The final results at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest
Elizabeth GrenierMay 17, 2016
It was an extremely suspenseful evening. Although Australia was a clear favorite for the national juries, Ukraine won - and Russia came in third. Germany finished last.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
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The final results at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest
It was an extremely suspenseful evening. Although Australia was a clear favorite for the national juries, Ukraine won - and Russia came in third. Germany finished last.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
The winner: Ukraine
Australia was the clear favorite according to the 42 national juries and ranked first until the top two public vote-getters were finally revealed to be Ukraine and Russia. Ultimately, the Ukrainian singer Jamala won with "1944," a gripping song about murder and persecution.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Australia's surprising second
The South Korea-born Australian singer Dami Im took the stage in a glittering white gown. Her performance of the song "Sound of Silence" convinced several national juries, earning her 320 points - way more than any other performer. Though everyone was worried about having the next Eurovision Song Contest held Down Under, that problem was finally solved by the public's votes.
Image: EBU/Andres Putting
Third (and first): Russia
The special effects accompanying the performance of Russia's Sergey Lazarev were so high-tech that he appeared to be defying gravity while singing "You Are the Only One." Betting odds placed him as a clear favorite: In the end, even though he finished third, he did in fact receive the most votes from the public - a fact that Russia's state television was quick to point out.
Image: DW/S. Wünsch
Rocking fourth: Bulgaria
Poli Genova rocked the night with her song "If Love Was a Crime." She was representing Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time. Genova's 2011 entry hadn't managed to get past the semifinals, but this year she established a new high for her country by reaching fourth place.
Image: EBU/Andres Putting
Refreshing fifth: Sweden
The 17-year-old Frans Jeppsson Wall, better known as Frans, forgot that the Eurovision Song Contest was all about glitter and kitsch. Dressed in a simple normcore style, he offered a refreshing break from the melodramatic acts with his song "If I Were Sorry." It secured Sweden the fifth spot.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
Unfortunately last: Germany
The 18-year-old German candidate, Jamie-Lee, performed "Ghost" in an outfit inspired by Asian mangas. Apparently this unusual style was too daring for both the juries and the public: She received a total 11 points - putting her dead last.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen
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From the 42 national juries' point of view, Australia was a clear winner, accumulating 320 points. With the additional points from the public's, that score climbed up to 511.
The contest was filled surprising shifts in rankings until the last second. The two countries with the most votes from the public, revealed at the very end of the show only, were Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine's results were revealed first, placing Jamala's song "1944" above the Australian Dami Im. The song was initially controversial because the contest prohibits explicit political messages: "1944" is about the forced expulsion of Jamala's grandparents from their homeland in Crimea during World War II, albeit with general lyrics, promoting peace.
Then, Russia's results were finally revealed: Although it was the country that got the most votes from the audience, that wasn't enough to make it beat Australia - it landed the third spot.
Germany finished last, with 11 points for the 18-year-old Jamie-Lee.
Find out more about the winners in the gallery above.
