The twenty-nineth edition of WAO Song Contest took place in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of 
New Zealand.
Christchurch, the city which hosted the 29th edition of the contest
The venue selected has been the Christchurch Arena (known as the Horncastle Arena until 2020), with the actors Russell Crowe and Lucy Lawless chosen as hosts, "Turn Your Views Upside Down" as slogan and "Feelings", by Robin Hustin, as theme song.
Russell Crowe and Lucy Lawless, presenters of the edition
New Zealand, 
Uzbekistan and 
Australia were all part of the Big three this edition, thanks to their placings in the 28th edition. As always, three semi-finals took place and 8 countries qualified from each semi-final. The songs that arrived 9th had a "Second Chance". The final was composed of 28 countries.
Christchurch Arena, venue of the edition
The 
Icelandic group Of Monsters and Men achieved the victory this edition, becoming the fourth group to win a normal edition of the contest after Within Temptation, THE HARDKISS and Evanescence. The song the performed was "Little Talks".
| 58 participating countries |
|---|
| 19 returning • 23 withdrawing |
 Albania,  Andorra,  Argentina,  Armenia, Australia,  Austria,  Belarus,  Belgium,  Bosnia & Herzegovina,  Brazil,  Canada,  Colombia,  Costa Rica,  Cyprus,  Czech Republic,  Denmark,  Finland,  France,  Germany,  Greece,  Hungary, Iceland,  Indonesia,  Ireland,  Israel,  Italy,  Japan,  Kosovo,  Latvia,  Lebanon,  Luxembourg,  Mexico,  Monaco,  Mongolia,  The Netherlands, New Zealand,  Nigeria,  Norway,  Poland,  Portugal,  Puerto Rico,  Romania  Russia,  San Marino,  Slovakia,  Slovenia,  South Korea,  Spain,  Sri Lanka,  Sweden,  Switzerland,  Turkey,  Uganda,  Ukraine, the  United Kingdom, the  United States, Uzbekistan and  Vatican City
|
Participating artists
℃-ute
Representing
Japan
Representing
Japan
AKS
Representing Belgium
Representing
Belgium
Anitta
Representing Brazil
Representing
Brazil
Anja Nissen
Representing Australia
Representing
Australia
Avicii
Representing Kosovo
Representing
Kosovo
Aylin Coşkun
Representing Turkey
Representing
Turkey
Beatrice Egli
Representing Switzerland
Representing
Switzerland
Bebe Rexha
Representing Albania
Representing
Albania
Becky G
Representing Puerto Rico
Representing
Puerto Rico
BRAThANKI
Representing Poland
Representing
Poland
Carolina Deslandes
Representing Portugal
Representing
Portugal
Cheraze
Representing Monaco
Representing
Monaco
CHVRCHES
Representing the United Kingdom
Representing the
United Kingdom
Davido
Representing Nigeria
Representing
Nigeria
Drake
Representing Canada
Representing
Canada
Eldin Huseinbegović
Representing Bosnia & Herzegovina
Representing
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Eric Nam
Representing South Korea
Representing
South Korea
Fleurie
Representing the United States
Representing the
United States
Francesca Michielin
Representing Vatican City
Representing
Vatican City
Full Trunk
Representing Israel
Representing
Israel.jpg "GAC (Gamaliél Audrey Cantika).jpg (64 KB)")
GAC (Gamaliél Audrey Cantika)
Representing Indonesia
Representing
Indonesia
Gal George Gjurin
Representing Slovenia
Representing
Slovenia
Giorgia
Representing Italy
Representing
Italy
Hari Mata Hari
Representing Bosnia & Herzegovina
Representing
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Helena Paparizou
Representing Greece
Representing
Greece
Il Volo
Representing San Marino
Representing
San Marino
Ilinca
Representing Romania
Representing
Romania
Ina Wroldsen
Representing Norway
Representing
Norway
ÍV
Representing Hungary
Representing
Hungary
Janet
Representing Belarus
Representing
Belarus
Joel Brandenstein
Representing Germany
Representing
Germany
Kah-Lo
Representing Nigeria
Representing
Nigeria
Katarína Knechtová
Representing Slovakia
Representing
Slovakia
KOLAJ
Representing South Korea
Representing
South Korea
Lela Seruvakula
Representing Lebanon
Representing
Lebanon
Louane
Representing France
Representing
France
Lukas Graham
Representing Denmark
Representing
Denmark
M.I.A.
Representing Puerto Rico
Representing
Puerto Rico
Machine Gun Kelly
Representing Albania
Representing
Albania
Major Lazer
Representing Brazil
Representing
Brazil
Malu
Representing Cyprus
Representing
Cyprus
Malú
Representing Spain
Representing
Spain
Marco Mengoni
Representing Italy
Representing
Italy
Marta Jandová
Representing Czech Republic
Representing
Czech Republic
Megan
Representing Luxembourg
Representing
Luxembourg
Miranda!
Representing Argentina
Representing
Argentina
MishCatt
Representing Costa Rica
Representing
Costa Rica
Moana Del Ray
Representing Lebanon
Representing
Lebanon
Mr Eazi
Representing Nigeria
Representing
Nigeria
Nargiz
Representing Uzbekistan
Representing
Uzbekistan
Nelli Matula
Representing Finland
Representing
Finland
Nicky Jam
Representing Colombia
Representing
Colombia
Of Monsters and Men
Representing Iceland
Representing
Iceland
OG3NE
Representing The Netherlands
Representing
The Netherlands
Pabllo Vittar
Representing Brazil
Representing
Brazil
Paulina Rubio
Representing Mexico
Representing
Mexico
Polina Gagarina
Representing Russia
Representing
Russia
Revolverheld
Representing Czech Republic
Representing
Czech Republic
Rihanna
Representing Canada
Representing
Canada
Rita Ora
Representing Kosovo
Representing
Kosovo
Riton
Representing Nigeria
Representing
Nigeria
Robin Packalen
Representing Finland
Representing
Finland
Rosa López
Representing Andorra
Representing
Andorra
Sabina Ddumba
Representing Uganda
Representing
Uganda
Shakira
Representing Colombia
Representing
Colombia
Sivan Talmor
Representing Israel
Representing
Israel
Skott
Representing Sweden
Representing
Sweden
Srbuk
Representing Armenia
Representing
Armenia
The Script
Representing Ireland
Representing
Ireland
Tinkara Kovač
Representing Slovenia
Representing
Slovenia
Triana Park
Representing Latvia
Representing
Latvia
Tunisiano
Representing Monaco
Representing
Monaco
Victoria Lungu
Representing Moldova
Representing
Moldova
X Ambassadors
Representing Albania
Representing
Albania
ZOË
Representing Austria
Representing
Austria
Zowie
Representing New Zealand
Representing
New ZealandReturning artists
Anja Nissen
Previous participation: 13th edition for Denmark
Previous participation: 13th edition for
DenmarkBebe Rexha
Previous participations: 13th edition for Monaco, 14th edition for Puerto Rico and 27th edition for Kosovo
Previous participations: 13th edition for
Monaco, 14th edition for Puerto Rico and 27th edition for KosovoCarolina Deslandes
Previous participation: 11th edition for Portugal
Previous participation: 11th edition for
PortugalFrancesca Michielin
Previous participations: 4th edition for San Marino, 11th edition for Vatican City, 13th, 16th and 24th edition for Italy
Previous participations: 4th edition for
San Marino, 11th edition for Vatican City, 13th, 16th and 24th edition for ItalyGiorgia
Previous participation: 5th edition for Italy
Previous participation: 5th edition for
ItalyHari Mata Hari
Previous participation: 25th edition for Bosnia & Herzegovina
Previous participation: 25th edition for
Bosnia & HerzegovinaHelena Paparizou
Previous participations: 3rd, 5th, 14th and 25th edition for Greece, 10th and 11th edition for Cyprus. All of them as a solo artist. 24th edition as part of Antique for Cyprus
Previous participations: 3rd, 5th, 14th and 25th edition for
Greece, 10th and 11th edition for Cyprus. All of them as a solo artist. 24th edition as part of Antique for CyprusIl Volo
Previous participations: 10th and 14th edition for Italy
Previous participations: 10th and 14th edition for
ItalyIna Wroldsen
Previous participation: 15th edition for Norway
Previous participation: 15th edition for
NorwayKatarína Knechtová
Previous participations: 16th an 20th edition for Slovakia
Previous participations: 16th an 20th edition for
SlovakiaLukas Graham
Previous participations: 3rd and 22nd edition for Denmark
Previous participations: 3rd and 22nd edition for
DenmarkMachine Gun Kelly
Previous participation: 21st edition for Cuba
Previous participation: 21st edition for
CubaMajor Lazer
Previous participation: 10th edition for Denmark
Previous participation: 10th edition for
DenmarkMalu
Previous participation: 20th edition for Cyprus
Previous participation: 20th edition for
CyprusMalú
Previous participation: 2nd edition for Spain
Previous participation: 2nd edition for
SpainMarco Mengoni
Previous participations: 7th edition and Special edition 1 for San Marino, Special edition 2 for Vatican City
Previous participations: 7th edition and Special edition 1 for
San Marino, Special edition 2 for Vatican CityMr Eazi
Previous participation: 24th edition for Nigeria
Previous participation: 24th edition for
NigeriaNargiz
Previous participations: 13th, 17th and 28th edition for Uzbekistan
Previous participations: 13th, 17th and 28th edition for
UzbekistanNicky Jam
Previous participation: 26th edition for Spain
Previous participation: 26th edition for
SpainOf Monsters and Men
Previous participations: 2nd, 6th and 15th edition for Iceland
Previous participations: 2nd, 6th and 15th edition for
IcelandOG3NE
Previous participation: Special edition 2 for The Netherlands
Previous participation: Special edition 2 for
The NetherlandsPaulina Rubio
Previous participations: 7th, 23rd and 28th edition for Mexico
Previous participations: 7th, 23rd and 28th edition for
MexicoPolina Gagarina
Previous participations: 16th and 28th edition for Russia
Previous participations: 16th and 28th edition for
RussiaRihanna
Previous participations: 19th edition and Special edition 2 for Barbados
Previous participations: 19th edition and Special edition 2 for
BarbadosRita Ora
Previous participations: 7th and 21st edition for Kosovo, 17th edition for Australia
Previous participations: 7th and 21st edition for
Kosovo, 17th edition for AustraliaRobin Packalen
Previous participation: 13th edition for Finland
Previous participation: 13th edition for
FinlandShakira
Previous participations: 11th and 20th edition for Colombia
Previous participations: 11th and 20th edition for
ColombiaThe Script
Previous participation: 4th edition for Ireland
Previous participation: 4th edition for
IrelandZOË
Previous participations: Special edition 2 and 25th edition for Austria
Previous participations: Special edition 2 and 25th edition for
AustriaParticipating songs
| Key |  Winner
|
 Top 10
|
 Finalist
|
|---|
| Country | Artist(s) | Song | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania
|
Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha | Home | English |
| Andorra
|
Rosa López | Ahora Sé Quién Soy | Spanish |
| Argentina
|
Miranda! | Nadie Como Tú | Spanish |
| Armenia
|
Srbuk | Yete Karogh Es | Armeniana |
| Australia
|
Anja Nissen | Triumph | English |
| Austria
|
ZOË | Dangerous Affair | English |
| Belarus
|
Janet | You Will Be Here | English |
| Belgium
|
AKS | Give It Back | English |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
Hari Mata Hari & Eldin Huseinbegović | Tvoje je samo to što daš | Bosnian |
| Brazil
|
Major Lazer feat. Anitta & Pabllo Vittar | Sua Cara | English, Portuguese |
| Canada
|
Drake feat. Rihanna | Take Care | English |
| Colombia
|
Shakira feat. Nicky Jam | Perro Fiel | Spanish |
| Costa Rica
|
MishCatt | Another Dimension | English |
| Cyprus
|
Malu | Ora Na Gyriseis | Greek |
| Czech Republic
|
Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová | Halt Dich an mir fest | German |
| Denmark
|
Lukas Graham | Mama Said | English |
| Finland
|
Robin Packalen feat. Nelli Matula | Hula Hula | Finnish |
| France
|
Louane | Avenir | French |
| Germany
|
Joel Brandenstein | Grenzenlos | German |
| Greece
|
Helena Paparizou | Baby It's Over | English |
| Hungary
|
ÍV | Fire | English |
| Iceland
|
Of Monsters and Men | Little Talks | English |
| Indonesia
|
GAC (Gamaliél Audrey Cantika) | Suara | Indonesian |
| Ireland
|
The Script | Rain | English |
| Israel
|
Full Trunk feat. Sivan Talmor | As A Stone | English |
| Italy
|
Giorgia, Marco Mengoni | Come neve | Italian |
| Japan
|
℃-ute | Kanashiki Heaven | English, Japanaese |
| Kosovo
|
Avicii feat. Rita Ora | Lonely Together | English |
| Latvia
|
Triana Park | Iron Blue | English |
| Lebanon
|
Moana Del Ray feat. Lela Seruvakula | Real Life and Dreams | English |
| Luxembourg
|
Megan | Sous ma peau | French |
| Mexico
|
Paulina Rubio | Ni Una Sola Palabra | Spanish |
 Moldova
|
Victoria Lungu | De vina este vara | Romanian |
| Monaco
|
Cheraze feat. Tunisiano | Promets pas la lune | French |
| The Netherlands
|
OG3NE | But I Do | English |
| New Zealand
|
Zowie | My Calculator | English |
| Nigeria
|
Riton feat. Kah-Lo, Mr Eazi, Davido | Money | English |
| Norway
|
Ina Wroldsen | Strongest | English |
| Poland
|
BRAThANKI | Mamo ja nie chcę za mąż | Polish |
| Portugal
|
Carolina Deslandes | A Vida Toda | Portuguese |
| Puerto Rico
|
Becky G | Todo Cambió | Spanish |
| Romania
|
Ilinca | Amici | Romanian |
| Russia
|
Polina Gagarina | Dramy bol'she net | Russian |
| San Marino
|
Il Volo | Per te ci sarò | Italian |
| Slovakia
|
Katarína Knechtová | Isabel | Slovak |
| Slovenia
|
Gal George Gjurin & Tinkara Kovač | En Objem | Slovene |
| South Korea
|
KOLAJ & Eric Nam | Into You | English |
| Spain
|
Malú | Invisible | Spanish |
| Sri Lanka
|
M.I.A. | Borders | English |
| Sweden
|
Skott | Mermaid | English |
| Switzerland
|
Beatrice Egli | Herz an | German |
| Turkey
|
Aylin Coşkun | Sinsirella | Turkish |
| Uganda
|
Sabina Ddumba | Not Too Young | English |
| Ukraine
|
AIDA | Ver' | Ukrainian |
| United Kingdom
|
CHVRCHES | Leave A Trace | English |
| United States
|
Fleurie | Hurricane | English |
| Uzbekistan
|
Nargiz | Ya Ne Tvoya | Russian |
| Vatican City
|
Francesca Michielin | Io non abito al mare | Italian |
Semi-final 1
Also New Zealand voted in this semi-final.
| Key | First Place
|
Qualified for the Final
|
 Went to Second Chance
|
|---|
| Draw | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Puerto Rico
|
Becky G | Todo Cambió | 17 | 30 |
| 02 | Nigeria
|
Riton feat. Kah-Lo, Mr Eazi, Davido | Money | 12 | 45 |
| 03 | Japan
|
℃-ute | Kanashiki Heaven | 13 | 38 |
| 04 | Andorra
|
Rosa López | Ahora Sé Quién Soy | 8 | 69 |
| 05 | Lebanon
|
Moana Del Ray feat. Lela Seruvakula | Real Life and Dreams | 18 | 27 |
| 06 | Czech Republic
|
Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová | Halt Dich an mir fest | 5 | 90 |
| 07 | Greece
|
Helena Paparizou | Baby It's Over | 14 | 35 |
| 08 | Latvia
|
Triana Park | Iron Blue | 10 | 62 |
| 09 | Costa Rica
|
MishCatt | Another Dimension | 7 | 71 |
| 10 | Hungary
|
ÍV | Fire | 11 | 56 |
| 11 | Finland
|
Robin Packalen feat. Nelli Matula | Hula Hula | 2 | 98 |
| 12 | United Kingdom
|
CHVRCHES | Leave A Trace | 1 | 104 |
| 13 | Monaco
|
Cheraze feat. Tunisiano | Promets pas la lune | 4 | 91 |
| 14 | The Netherlands
|
OG3NE | But I Do | 14 | 35 |
| 15 | Indonesia
|
GAC (Gamaliél Audrey Cantika) | Suara | 16 | 34 |
| 16 | Moldova
|
Victoria Lungu | De vina este vara | 18 | 27 |
| 17 | Vatican City
|
Francesca Michielin | Io non abito al mare | 3 | 93 |
| 18 | Russia
|
Polina Gagarina | Dramy bol'she net | 6 | 87 |
| 19 | Italy
|
Giorgia, Marco Mengoni | Come neve | 9 | 68 |
Semi-final 2
Also Uzbekistan voted in this semi-final.
| Key | First Place
|
Qualified for the Final
|
Went to Second Chance
|
|---|
| Draw | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Norway
|
Ina Wroldsen | Strongest | 4 | 82 |
| 02 | Romania
|
Ilinca | Amici | 3 | 83 |
| 03 | Germany
|
Joel Brandenstein | Grenzenlos | 14 | 50 |
| 04 | Spain
|
Malú | Invisible | 11 | 55 |
| 05 | South Korea
|
KOLAJ & Eric Nam | Into You | 14 | 50 |
| 06 | San Marino
|
Il Volo | Per te ci sarò | 16 | 45 |
| 07 | Uganda
|
Sabina Ddumba | Not Too Young | 1 | 109 |
| 08 | Kosovo
|
Avicii feat. Rita Ora | Lonely Together | 5 | 79 |
| 09 | Cyprus
|
Malu | Ora Na Gyriseis | 6 | 67 |
| 10 | Poland
|
BRAThANKI | Mamo ja nie chcę za mąż | 7 | 63 |
| 11 | Albania
|
Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha | Home | 8 | 60 |
| 12 | Israel
|
Full Trunk feat. Sivan Talmor | As A Stone | 9 | 57 |
| 13 | Denmark
|
Lukas Graham | Mama Said | 2 | 91 |
| 14 | Bosnia & Herzegovina
|
Hari Mata Hari & Eldin Huseinbegović | Tvoje je samo to što daš | 17 | 27 |
| 15 | Belgium
|
AKS | Give It Back | 10 | 56 |
| 16 | Armenia
|
Srbuk | Yete Karogh Es | 11 | 55 |
| 17 | Brazil
|
Major Lazer feat. Anitta & Pabllo Vittar | Sua Cara | 13 | 53 |
| 18 | Slovenia
|
Gal George Gjurin & Tinkara Kovač | En Objem | 18 | 20 |
Semi-final 3
Also Australia voted in this semi-final.
| Key | First Place
|
Qualified for the Final
|
Went to Second Chance
|
|---|
| Draw | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | France
|
Louane | Avenir | 2 | 92 |
| 02 | Canada
|
Drake feat. Rihanna | Take Care | 18 | 34 |
| 03 | Belarus
|
Janet | You Will Be Here | 6 | 69 |
| 04 | Ukraine
|
AIDA | Ver' | 4 | 79 |
| 05 | Slovakia
|
Katarína Knechtová | Isabel | 9 | 60 |
| 06 | Iceland
|
Of Monsters and Men | Little Talks | 5 | 74 |
| 07 | Mexico
|
Paulina Rubio | Ni Una Sola Palabra | 16 | 37 |
| 08 | Ireland
|
The Script | Rain | 8 | 64 |
| 09 | Colombia
|
Shakira feat. Nicky Jam | Perro Fiel | 12 | 52 |
| 10 | Argentina
|
Miranda! | Nadie Como Tú | 13 | 49 |
| 11 | Sri Lanka
|
M.I.A. | Borders | 15 | 46 |
| 12 | Portugal
|
Carolina Deslandes | A Vida Toda | 14 | 48 |
| 13 | Switzerland
|
Beatrice Egli | Herz an | 10 | 58 |
| 14 | Sweden
|
Skott | Mermaid | 1 | 97 |
| 15 | Luxembourg
|
Megan | Sous ma peau | 3 | 84 |
| 16 | United States
|
Fleurie | Hurricane | 11 | 54 |
| 17 | Turkey
|
Aylin Coşkun | Sinsirella | 16 | 37 |
| 18 | Austria
|
ZOË | Dangerous Affair | 7 | 68 |
Second Chance
Every country gave 1 point to its favourite country. One country qualified. Voting was not compulsory.
Grand final
| Key | Winner
|
 Runner-up
|
 Third Place
|
Top 10
|
 Last Place
|
|---|
| Draw | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Place | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Iceland
|
Of Monsters and Men | Little Talks | 1 | 228 |
| 02 | Czech Republic
|
Revolverheld feat. Marta Jandová | Halt Dich an mir fest | 8 | 157 |
| 03 | Albania
|
Machine Gun Kelly, X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha | Home | 24 | 70 |
| 04 | Russia
|
Polina Gagarina | Dramy bol'she net | 11 | 140 |
| 05 | Ireland
|
The Script | Rain | 25 | 68 |
| 06 | Andorra
|
Rosa López | Ahora Sé Quién Soy | 27 | 59 |
| 07 | Cyprus
|
Malu | Ora Na Gyriseis | 18 | 105 |
| 08 | Israel
|
Full Trunk feat. Sivan Talmor | As A Stone | 17 | 112 |
| 09 | France
|
Louane | Avenir | 22 | 77 |
| 10 | Monaco
|
Cheraze feat. Tunisiano | Promets pas la lune | 6 | 158 |
| 11 | Austria
|
ZOË | Dangerous Affair | 23 | 73 |
| 12 | Luxembourg
|
Megan | Sous ma peau | 19 | 102 |
| 13 | Costa Rica
|
MishCatt | Another Dimension | 20 | 91 |
| 14 | New Zealand
|
Zowie | My Calculator | 28 | 52 |
| 15 | United Kingdom
|
CHVRCHES | Leave A Trace | 4 | 160 |
| 16 | Ukraine
|
AIDA | Ver' | 13 | 126 |
| 17 | Uganda
|
Sabina Ddumba | Not Too Young | 3 | 163 |
| 18 | Belarus
|
Janet | You Will Be Here | 14 | 122 |
| 19 | Australia
|
Anja Nissen | Triumph | 9 | 148 |
| 20 | Poland
|
BRAThANKI | Mamo ja nie chcę za mąż | 21 | 88 |
| 21 | Sweden
|
Skott | Mermaid | 2 | 167 |
| 22 | Denmark
|
Lukas Graham | Mama Said | 26 | 60 |
| 23 | Romania
|
Ilinca | Amici | 16 | 120 |
| 24 | Vatican City
|
Francesca Michielin | Io non abito al mare | 5 | 159 |
| 25 | Kosovo
|
Avicii feat. Rita Ora | Lonely Together | 12 | 138 |
| 26 | Norway
|
Ina Wroldsen | Strongest | 10 | 142 |
| 27 | Uzbekistan
|
Nargiz | Ya Ne Tvoya | 15 | 121 |
| 28 | Finland
|
Robin Packalen feat. Nelli Matula | Hula Hula | 6 | 158 |