As we all know , Austria won the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song contest in Basel, with JJ and “Wasted Love”. and we will be travelling to Austria’s capital city, Vienna , for the 2026 edition of our beloved contest. JJ’s victory in Basel was the third victory for Austria at the contest , with previous wins being in 1966, with Udo Jurgens and “Mercie Cherie “and again in 2014 when Conchita Wurst took victory for the nation with “Rise like a Phoenix ” in Copenhagen, Denmark.

With this in mind, we at Eurovision Ireland, decided it would be interesting to create a series , looking back over the years at previous Austrian acts and how they fared in the contest , in the years that Austria have taken part . Today, in Part 16 of our series, we will look at the years 2013, 2014,2015

2013 -Natalia Kelly “Shine”

Natalia Kelly won Austria’s National selection to select their entry for the contest in Malmö in 2013 “Österreich rockt den Song Contest“. She competed in the first semi final in Malmö but sadly wasn’t successful in qualifying for the Grand Final, placing 14th out of 16 countries , with 27 points. It probably didn’t help that she was drawn to perform first on the night!

2014 -Conchita Wurst ” Rise like a Phoenix”

Conchita Wurst had already attempted to represent Austria in 2012 , but was unsuccessful. In 2014 ,Austria’s broadcaster ORF selected the singer to perform at the 2014 contest in Copenhagen, Denmark.Wurst heavily promoted the song during the build up to the contest and was predicated to qualify to the Grand Final, however it wasn’t until rehearsals got under way in Copenhagen that Austria became viewed as a potential winner! Conchita Wurst won Semi Final 2 and took victory in Copenhagen on 10th May 2014 , taking the contest back to Vienna for the first time since 1967.

2015-The Makemakes “I am Yours “

With Austria hosting the 2015 contest , they got an automatic qualification to the Grand Final. ORF decided that year to hold a national final to decide who would represent the host nation on home soil( just like they have done this year, after winning the previous year) . The Makemakes won the right to perform in Vienna with their gentle piano ballad “I am Yours”. Unfortunately they fell flat in the Grand Final, coming 26th with the dread “nul points”.

And that concludes our look back at 2013,2014,2015.

In part 16 of our series on past Austrian participants, we will focus on the years 2016,2017.2018

You can see Part 1, covering the years 1957,1958 and 1959 HERE , Part 2 covering the years 1960.1961 and 1962 HERE ,Part 3 covering the years 1963, 1964,1965HERE .Part 4 , covering the years 1966, 1967 and 1968 HERE .Part 5 covering 1971,1972 and 1976,HERE . Part 6 covering the years 1977,1978 and 1979 HERE .Part 7 covering 1980, 1981 and 1982 HERE Part 8 covering 1983, 1984 and 1985 HERE Part 9 covering 1986 , 1987 and 1988 HERE Part 10 1989.1990.1991 HERE Part 11 1992.1993,1994 HERE Part 12 1995.1996, 1997 HERE Part 13 1999, 2000,2002 HERE Part 14 HERE Part 15 HERE

In the meantime , let us know what you think about Austria at Eurovision by either leaving us a comment in the comments box , or you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X .

Author : Sarah Rudman

Source :ORF ,YouTube