Austrian singer JJ won the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland while Greece’s Klavdia finished in a respectable sixth place.
JJ won after a nail-biting finish that saw him topple Israel from pole position at the very last minute.
The 24-year-old, who is a counter-tenor at the Vienna State Opera, took the title with the song “Wasted Love,” a tempestuous electro-ballad about unrequited love.
“Thank you so much for making my dreams come true,” he said as he accepted the coveted glass microphone trophy. “Love is the strongest force in the world; let’s spread more love.”
The singer scored 436 points, with Israel in second place with 357 points and Estonia third with 356.
The top ten of the grand final was as follows:
1. Austria – 436 points
2. Israel – 357 points
3. Estonia – 356 points
4. Sweden – 321 points
5. Italy – 256 points
6. Greece – 231 points
7. France – 230 points
8. Albania – 218 points
9. Ukraine – 218 points
10. Switzerland – 214 points
It is the third time Austria has won the contest, with previous victories going to Udo Jürgens’ Merci, Cherie in 1966, and Conchita Wurst with “Rise Like a Phoenix” in 2014. JJ was inspired to take part in Eurovision by Conchita.
The singer had always been one of the favorites to win, but the most hotly-tipped contestants were Sweden’s KAJ, whose tongue-in-cheek ode to sauna culture, Bara Bada Bastu, ultimately took fourth place.
For the second year in a row, there was controversy over Israel’s participation, with protestors arguing for the country’s dismissal over its military action in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian protests took place on the streets of Basel in the hours following up to the contest.
Greece’s Klavdia in sixth place at Eurovision 2025
Greece’s Klavdia overturned predictions and despite a sluggish start in the judging panels, she attained sixth place, as she enchanted the audience with her performance of “Asteromata.”
The last time Greece finished sixth was in 2013 with Koza Mostra and “Alcohol is Free.” In the semifinals of the Eurovision contest, Klavdia’s electrifying performance of “Asteromata” catapulted Greece into the spotlight, securing its place in the final.
Amidst intense anticipation during the second semi-final, Klavdia clinched the final spot with a thrilling buzzer-beater announcement, leaving the audience at St. Jakobshalle Arena in Basel and viewers on social media in awe.
Klavdia, whose full name is Klavdia Papadopoulou, is a 22-year-old singer of Pontic descent. She came to be known to the public through the talent show The Voice of Greece, and released her debut single in 2022 with the title Lonely Heart.
Related: The Year Greece’s Eurovision Entry Faced Serious Threats From Turkey
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