Where Are They Now? The Last 10 Eurovision Winners

Måns Zelmerlöw and the 2015 Victory in Sweden

Sweden claimed victory at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest with Måns Zelmerlöw and his entry “Heroes,” which secured 365 points. According to the contest records, the performance became memorable for its interactive visual staging where the singer appeared to communicate with animated figures.

For Zelmerlöw, the win was not a starting point but a continuation of an established career in Sweden, where he previously won Let’s Dance, participated in Idol, and worked in television and musical theater. He subsequently released tracks like “Fire in the Rain,” “Should’ve Gone Home,” and “Walk With Me,” according to artist background data. In 2025, he returned to the Swedish music scene by competing in Melodifestivalen with “Revolution,” reaching the final and finishing second with 157 points, demonstrating that a Eurovision victory can serve as a stepping stone within a broader artistic journey.

Jamala’s Cultural Legacy and “1944”

Ukraine won the 2016 competition with Jamala and the song “1944,” which earned 534 points—including 211 from the jury and 323 from viewers. The track focused on the deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 and drew inspiration from her family’s history, as detailed in contest documentation.

Rather than pursuing conventional pop stardom, Jamala channeled her platform into projects centered on Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar cultural heritage. Her notable works include QIRIM, an album dedicated to traditional Crimean music recorded with musicians across Ukraine. According to event schedules, she remained active through 2026, appearing as a guest performer in Ukraine’s national Eurovision selection and scheduling concert dates in Ukraine.

Salvador Sobral’s Intimate Jazz Approach

Portugal secured its first-ever victory in 2017 with Salvador Sobral performing “Amar pelos dois”. Rejecting pyrotechnics and complex choreography in favor of an understated piano-led performance, Sobral set a then-record of 758 points, according to contest statistics.

Sobral maintained a focus on jazz and singer-songwriter projects rather than commercial pop formulas. Following albums such as Paris, Lisboa (2019), bpm (2021), and TIMBRE (2023), he became the first Portuguese artist to perform at the Goya Awards in Spain in 2024. His career expanded further with the 2025 collaborative album Silvia & Salvador alongside Sílvia Pérez Cruz, which preceded an international tour spanning Europe, Latin America, and Japan, followed by his fifth studio album, A Flor do Recomeço, featuring unreleased Brazilian compositions.

Netta and the Global Impact of “Toy”

Israel’s Netta Barzilai captured the 2018 trophy with “Toy,” collecting 529 points through an eccentric vocal style, electronic beats, and a distinct visual presentation, as noted in contest summaries. While subsequent releases like “Bassa Sababa” established her footprint in electronic pop, she carved out a distinct niche within Israeli music rather than replicating the exact global phenomenon of her winning entry.

Duncan Laurence and the Delayed Surge of “Arcade”

Netherlands triumphed in 2019 with Duncan Laurence and “Arcade.” While moderately successful during the contest year, the song experienced an unprecedented secondary wave of popularity on streaming platforms and social media years later, according to music industry metrics.

Laurence followed up with his debut album Small Town Boy in 2020 and his second album Skyboy in September 2023. He continued releasing collaborative singles, including “Feel Your Love (Rapture)” with Tanishk Bagchi and Ganesh Waghela in August 2024, and “Choking on my Words” with Slovak singer Karin Ann in February 2025. The Netherlands contest was notably interrupted in 2020 when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the only cancellation in the contest’s history.

Måneskin’s Global Rock Breakthrough

Italian rock band Måneskin emerged from the 2021 contest with “Zitti e buoni,” subsequently launching an international career that stands as one of the most commercially successful post-Eurovision trajectories of the decade. Their cover of “Beggin'” became a major streaming hit, accompanied by extensive world tours and the album Rush!, alongside a collaboration with Iggy Pop on a new version of “I Wanna Be Your Slave,” according to band history.

By 2024, the four members paused group activities to pursue solo projects, most notably frontman Damiano David’s solo career. While Italian television host Fiorello reported comments from drummer Ethan Torchio regarding a potential 2027 reunion at Sanremo, the band has not issued official confirmation.

Kalush Orchestra and Stefania’s Cultural Mission

Ukraine claimed victory again in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra performing “Stefania,” marking the first time a rap song won the competition. The win occurred shortly after the onset of the Russian invasion, giving the entry profound socio-political resonance alongside its blend of traditional folk and hip-hop, as reported in cultural retrospectives.

The band maintained an active touring schedule and continued releasing music rooted in Ukrainian identity, releasing tracks such as “Karrooka” in February 2026, “Nikomu ne skazhemo” with SIMBOCHKA in June 2026, and “Ochi” with melos in July 2026.

Loreen’s Historic Double Triumph

Sweden’s Loreen made history in 2023 by winning with “Tattoo,” securing 583 points and becoming the second artist—and first female performer—to win Eurovision twice, following Johnny Logan’s precedent for Ireland. Loreen previously won the 2012 contest in Baku with “Euphoria.”

“Tattoo” set a streaming record on Spotify the day after the final with over 4.2 million streams, according to platform data. Loreen returned as a guest performer at the 2024 Malmö final and continued her release schedule with singles like “True Love” in April 2026, part of her album WILDFIRE.

Nemo and the Expansion of Arthouse

Switzerland won the 2024 contest with Nemo performing “The Code,” bringing a third victory to the country. Rather than relying solely on the contest’s winning formula, Nemo expanded their musical output with the October 2025 release of their debut album, Arthouse, featuring 14 tracks including “Casanova,” “God’s A Raver,” “Eurostar,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “The Code,” according to release records.

JJ and the Post-2025 Chapter in Austria

Austria’s JJ—born Johannes Pitsch in Vienna—won the 2025 contest in Basel with “Wasted Love.” With a background in classical music linked to the Vienna State Opera and participation in television talent show Starmania, JJ released music including the EP Into the Unknown in May 2026, featuring tracks like “Shapeshifter,” according to official discographies.

FAQ

• Did any Eurovision winner win the contest twice?

  Yes, Loreen won twice for Sweden, first in 2012 with “Euphoria” and again in 2023 with “Tattoo,” joining Johnny Logan as the only two-time winners in contest history, according to official records.

  

• Why was the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest canceled?

  The contest scheduled for Rotterdam in 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time in the event’s history that it did not take place, according to contest organizers.

• Which Eurovision winning song achieved long-term streaming success years after the event?

  Duncan Laurence’s 2019 winning entry for the Netherlands, “Arcade,” gained an unusually strong secondary wave of popularity on social media and streaming platforms years after his victory, according to digital streaming data.