Austria strikes gold: JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with “Wasted Love” VIDEO

Austria has emerged victorious at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, with singer JJ claiming the title thanks to his stirring performance of Wasted Love.

This marks Austria’s first Eurovision triumph since 2014, Caliber.Az reports, citing the message posted on the Eurovision website.

In a dramatic finale, JJ secured the win with a total of 436 points for his powerful operatic ballad. As is customary at Eurovision, the vote was split between national juries and the public televote. JJ took the lead in the jury round with 258 points, followed by an additional 176 points from the public vote. Israel’s entry New Day Will Rise, performed by Yuval Raphael and representing broadcaster Kan, finished in second place with 357 points. 

Estonia's Tommy Cash took third for broadcaster ERR with Espresso Macchiato, earning 356 points. Wasted Love resonated strongly with juries, receiving the coveted “douze points” from eight countries: Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The win was decisive, and Eurovision will return to Austria for the first time in over a decade. 

As the hosts announced, “We’ll see you there in 2026!” JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, is a countertenor known for his distinctive soprano-range voice. Born in Vienna in 2001, he spent his early years in Dubai before returning to Austria in 2016. He first caught national attention in 2021 as a finalist on the talent show Starmania, where his vocal prowess earned widespread acclaim. Now a professional performer at the Vienna State Opera, JJ has appeared in numerous productions including Die Zauberflöte, Von der Liebe Tod, and Tschick. 

Offstage, he is pursuing formal studies in classical music at the Music and Art Private University of Vienna (MUK). Austria made its Eurovision debut in 1957 in Frankfurt with Wohin, Kleines Pony by Bob Martin, which finished last in a field of ten. Its first win came in 1966, when Udo Jürgens triumphed with the ballad Merci, Chérie.

A second victory followed in 2014, when Conchita Wurst captivated audiences with her performance of Rise Like A Phoenix. In a moment of unity and defiance, Conchita famously declared: “We are unity and we are unstoppable!”

By Naila Huseynova