• Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with 'Wasted Love', the country's first win since 2014.
• The competition was marked by protests concerning Israel's participation due to the Gaza conflict.
• JJ expressed a message of love and acceptance, calling on voters to spread love globally.
• Israel's Yuval Raphael finished in second place, gathering the most public votes.
• The event attracted around 100,000 attendees in Basel, showcasing diverse musical acts.

Austria triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 held in Basel, Switzerland, with operatic singer JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, winning with his powerful ballad "Wasted Love." This victory marks Austria's third overall win in the competition, the first since the bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014. JJ's unique combination of opera and techno, along with his dramatic performance, resonated with both jurors and audiences worldwide, culminating in a total of 436 points. Israel's Yuval Raphael finished in second place with 357 points, noted for her impressive public support, according to SCMP, HuffPost, and New York Times.

The competition was attended by around 100,000 fans and was not only a celebration of music but also a focal point of political tension due to Israel's participation amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This year’s contest prompted protests from pro-Palestinian groups calling for the exclusion of Israel from Eurovision, with a fierce backdrop set by the host city, Basel. Demonstrators expressed their concerns outside the venue, emphasizing that "peace and justice for Palestine" should take precedence, according to HuffPost and New York Times.

Despite the controversies surrounding the political implications of the contest, JJ used his platform to promote a positive message, calling for "more love" in the world and expressing gratitude to the voters. He stated, "Love is the strongest force on planet Earth," championing themes of acceptance and equality in his post-victory address. This significant win further highlights the evolving narrative within the Eurovision contest, showcasing both musical artistry and political complexity, as reflected in the statements made by a variety of stakeholders, according to SCMP, HuffPost, and New York Times.

As the world tuned in with over 160 million viewers, the contest featured a plethora of eclectic performances from 26 countries, varying from electropop to grunge rock, illustrating Europe's diverse musical tastes. The Eurovision Song Contest continues to evolve, blending entertainment with social awareness, and this year's tension further enriches its narrative as a stage for both artistic expression and political dialogue, according to HuffPost and New York Times.