JJ Shines Bright with Vienna’s Golden Rathausmann – And Hints at Eurovision 2026 Dreams
Austria’s golden boy JJ (real name Johannes Pietsch) has officially joined the ranks of Austrian music royalty. The Eurovision 2025 winner, who melted European hearts with his haunting ballad Wasted Love, was awarded the prestigious Golden Rathausmann in Vienna’s iconic Town Hall.
And let’s be honest – there’s nothing quite as Viennese as celebrating a Eurovision win with a shiny statue and a heartfelt speech about your love for the city.
A Golden Moment for a Golden Voice
Vienna’s Mayor, Michael Ludwig, personally handed JJ the honour, comparing him to legendary Austrians like Udo Jürgens and Conchita Wurst, both previous recipients of the award. “Vienna proved in 2015 that we can host one of the best Eurovisions ever,” Ludwig said, casually dropping the hint that Austria is already gunning to host Eurovision 2026.
For JJ, it was pure emotion:
“It’s a huge honour to be awarded the Golden Rathausmann. Vienna is my home – I love this city more than any other, and I’d be thrilled if Eurovision came back here,” said the 24-year-old countertenor, looking every bit the humble superstar.
From Vienna to the World
JJ’s journey is already the stuff of Eurovision legend. Born in Vienna to a family with Filipino roots, raised in Dubai, and trained at the Vienna Conservatory, he’s not exactly your typical Austrian schlager star. His Wasted Love not only brought Austria its third Eurovision victory but also smashed streaming records – becoming the first Austrian track to hit over a million streams in just one week.
The singer, who previously tried his luck on The Voice UK and Starmania, is now working on a follow-up single and a full album. Eurovision fans, take note: the JJ era has only just begun.
Will Vienna Host Eurovision 2026?
With Vienna and Innsbruck both in the running to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, Austria is pulling out all the stops. Ludwig insists Vienna is ready to repeat its 2015 triumph. And honestly, wouldn’t it be poetic justice for JJ to perform on home soil next year?
Source: ots.at
