Vienna was very happy to have back 24-year-old countertenor Johannes Pietsch, or JJ as he is known. He had just returned home victorious after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 (ESC2025). The young artist knocked the raw, live-and-loop, electronica socks off the audience with his operatic, multi-octave vocal range combined with a new-age, techno-fabulous edge. His victory makes him Austria’s third Eurovision winner, a notable feat that has struck a chord with many across the country.
After an impossibly stellar performance across the tournament, JJ captured the highly-coveted MVP trophy. It drew praise from millions of fans, including Austria’s President Alexander van der Bellen. After winning, JJ famously held his hard earned trophy high in one hand. In his other hand, he carried a magnetic bouquet of these beauties, all the while strutting through the main gate, enjoying the accolades from thousands of roaring fans cheering this awe-inspiring feat.
The jubilation brought the celebration to the Vienna State Opera, where JJ makes frequent appearances. His unprecedented success has lit fires under serious discussions about the future of the Eurovision Song Contest. JJ is crossing fingers this time that the next stop on the tour will be Vienna. There’s one thing he’d like to do even more, and that’s co-host the contest with his mentor, Conchita Wurst. She has definitely played a big role in contributing to his artistic path.
Innsbruck, Oberwart in Burgenland and Wels in Upper Austria have already expressed an interest in hosting the next ESC. This potential diversification reflects JJ’s belief that “not everything has to take place in Vienna… Austria is bigger than that,” as stated by local politician Johannes Anzengruber.
JJ’s win, therefore, is not just a personal victory for all the reasons mentioned above — it represents a liberating shift in Austrian music history. Bogdan Roscic remarked on the cultural significance of JJ’s journey, stating, “From the Magic Flute to winning the Song Contest is somehow a story that can only take place in Austria.”
President Van der Bellen celebrated the national pride that JJ’s victory has generated, stating, “What a success! What a voice! What a show!” His remarks capture the pride and sense of togetherness that resonated all throughout Austria after this historic day.
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