JJ is back in Austria: The new ESC king enthusiastic fans!

JJ is back in Austria: The new ESC king enthusiastic fans!

Flughafen, Österreich - Today, on May 18, 2025, the Austrian Eurovision winner JJ returned triumphantly to the home country. The successful singer, who was crowned the new king of the Eurovision Song Contest last night in Basel, was received by numerous fans and celebrities at the airport. Among those present were ORF general director Roland Weißmann and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler, who congratulated the artist on his great success.

The presence of JJ's family and his former “Starmania” colleague Mert Cosmus, who created a festive atmosphere with colorful balloons and a “Welcome Home” sign, were particularly heartwarming. JJ was overwhelmed by the support of his fans, signed numerous autographs and proudly presented the prestigious ESC trophy of the cheering crowd.

an unexpected victory

JJ scored remarkable 436 points at this year's competition and thus prevailed against the bookmaker forecasts that saw Sweden as a clear favorite. The Israeli candidate Yuval Raphael took the places behind him with 357 points. This victory is not only a personal triumph for JJ, but also a significant moment in Austria's history at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Austria had taken a total of 57 times in the competition since his first participation in 1957, with the win in 2025 now secured the country's third victory, the previous ones were achieved in 1966 and 2014. JJS "Wasted Love" has proven to be a timeless hit and is now being anchored in the history books of the ESC.

press conference and media appearances

Following the reception, a press conference took place in the ORF center on Küniglberg in the evening, which was broadcast live in ORF 1 and to ORF on. This event offered fans the opportunity to learn more about JJS musical career and his experience in competition. At 8:15 p.m., the talk "ESC 2025 - Sieg for Austria" followed, in which former competition winners such as Conchita Wurst, Teya and Cesár Sampson were guests.

With this victory, Austria continues in ESC history, where it has now reached one of the highest scores, while the country was confronted with negative positions in its previous participation in the left half of the table. The contribution "Wasted Love" will be one of the best hits in the annals and could continue to boost the soon comeback of the Austrian music scene at the Eurovision Song Contest.

for further information on Austria's history as part of the Eurovision Song Contest, visit the comprehensive overview on Wikimedia