Overview

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was the 61st edition of the pan‑European music competition. It took place in Stockholm, Sweden, in May 2016 after Sweden won the previous year. Forty‑two countries entered the contest; among them, Australia participated for a second consecutive year as a special invitee. The event culminated in a televised final that drew a large international audience.

Format and voting changes

Eurovision 2016 retained the multi‑round structure of two semi‑finals and a grand final, where qualifying entries from the semis joined automatic finalists. A major procedural change was introduced to the scoring: jury votes and public televotes were presented separately to create greater suspense. Each country still awarded the familiar points (1–8, 10 and 12) from its professional jury, while televote results were tallied and announced as national totals rather than reassigning individual 1–12 scores.

Result and significance

The contest was won by Ukrainian singer Jamala with the song “1944”. The entry attracted widespread attention because its lyrics refer to the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars, prompting public debate over political themes in Eurovision entries; the event’s organizers reviewed the song and allowed it to compete on the grounds of historical context. Jamala’s victory was one of the most discussed outcomes of the year.

Participants and presentation

Forty‑two national broadcasters sent performers, and the live shows were produced with the contest’s usual combination of musical staging, interval acts and national spokespeople announcing jury points. The contest’s structure—semi‑final qualification, the role of the "Big Five," and a televised grand final—remained central to how entries were selected and how viewers engaged via televoting and digital platforms.

Legacy and notable facts

  • 2016 is remembered for the revised voting presentation that separated jury and public scores to heighten suspense.
  • Jamala’s “1944” spurred conversations about historical memory and the line between politics and art at an international music event.
  • The participation of countries such as Australia reflected Eurovision’s expanding global appeal and broadcast partnerships.

Beyond the winner and procedural changes, Eurovision 2016 continued the contest’s role as a live showcase for popular music across Europe and beyond, providing a platform for artists, national broadcasters and viewers to interact in a high‑profile televised event.