Austria emerged victorious at the "Eurovision Song Contest 2025"
In Basel, Switzerland, Austrian singer JJ claimed the first place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "Wasted Love." Israel's Yuvval Raphael, who survived a Hamas attack at the Supernova music festival in October 2023, secured the second position.
The victory in Eurovision means the 2026 edition will take place in Austria. The top five artists based on professional jury voting were Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Despite changes due to viewer votes, the leading position remained intact. The revised top 5 included Austria, Israel, Estonia, Sweden, and Italy.
The bookmakers' and public's favorite, the Finnish trio KAJ representing Sweden, finished fourth with a song about a sauna. Yuvval Raphael's powerful operatic pop ballad "New Day Will Rise" clinched Israel the second place, playing a symbolic role in the song's message of hope and resilience.
Estonian singer Tommy Cash took the third place with the song "Espresso Macchiato," featuring Cash as an Italian mafioso surrounded by bodyguards. The Finnish trio KAJ were initially considered the clear favorites but faced stiff competition in the finale.
JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pitch, is an Austrian-Filipino singer who incorporates opera and pop genres into his work. His win marks Austria's first victory since 2014, when Conchita Wurst emerged as the winner. This is only the third triumph in the country's history.
Israeli singer Yuvval Raphael, who represented Israel in the competition, is a survivor of the tragic October 2023 Hamas attack on the Supernova festival where she took shelter to evade gunmen firing upon festivalgoers. Her performance at Eurovision was a testament to her perseverance and strength, resonating with themes of taking a stand against adversity.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Austria, given JJ's victory with the song "Wasted Love." The competition witnessed a powerful performance from Israeli contestant Yuvval Raphael, who sang the operatic pop ballad "New Day Will Rise," reflecting her resilience following the Hamas attack.
