessandro's mother being diagnosed with cancer in 2023. During her treatment, she reportedly said, "Never lose your light."
AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Grand final and Duchy — Luxembourg out next
Luxembourg’s song “La poupée monte le son” is a feminist nod to 1965 winner France Gall and her hit "Poupée de cire, poupée de son".
Luxembourg has been victorious five times, last time being 1983. All five winners have actually originated from outside Luxembourg, making the country a record holder in Eurovision artist imports. But this year, they’re sending a Luxembourgish artist – Laura Thorn from Esch-sur-Alzette.
The Grand Duchy mysteriously disappeared from the contest for three full decades, only to reappear last year. Let’s see if they’ll stay.
Dad jokes overheard at a Eurovision party...
"I'm very happy that this is coming from Switzerland, because the flag is a big plus!" 🇨🇭
69 years of Eurovision!
The very first Eurovision Song Contest was held on May 24, 1956 and featured only seven competing nations: The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Italy.
First entry tonight – Norway brings the fire
The first one to take the stage tonight is Norway's Kyle Alessandro with the song "Lighter", performed in full armour of course – what else?
Artist Kyle Alessandro is half Norwegian, half Spanish, and born in 2006 (huh!).
Photo: Alma Bengtsson/EBU
Flag parade fatigue
Us waiting for this bit to be over...
Good evening, Europe! This is Eurovision calling
And we're off! With a reminder of what a bop Nemo's 'The Code' is — "I broke the code, woah oh oh!"
Who is out?
During this week's two semi finals, these 10 countries were disqualified:
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇦🇺 Australia
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇬🇪 Georgia
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🇷🇸 Serbia
In the grand final, 26 countries are competing.
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 starts now!
Let the show begin!
How are you celebrating Eurovision this year?
Bingo cards, bunting and a buffet of international snacks! We're all set for the world's largest live music event! 🎶 How are you celebrating? Bonus points for pictures!
Which flags are allowed this Eurovision?
This year, the audience will again be allowed to wave the blue and yellow European flag🇪🇺
The EU flag ban from last year was met with a lot of criticism, including from former Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas who posted this in reaction to the EBU rule:
However, the artists will have some flag restrictions in official areas like the main stage, the green room and the turquoise carpet, where only national flags are allowed.
"Outside these official areas, delegations are subject to the same flag rules as the general public: all flags permitted by Swiss law are allowed. This means that different expressions of personal, cultural or regional identity remain possible," the spokesperson said in a written statement. "Therefore, the European flag may be used."
The same rule applies to other flags, including the Pride flag and the Palestinian flag.
Refresh your memory of the rules here.
Eurovision will allow European flag for fans but not for artists
The European flag will be allowed at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, but with limitations for artists, something Brussels called “disappointing”. #EuropeN…
The Eurovision hits the fans can’t stop streaming
Who needs douze points when you’ve got millions of streams? Before a single vote has been cast, some songs are already winning the popularity contest. These are the top 5 Eurovision 2025 entries dominating Spotify:
- 🇸🇪 “Bara Bada Bastu” by KAJ (Sweden) - 44 million streams
- 🇮🇹 “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi (Italy) - 40 million streams
- 🇳🇱 “C'est La Vie” by Claude (Netherlands) - 17 million streams
- 🇸🇲 “Tutta L'Italia” by Gabry Ponte (San Marino) - 16 million streams
- 🇪🇪 “Espresso Macchiato” by Tommy Cash (Estonia) - 15 million streams
The ones to watch – favourites to win tonight
Who has the best chance of winning tonight?
Here's how the current Eurovision 2025 odds are shaping up, based on the latest data from bookmakers:
🇸🇪 Sweden (Kaj – Bara bada bastu) - 42%
🇦🇹 Austria (JJ – Wasted love) - 20%
🇫🇷 France (Louane – Maman) - 13%
🇫🇮 Finland (Erika Vikman – Ich komme) - 6%
🇳🇱 Netherlands (Claude – C’est La Vie) - 3%
Odds Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Who will win the Eurovision Song Contest 2025? Bookmakers have predicted Sweden with best odds
Running order of tonight
At 21:00 CEST, the grand final of Eurovision 2025 will start. This is tonight's running order -- from northern Norway to southern Albania.
1. 🇳🇴 Norway | Kyle Alessandro – Lighter
2. 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Laura Thorn – La Poupée Monte Le Son
3. 🇪🇪 Estonia | Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
4. 🇮🇱 Israel | Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
5. 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Katarsis – Tavo Akys
6. 🇪🇸 Spain | Melody – ESA DIVA
7. 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Ziferblat – Bird of Pray
8. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Remember Monday – What The Hell Just Happened?
9. 🇦🇹 Austria | JJ – Wasted Love
10. 🇮🇸 Iceland | VÆB – RÓA
11. 🇱🇻 Latvia | Tautumeitas – Bur Man Laimi
12. 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Claude – C’est La Vie
13. 🇫🇮 Finland | Erika Vikman – ICH KOMME
14. 🇮🇹 Italy | Lucio Corsi | Volevo Essere Un Duro
15. 🇵🇱 Poland | Justyna Steczkowska – GAJA
16. 🇩🇪 Germany | Abor & Tynna – Baller
17. 🇬🇷 Greece | Klavdia – Asteromáta
18. 🇦🇲 Armenia | PARG – SURVIVOR
19. 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Zoë Më – Voyage
20. 🇲🇹 Malta | Miriana Conte – SERVING
21. 🇵🇹 Portugal | NAPA – Deslocado
22. 🇩🇰 Denmark | Sissal – Hallucination
23. 🇸🇪 Sweden | KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
24. 🇫🇷 France | Louane – maman
25. 🇸🇲 San Marino | Gabry Ponte – Tutta L’Italia
26. 🇦🇱 Albania | Shkodra Elektronike – Zjerm