Italy Wins Eurovision Song Contest 2021 as Glam Competition Makes a Fierce Comeback

After being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eurovision Song Contest returned to its full glory—glamorous and delightfully over-the-top. Find out more info about the winner and the event.

By Corinne Heller May 22, 2021 10:58 PMTags
Watch: Rachel McAdams' Real-Life Experience at Eurovision

And the winner of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest is....Italy!

On Saturday, May 22, the country's rock band Måneskin won the annual European competition, which once launched the global music careers of ABBA and Céline Dion, with their song "Zitti e buoni." The group and the other acts performed their entries in a glamorous and delightfully over-the-top final that aired live from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Eurovision was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy was one of 26 countries and territories competing in the final and 39 awarded a certain number of points to 10 songs, based on votes from official juries as well as from viewers. France's singer Barbara Pravi came in second place with the song "Voilà." Other countries who scored big included Switzerland and Ukraine. The United Kingdom received zero points.

In the final hour of the contest, the Italian contenders Måneskin drew controversy when lead singer Damiano David was seen on-camera bending him head down onto a table while sitting with the band in a green room. At a press conference after the show, he was asked if he had snorted cocaine during that moment. He said he did not do drugs and that a band mate had broken a glass at their feet. Eurovision officials later confirmed that broken glass was found under the table and David later offered to take a drug test upon the group's return to Italy.

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Most Famous Eurovision Contestants

Also during the contest, many fans were surprised to watch U.S. rapper Flo Rida make his Eurovision debut. He performed the song "Adrenalina" with Italian singer Senhit as the official musical entry for the small European country of San Marino. Flo Rida told BBC Radio 1 earlier this year that he had no prior knowledge of the contest before he was approached to perform his verse for their track onstage.

"Senhit's people reached out to my people," he said. "The song is high energy, which I love."

Nikkie de Jager, also known as YouTube star NikkieTutorials, was one of the hosts of this year's Eurovision final, which aired in the United States on NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock. It took place almost a year after the event received more worldwide recognition through the release of the Netflix musical comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, starring Will Ferrell, who co-wrote the script, Rachel McAdams and Dan Stevens.

Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images

While the elves certainly delivered, sadly, "Ja Ja Ding Dong" was not performed at the 2021 live event. But Iceland did jokingly initially award the song its maximum 12 points!

See photos of the 26 acts performing at this year's Eurovision Song Contest final:

Albania

Anxhela Peristeri performs "Karma."

Azerbaijan

Efendi performs "Mata Hari."

Belgium

Hooverphonic performs "The Wrong Place."

Bulgaria

Victoria performs "Growing Up Is Getting Old."

Cyprus

Elena Tsagrinou performs "El Diablo."

France

Barbara Pravi performs "Voilà." Her performance came in second place.

Finland

Blind Channel performs "Dark Side."

Germany

Jendrik performs "I Don't Feel Hate."

Greece

Stefania performs "Last Dance."

Iceland

Daði og Gagnamagnið performs "10 Years."

Israel

Eden Alene performs "Set Me Free."

Italy

Måneskin performs "Zitti e buoni." The group won the Eurovision Song Contest final.

Lithuania

The Roop performs "Discoteque."

Malta

Destiny performs "Je me casse."

Moldova

Natalia Gordienko performs "Sugar."

The Netherlands

Jeangu Macrooy performs "Birth of a New Age."

Norway

Tix performs "Fallen Angel."

Portugal

The Black Mamba performs "Love Is on My Side."

San Marino

Senhit and rapper Flo Rida perform "Adrenalina."

Serbia

Hurricane performs "Loco Loco."

Spain

Blas Cantó performs "Voy a quedarme."

Sweden

Tusse performs "Voices."

Switzerland

Gjon's Tears performs "Tout l'Univers."

Russia

Manizha performs "Russian Woman."

Ukraine

Go_A performs "Shum."

United Kingdom

James Newman performs "Embers."

(E! and Peacock are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Peacock is live now! Check out NBCU's streaming service here.