title image and scoreboard from eurovision.tv

The 2022 Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Ukraine! Kalush Orchestra took the victory in Turin tonight with their song “Stefania”, racking up a total of 631 points thanks in particular to a televote score of a previously unseen magnitude.

Fans and – especially – bookmakers expected Ukraine to be the clear frontrunner. It didn’t look that way at first, as Kalush Orchestra made a slow start to the jury vote, but they ended it in fourth position and well positioned to benefit from a sympathetic public vote. And that’s exactly what they got, decimating all opposition in the process.

Speaking of unprecedented: Having been Eurovision strugglers in recent years, the United Kingdom and Spain bucked the trend by smashing their way into second and third place respectively. Sam Ryder’s “Space Man” duly takes the UK’s 16th runner-up spot – it’s been a while since the last one in 1998!

Unfortunately for them, the last two positions were also occupied by members of the “big five”: France on 17 points and, propping up the scoreboard, Germany‘s Malik Harris with just 6 points.

You can see the full Grand Final scoreboard below:

Here on escgo!, we’ll be back tomorrow and in the days ahead with more insight, (over)analysis and speculation. All the good stuff! Until then: our congratulations to Kalush Orchestra, whose winning performance you can watch again below. Slava Ukraini!