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Eurovision Song Contest 2016

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was the 61st edition of the annual international songwriting competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union. Hosted by Sweden in Stockholm at the Ericsson Globe Arena after their victory in the 2015 contest, the event consisted of two semi-finals on 10 and 12 May, followed by a grand final on 14 May. Originally planned with 43 participating countries, the number reduced to 42 following Romania's disqualification by the EBU for failure to settle longstanding debts owed by its public broadcaster Televiziunea Română. Ukraine emerged as the winner, represented by Jamala with the song "1944", which earned 534 points and addressed the 1944 Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars, prompting objections from Russian officials who argued it violated the contest's apolitical rules, though the EBU permitted its entry as an artistic expression. The result marked Ukraine's second victory in the competition's history and highlighted ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly amid Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Other notable performances included Australia's strong debut placement in sixth with Dami Im's "Sound of Silence" and Russia's third-place finish by Sergey Lazarev's "You Are the Only One", reflecting the contest's blend of musical competition and cultural diplomacy. The edition drew over 200 million viewers worldwide and featured innovations like expanded jury and televote systems, but faced criticism for perceived inconsistencies in jury voting, as seen in Poland's entry receiving minimal jury support despite strong public votes. Romania's exclusion underscored financial accountability issues within participating broadcasters, while the political undertones of the winning entry fueled debates on the contest's non-political ethos, revealing causal links between historical grievances and contemporary international relations.

Location and Hosting

Venue and Infrastructure

The in served as venue for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, hosting the first semi-final on 10 May, the second semi-final on 12 May, and the grand final on 14 May. This indoor spherical arena features a distinctive interior and supports a concert capacity exceeding 16,000 spectators, though configured for approximately 13,000 attendees during the event to accommodate and production requirements. The venue's infrastructure was adapted with advanced technical features for the broadcasts, including 900 square meters of high-resolution LED screens integrated into two large arches, floor, and a rear backdrop for dynamic . Production elements encompassed ,828 lighting fixtures, 143 kilometers of cabling, and a sound system comprising 134 speakers to ensure high-fidelity audio across the arena. These enhancements enabled innovative , such as geometric patterns and perspective illusions, supporting the performances' visual and auditory demands. Supplementary facilities included the EuroClub and EuroFane café, providing spaces for fan engagement and accreditation collection adjacent to the arena. Event preparations featured reinforced security protocols, with coordinated efforts between local police and private security to address crowd management and potential risks, reflecting broader European concerns over public safety during large gatherings. Stockholm's transport infrastructure, including metro connectivity to the Globe complex, facilitated access for international visitors.

Bidding Process and Host Selection

Following Måns Zelmerlöw's victory for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 on 23 May 2015, Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) secured the hosting rights for the 2016 edition under European Broadcasting Union (EBU) rules, which grant the winning country's broadcaster the responsibility to organize the event. SVT initiated the host city selection process shortly thereafter, emphasizing venues with sufficient capacity, technical infrastructure, and availability for production needs, while prioritizing cost efficiency given Sweden's recent hosting experience in Malmö in 2013. SVT announced criteria on , requiring applicant cities to provide to proposed arenas for inspections and commit to logistical , with a on accommodating visitors and broadcast requirements. Bids were submitted by ( ), (), (), ( ), Örnsköldsvik (Fjäderholmarna), and a joint bid from and . withdrew its bid on , citing the arena's unavailability for the necessary pre-event preparation period of at least eight weeks. On 8 July 2015, SVT selected as , citing the 's established event-hosting expertise, central for , and the Arena's facilities as factors over competitors like , which reached the final shortlist but lacked comparable and readiness. The decision aligned with EBU guidelines requiring between the broadcaster and host for and , with committing financial exceeding 100 million kronor to economic viability.

Participants

Returning Artists and National Selections

Forty-three countries participated in the 2016. Seven artists returned after prior appearances in the contest. These included representing , who had competed in 2002; for FYR on her third attempt following entries in 2004 and 2012; Deen for after 2004; Poli Genova for following her 2011 participation; Greta Salóme for after 2012; and Bojan Jovović, performing with for , having previously appeared as part of No Name in 2005. Most countries selected their entrants through national finals or internal processes by broadcasters. Sweden used its annual Melodifestivalen competition, featuring multiple heats and a final to choose the representative. Ukraine conducted Vidbir, a multi-round national selection involving public and jury voting. Other nations, such as Russia, opted for internal selection by the broadcaster, announcing Sergey Lazarev as their artist. Internal selections were also common in countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan, where public broadcasters directly chose artists and songs. Australia continued its participation as a special invitee, following its debut in to mark the contest's 60th , with the extending the for without granting full membership . Songs submitted for the contest were required to be original compositions not commercially released prior to 1 , per rules, with broadcasters handling deadlines typically concluding by early .

Withdrawals and Non-Participations

Portugal's public broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP) withdrew from the contest on 7 October 2015, attributing the decision to budgetary limitations and the higher priority accorded to major sporting events over music competitions. Romania's Televiziunea Română (TVR) was disqualified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on 22 April 2016 for failing to pay accumulated debts totaling 16 million Swiss francs, dating back to January 2007; the EBU suspended TVR's membership services, prohibiting participation and underscoring the broadcaster's legal obligation under Romanian law to settle such liabilities. Bosnia and Herzegovina's BHRT broadcaster initially withdrew its participation application on 9 October 2015 amid chronic funding shortages but reversed the decision on 24 November 2015 after securing private sponsorship, allowing entry despite ongoing financial instability that later prompted permanent absence from 2017 onward. Non-EBU associate or ineligible entities like Kosovo could not participate, as its public broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) lacked full EBU membership—requiring prior International Telecommunication Union affiliation—and faced opposition from non-recognizing EBU states including Serbia; the EBU confirmed on 3 June 2015 that Kosovo was barred from the event. Morocco, an EBU-eligible nation via its broadcaster Société Marocaine de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision, made no bid to return after its sole 1980 appearance, with no documented attempts in the intervening decades amid factors such as geopolitical tensions involving Israel's consistent participation and preferences. These cases reflect broader patterns of financial and structural barriers, where EBU-active members increasingly cite costs—exacerbated by modest returns on for low-performing nations—as rationale for intermittent or sustained non-engagement, contributing to stabilized rather than expanding participant numbers around 40-43 annually.

Format and Innovations

New Voting System Implementation

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 introduced a fundamental overhaul to its voting procedure, marking the most significant change since the adoption of televoting in 1997. Previously, from 2009 to 2015, each country's jury and televote results were combined into a national by averaging their respective positions for each , which could dilute preferences if they diverged from jury assessments. In 2016, the (EBU) shifted to a where professional juries and national televoters each independently awarded a full set of points—12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1—to their top 10 , with these two sets then aggregated per country to form the final national score for each entry. This 50/50 weighting ensured equal influence from expert and input, as the combined points reflected both without averaging ranks that might suppress televote extremes. The EBU's stated rationale emphasized enhancing the of preferences, guaranteeing that a country's most via televote would receive its 12 points from that component irrespective of rankings, thereby addressing criticisms that the averaged muted viewer for entries overlooked by professionals. This adjustment aimed to foster a more balanced outcome between musical expertise and broad , while pre-event simulations by the EBU and analysts suggested it could mitigate distortions from patterns like or bloc voting—predominantly observed in televotes—by leveraging juries' purported independence from geopolitical biases. Juries, comprising five music industry professionals per country selected for diversity in nationality and expertise, voted during a dedicated rehearsal show, with all 43 participating nations' juries contributing to the grand final tally, including those eliminated in semi-finals to expand the expert pool beyond qualifiers. Televoting, open via phone, SMS, and for the first time an official mobile app in select countries, closed shortly after the performance to capture immediate reactions. Presentation of results was also reformed for dramatic effect: jury points were revealed sequentially by spokesperson from each country, followed by a single aggregated announcement of all televote points across participating broadcasters, preventing premature winner determination and heightening suspense. The EBU positioned this as a response to longstanding debates over voting equity, with internal modeling indicating reduced vulnerability to coordinated voting blocs, though empirical validation awaited post-contest analysis. Non-broadcasting countries' juries retained influence in the final, ensuring comprehensive coverage, while safeguards like vote caps per device aimed to curb manipulation attempts.

Semi-Final Allocation and Running Orders

The semi-final allocation draw occurred on 25 January at , determining which of the 37 competing —excluding the automatically qualified (, , , , ) and host —would perform in the first semi-final on 10 May or the second on 12 May, as well as which automatic qualifiers would vote in each. The draw, hosted by Pascalidou and Jovan Radomir, used randomization from five pots into which had been grouped based on their voting patterns over the prior , aiming to distribute geographic neighbors and historical voting allies evenly across the semi-finals for competitive and to mitigate bloc voting risks. From each pot, roughly half the entries were assigned to each semi-final, resulting in 18 for the first and 19 for the second; and were assigned to vote in the first semi-final, while , , and the voted in the second. The allocation placed several high-profile entrants from in the first semi-final, including , , , and , alongside and Balkan participants like the , , and , creating a diverse that included both recent strong performers and debutants such as . The second semi-final drew countries like , , , and , with entries such as and , ensuring no single regional bloc dominated either .
First Semi-Final (10 May) CountriesSecond Semi-Final (12 May) Countries
Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Russia, San Marino, UkraineBelarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina (withdrew pre-draw but pot-influenced), FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino (no, wait error), Slovakia no, Slovenia, Switzerland
Following the completion of national selections by early April, the running orders within each semi-final were established by the host broadcaster SVT in collaboration with EBU producers, prioritizing production logistics, musical contrast between consecutive acts, staging transitions, and overall viewer engagement rather than random draw. These orders were publicly revealed on 8 April 2016, with the first semi-final sequencing entries from ballad-heavy openers like Finland's Sandhja to upbeat closers such as Azerbaijan's Samra, while the second balanced pop and folk elements across its 19 slots. First Semi-Final Running Order:
  1. Finland ("Sing It Away" – Sandhja)
  2. Greece ("Utopian Land" – Argo)
  3. Moldova ("Falling Stars" – Lidia Isac)
  4. Hungary ("Pioneer" – Freddie)
  5. Croatia ("Lighthouse" – Nina Kraljić)
  6. Netherlands ("Slow Down" – Douwe Bob)
  7. Armenia ("LoveWave" – Iveta Mukuchyan)
  8. San Marino ("I Didn't Know" – Serhat)
  9. Russia ("You Are the Only One" – Sergey Lazarev)
  10. Czech Republic ("Heart of Steel" – Gabriela Gunčíková)
  11. Cyprus ("Alter Ego" – Minus One)
  12. Austria ("Loin d'ici" – Zoë)
  13. Estonia ("Energy" – Jüri Pootsmann)
  14. Azerbaijan ("Miracle" – Samra)
  15. Montenegro ("Adio" – Knez)
  16. Iceland ("Hear Them Calling" – Greta Salóme)
  17. Bosnia and Herzegovina (withdrew; slot not filled) wait, no Bosnia in SF1, error – actual 17. Ukraine ("1944" – Jamala)
  18. Albania ("Hear Me" – Eneda Tarifa)
(Note: Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew before the draw and did not affect allocation; the order reflects the 18 entrants as finalized.) Second Semi-Final Running Order:
  1. ("Heart Beat" – Justs Sirmais)
  2. ("Color of Your Life" – Michal Szpak)
  3. ("The Last of Us" – Rykka)
  4. ("Made of Stars" – Hovi Star)
  5. ("Help You Fly" – )
  6. FYR ("Dona" – )
  7. ("Blue and Red" – ManuElla)
  8. (withdrew post-draw; "Yodel It!" – Ovidiu Anton not performed)
  9. ("I've Got the " – )
  10. ("If Was a " – Poli Genova)
  11. ("What's the Pressure" – )
  12. ("Há palavras" – Salvador Sobral, no – wait, Portugal "" – Salvador)
  13. ("Walk on " – )
  14. (" " – Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz)
  15. Ireland ("The Voice" – Nicky Byrne)
  16. Denmark ("Soldiers of Love" – Lighthouse X)
  17. ("Icebreaker" – Agnete)
The second semi-final order adjusted for Romania's post-draw withdrawal on 22 April due to plagiarism concerns, removing its slot without replacement to maintain 17 performances from the original 19 allocation. This producer-led approach to running orders, distinct from the randomized allocation, allowed for real-time adjustments based on verified song submissions and rehearsals, ensuring smooth broadcast flow at the Ericsson Globe.

Presenters, Opening Acts, and Production Elements

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was hosted by and , both experienced broadcasters with prior connections to the event. Mede had served as the sole host for the contest in , while Zelmerlöw had won the edition in with his "Heroes," leveraging innovative () visuals in his . Their selection emphasized , familiarity with Eurovision formats, and to engage a diverse , as announced by the () and broadcaster SVT on , 2015. Gina Dirawi, a popular SVT presenter known from Melodifestivalen, provided additional on-site commentary, including announcing the jury's votes during the grand final from the Ericsson Globe Arena. Opening acts set a celebratory aligned with Sweden's hosting of . For the first semi-final on , Zelmerlöw reprised of "Heroes" with AR projections, transitioning into an explanatory segment titled "What is Eurovision?" to orient viewers. The second semi-final on featured a similar host-led opener, while the grand final on incorporated host banter and visual tributes to past Swedish wins. Interval acts focused on artistic rather than political themes, per EBU guidelines prioritizing . The first semi-final's interval featured "The Grey People," a dance piece by choreographer Fredrik Rydman depicting societal conformity through shadowy figures. The second semi-final included "Man vs. Machine," exploring technology's role in performance. The grand final's standout interval was "Love Love Peace Peace," a medley parody by Mede and Zelmerlöw mimicking ABBA's "Waterloo" with humorous nods to Eurovision lore, including costume changes and guest cameos, which garnered praise for its lighthearted cultural representation. Production elements emphasized technological innovation and viewer immersion within the constraints of the Ericsson Globe's spherical design. The stage incorporated extensive LED panels and AR integrations, building on Zelmerlöw's 2015 precedent to enhance performer visuals without overshadowing songs. Lighting designer Fredrik Jonsson deployed nearly 100 Robe BMFL fixtures (88 Blades and 6 Spots) for dynamic effects across 22 cameras capturing over 70 shots per entry, ensuring seamless transitions in the arena's 16,000-capacity setup. The green room served as a relaxed lounge for delegations, facilitating post-performance interactions broadcast during voting segments, with Dirawi often engaging participants there. These choices prioritized apolitical spectacle, as reinforced by EBU supervisor Jon Ola Sand's directives to maintain focus on music amid geopolitical tensions involving some entrants.

Contest Proceedings

First Semi-Final

The first semi-final took place on 10 May 2016 at the in , , commencing at 21:00 CEST and featuring 18 countries not automatically qualified for the grand final. Each entry performed a three-minute in a running finalized on 8 2016, with the designed to balance production flow and avoid clustering similar styles. The show adhered strictly to this , starting with Finland's Sandhja ("Sing It Away") and concluding with Ukraine's Jamala ("1944"), proceeding without reported technical disruptions or delays. Ten countries advanced to the grand final based on a combination of jury and public votes, including with Jamala's poignant ballad "1944" addressing historical deportations, Sweden's host entry by Frans (), Hungary's Freddie (), and Malta's Ira Losco (). Other qualifiers comprised (Iveta Mukuchyan, ), (Dami Im, ), (Minus One, ), (Gabriela Gunčíková, ), (Douwe Bob, ), and (Sergey Lazarev, ). These advancements reflected strong execution in vocals and staging, with entries like 's leveraging powerful note sustains and 's incorporating LED visuals for visual impact. Among the non-qualifiers, (Ivan, "Help You Fly") stood out for failing to progress despite pre-contest polling suggesting competitive potential from its upbeat pop structure. Similarly, (Jüri Pootsmann, "Verily") and (Poli Genova, "If Love Was a Crime") did not advance, potentially due to less distinctive staging amid a favoring ballads and mid-tempo tracks. reactions, as captured in live broadcasts, showed enthusiastic for high-energy moments such as the pyrotechnics in Russia's performance and the crowd sing-along to Sweden's chorus, contributing to an energetic arena atmosphere without verified disruptions. The 's technical execution remained reliable, with lighting and sound systems supporting diverse production elements across entries.

Second Semi-Final

The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest occurred on 12 May at the in , , where 18 competed for advancement to the grand final. Ten acts qualified based on a combined tally of votes and televotes from participating nations. Australia's topped the semi-final with her powerful "", earning 330 points and marking a strong debut characterized by and emotional . Ukraine's placed second with "", on historical themes, securing 287 points through its distinctive blend of influences and . Russia's advanced with "You Are the Only One", a pop featuring synchronized visuals and that highlighted execution, reflecting Russia's in high-production entries. Other notable qualifiers included Sweden's Frans with the minimalist acoustic "If I Were Sorry", Poland's Michał Szpak delivering the soulful ballad "Color of Your Life" in sixth place with 151 points, and Israel's Hovi Star with the emotive "Made of Stars". The full list of qualifiers comprised Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Israel, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, and Ukraine, representing a cross-section of pop, dance, and ballad styles. Standouts among non-qualifiers featured Georgia's Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz with the indie rock track "Midnight Gold", performed in 16th position but failing to resonate broadly despite its energetic live band setup. Albania's Eneda Tarifa and Switzerland's Rykka also exited early, underscoring challenges for entries relying on niche genres amid competition from more accessible pop offerings. Compared to the first semi-final, which similarly advanced 10 of 18 entrants, the second showcased marginally greater genre diversity, with attempts at and contrasting the predominant ballads and uptempo pop in the earlier , though favored polished, radio-friendly productions. The event highlighted competitive , where vocal performances and visual often edged out experimental entries.

Grand Final and Winner Announcement

The of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 occurred on 14 May 2016 at the in , , comprising competing entries: the host , the five "Big 5" nations (, , , , and the ) that qualify automatically regardless of semi-final , and 20 qualifiers from the preceding semi-finals (ten from each). The performances followed a pre-determined running , commencing with Belgium's delivering "What's the ?" as the opening act in 1, proceeding through entries such as the Czech Republic's Gabriela Gunčíková with "I 2, the Netherlands' Douwe Bob with "Slow Down" in 3, and culminating with Australia's Dami Im performing "" as the 26th and final entry. This sequence, finalized by producers on 13 May, aimed to balance production and without altering outcomes. An interval act preceded the voting phase, which employed the contest's newly implemented split voting system: each country's professional jury—comprising five music industry experts—had ranked all songs post-rehearsals, with results aggregated and announced first via national spokespersons relaying points (1-8, 10, and 12) to their top selections. This jury reveal spanned all 42 participating nations (including non-qualifiers), creating suspense as partial totals emerged, before the combined televote from viewers across voting countries was unveiled as a unified set of identical points, also ranging 1-8, 10, and 12 to the highest-ranked songs. Jamala of was ultimately announced as the for her entry "1944", amassing 534 points in the combined —surpassing Russia's Sergey Lazarev ("You Are the Only One") with 491 points in second place and Australia's Dami Im with 196 points in third—marking 's second in the contest's and prompting celebrations amid the arena's capacity crowd of approximately 13,000. The result, confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and voting partner Digame, highlighted televote influence in overtaking initial jury leaders.

Voting and Results

Semi-Final Qualification Results

In the first semi-final on 10 May 2016, 18 countries competed, with 10 advancing to the grand final via combined jury and televote rankings, yielding a qualification rate of 55.6%. Russia led the semi-final, while pre-contest expectations for entries like the Netherlands' "Slow Down" were met with a solid 5th-place qualification (197 points). Non-qualifiers included Greece (16th, 44 points) and Moldova (14th, 64 points), contributing to moderate surprises in progression. The qualifiers, ranked by points, were:
RankCountryArtist(s)Song
1You Are One
2LoveWave
3Walk on Water
4Samra
5Slow Down
6Help You
7What's the
8Gabriela GunčíkováI Stand
9Dalal & Deen feat. Jala & DinoLjubav je
10Nina KraljićLighthouse
The second semi-final on 12 May 2016 involved 18 countries (adjusted for Portugal's withdrawal), with 10 qualifying for a 55.6% matching the first. Australia dominated with 330 points, but drama peaked with FYR Macedonia's narrow elimination in 11th place (71 points), despite Kaliopi's experienced entry "Dona". Other non-qualifiers like Ireland (15th, 46 points) and Switzerland (17th, 28 points) underscored variable televote . The qualifiers, ranked by points, were:
RankCountryArtist(s)Song
1
2
3Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz
4Poli GenovaIf Was a
5Hovi StarMade of
6Michał SzpakColor of Your Life
7Justs
8Goodbye (Shelter)
9LithuaniaI've Been Blessed
10BelarusHelp You Fly
Overall, of semi-final entrants (55.6%) progressed, highlighting consistent advancement patterns under the 2016 voting combining juries and televotes from participating .

Grand Final Score Breakdown

Ukraine received 323 televote points, including 12 points from —primarily Eastern European nations such as , , , and —alongside 211 jury points for a of 534, securing first place. Russia topped the televote with 361 points, earning 12s from 17 spanning , the , and Soviet states, but garnered just 110 jury points, yielding 471 for . Australia led the juries with 320 points, including 12s from six like the Netherlands and Sweden, but scored 191 televote points for 511 and second place. The full score distribution is summarized below, with points reflecting aggregated rankings from 42 voting entities (26 juries and 42 televotes, each assigning 12-1 to top preferences):
PositionCountryJury PointsTelevote PointsTotal Points
1211323534
2191
3471
2411011
261011
Germany placed last despite receiving 10 jury points, with minimal televote support. The United Kingdom also scored 11 points entirely from juries, receiving no televote points. Detailed 12-point allocations highlighted regional patterns: Ukraine's jury 12s came from six countries including Australia and Italy, while Russia's low jury score included few high marks, with no 12s from juries.

Analysis of Jury and Televote Discrepancies

The introduction of separate jury and televote rankings in 2016 revealed pronounced divergences in voter preferences, with the aggregated 50-50 split determining final placements and amplifying televote influence in high-stakes contests amid geopolitical frictions between entrants like Russia and Ukraine. Russia's entry, "You Are the Only One" by Sergey Lazarev, topped the televote rankings across participating nations, reflecting broad public appeal for its high-production pop style, yet ranked eighth among juries, who favored more nuanced or vocally intricate compositions. In contrast, Ukraine's "1944" by Jamala secured first place in the jury vote—likely due to its emotive delivery and thematic depth addressing historical deportations—while placing second in the televote, enabling its overall victory through balanced strength. This split underscored how juries, composed of music professionals, prioritized artistic merit over mass entertainment, whereas televoters emphasized spectacle and familiarity, a dynamic exacerbated by the contest's expansion to include non-European participants like Australia. Geographic voting patterns further highlighted causal factors beyond pure musical quality, with Western European juries disproportionately elevating Australia's "Sound of Silence" by to the top jury spot, aligning with preferences for restrained ballads in those demographics. Eastern European and former Soviet televoting blocs, conversely, delivered overwhelming support to and , driven by cultural proximity, diaspora voting, and shared linguistic elements rather than isolated evaluations of performance. Such bloc tendencies, observable in aggregated data, suggest that televotes captured populist sentiments less filtered by professional criteria, while juries—potentially influenced by prevailing narratives on regional conflicts—exhibited restraint toward 's entry amid its annexation of , though no direct evidence links this to coordinated bias. The (EBU), as contest overseer, audited results and affirmed the integrity of the process, finding no systemic fraud despite post-contest scrutiny from Russian stakeholders alleging irregularities in vote aggregation.
EntryTelevote RankJury RankOverall Rank
Russia183
211
512
These discrepancies, while not indicative of outright per EBU , exposed vulnerabilities in the hybrid system to external variables like , where public for accessible hits clashed with appraisals shaped by institutional tastes, ultimately favoring 's narrative in a divided .

Broadcasts and Reception

Television and Radio Coverage

The Eurovision Song Contest 2016 was organized by the (EBU) and hosted by broadcaster (SVT), which aired the two semi-finals on 10 and 12 May and the grand final on 14 May live from the Ericsson Globe in primarily on its flagship channel SVT1. SVT also provided supplementary coverage, including pre- and post-event programming, through its for and . Through EBU , was transmitted to broadcasters in participating , adaptations such as commentary and acts tailored to domestic audiences. Notable broadcasts included final on Viacom's , marking a targeted to younger viewers via a focused on LGBTQ+ programming. Radio coverage featured in the , where presenter provided live commentary for the , emphasizing the contest's musical and cultural elements. online streaming was available worldwide via the EBU's eurovision. , offering the full shows without geographic restrictions for non-participating regions. To enhance , SVT incorporated throughout the semi-finals and , with three dedicated interpreters conveying , , and announcements to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. This built on prior EBU efforts to promote inclusive formats across member .

Global Viewership and Audience Metrics

The three live shows of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, held on 10, 12, and 14 May in , collectively reached 204 million viewers across 42 markets, an increase of 5 million compared to the 2015 . This figure, reported by the (EBU), encompassed traditional audiences and marked a peak in the contest's viewership metrics for the period. The grand final on 14 May drew the highest individual audience, with the host broadcaster SVT in Sweden recording 3.6 million viewers, equivalent to an 84.7% share of the national television audience—the strongest performance for the contest in Sweden since the 2000 edition. This peak reflected the draw of the winner announcement and full competitive format, including performances from 26 finalists and aggregated jury-televote results, which sustained engagement beyond semi-final qualification rounds. Digital platforms amplified global reach, with live streams available via YouTube and the official Eurovision app enabling real-time access for non-traditional audiences. Broadcaster-specific data indicated rising online participation, such as an 82% year-on-year increase in website visits for Australian coverage from late April onward, suggesting a skew toward younger, digitally native viewers internationally. The EBU noted subsequent years' online sessions doubling from 2016 baselines, underscoring early digital momentum tied to the contest's format accessibility.

Controversies

Disqualifications and Artist Changes

On 22 April 2016, was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 after its public broadcaster, Televiziunea Română (TVR), failed to settle outstanding debts to the (EBU) totaling 16 million francs, accrued since 2007. The EBU, which organizes the contest, withdrew TVR's membership services, prohibiting participation; the intended entry, Ovidiu Anton's "," was thus excluded from the second semi-final. No replacement broadcaster or entry was permitted, as deadlines for submissions had passed, and TVR's appeals , including requests for government of the , was deemed exhausted by the EBU. Germany underwent an artist change prior to the contest. Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), the responsible broadcaster, initially selected singer-songwriter on 19 2015 to perform "You Let Me Walk" but rescinded the choice on 23 2015 amid public backlash over Naidoo's controversial statements on topics including and , which critics argued violated EBU guidelines on non-discrimination. NDR then opted for an alternative selection process, announcing 18-year-old Jamie-Lee Kriewitz, winner of The Voice of Germany season 4, as replacement on 26 2016 with the song "." Kriewitz's entry proceeded without further EBU intervention, adhering to rules allowing broadcasters flexibility in internal selections provided deadlines were met. Russia's representation by Sergey Lazarev with "You Are the Only One," internally selected by VGTRK on 10 December 2015, faced no disqualifications or changes despite extensive pre-contest preparations, including rehearsals and promotional activities. The EBU enforced rules consistently across cases, emphasizing financial compliance for broadcasters and timely notifications for artist adjustments to maintain procedural integrity.

Jury Manipulation Allegations

The Russian national jury faced scrutiny during the first semi-final on 10 May 2016, when one juror published a video recording commenting on entries and predicting voting outcomes, violating the secrecy rules established by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU investigated the breach and invalidated that individual's vote, replacing it with the average ranking from the remaining four jurors, who had submitted valid ballots; the broadcaster RTR expressed regret and apologized to the EBU and host broadcaster AVROTROS. No evidence of intentional vote manipulation or non-submission by the full jury emerged from the inquiry, though the incident fueled speculation about potential influence on Russia's entry, Sergey Lazarev's "You Are the Only One." Post-grand final on 14 May 2016, Danish juror Hilda Heick disclosed that she had inadvertently reversed her rankings for the contest, misunderstanding the system where songs are ordered from favorite (1) to least favorite (26); this error awarded Denmark's 12 jury points to 's instead of her intended top choice, Australia's , while received points she had meant to withhold. Danish reported the anomaly as a human error rather than deliberate , with no identical rankings across jurors cited as evidence of collusion, and the EBU did not nullify or adjust Denmark's overall submission, preserving the final results where tallied 534 points to Russia's 491. Broader allegations of jury manipulation in 2016 centered on televote-jury disparities, such as Poland's entry receiving near-zero jury support despite public favor, prompting calls for reform from observers who questioned national jury independence without substantiating fraud. EBU reviews affirmed the voting system's technical integrity and adherence to protocols, attributing variances to subjective professional judgments rather than systemic tampering, though they underscored vulnerabilities to individual errors or biases in composing national panels of five music industry experts. No formal audits uncovered proven collusion or bloc voting akin to prior scandals, and the EBU retained the 50-50 jury-televote split introduced that year to balance public enthusiasm with artistic merit.

Flag and Symbol Policy Disputes

The (EBU) maintains rules prohibiting the display of non-state flags and political s at the to uphold its apolitical , a formalized in the contest's reference group decisions around amid recurring geopolitical displays. Under 1.2.2h of the 2016 regulations, only flags of participating or member states are allowed in the venue, , and broadcasts, with explicit bans on s from disputed territories to avoid endorsing unrecognized entities. These measures, enforced through pre-event briefings, , and post-incident sanctions, were particularly scrutinized in 2016 due to heightened Armenia-Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Armenia views the region as integral to its territory while Azerbaijan regards displays of its flag as support for separatism. Prior to the contest in Stockholm, a confidential EBU list of prohibited flags leaked on April 29, 2016, explicitly naming the Republic flag alongside those of , , , and the , prompting protests from Armenian outlets decrying it as discriminatory against their geopolitical claims. The EBU reiterated warnings to delegations and fans against using flags for political expression, with violations risking fines, broadcaster sanctions, or disqualification. A prominent breach occurred during the first semi-final on May 10, 2016, when Armenian performer Iveta Mukuchyan waved the flag on camera during the audience "lovewave" recap, visible in the live broadcast despite prior delegation agreements to comply. The EBU issued an immediate statement on May 11, 2016, labeling it a "serious " of Rule 1.2.2h, sanctioning Armenian public broadcaster ARMTV with financial penalties and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for the remainder of the event, including heightened monitoring of the Armenian delegation to prevent recurrence. Azerbaijani representatives lodged formal complaints, framing the act as deliberate provocation amid bilateral tensions, though no reciprocal incidents from their side were reported. Enforcement extended to spectators, with EBU confiscating prohibited flags from Armenian fans entering the and issuing verbal warnings, though isolated attempts to them persisted without broadcast . No disqualifications resulted, but the underscored challenges, as the EBU balanced apolitical neutrality against participant rooted in territorial disputes, testing the policy's without altering rules for subsequent years.

Political Interpretations of Entries and Outcome

Ukraine's entry "1944", performed by , commemorated the 1944 Soviet deportation of , an event resulting in an estimated 20-46% among the 200,000-238,000 affected, according to historical . While the lyrics invoked generational with lines like "We could have been a , but you decided who should die," some observers, including Jamala herself, connected it to Russia's 2014 annexation of , framing it as a call for solidarity with displaced Crimean Tatars. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Reference Group reviewed the song on March 9, 2016, and approved it, determining that it addressed a historical without violating rules against political content in lyrics or titles. Russian officials and interpreted Jamala's —achieved with 534 points, including a jury-topping 323 but only 211 from televoting—as of geopolitical favoring amid tensions over and . Figures like Senator Franz Klintsevich claimed "politics triumphed over art," prompting calls for a Russian of contests and accusations of an " " orchestrated by influences, including the . In Russia, televote support for Ukraine was minimal, contributing to a jury-televote discrepancy that fueled narratives of elite juries endorsing anti-Russian messaging over popular appeal. From a perspective, the win symbolized remembrance of Soviet-era and cultural , bolstering and against , as articulated by analysts emphasizing its in highlighting Tatar . Defenders invoked , arguing that historical inherently carries political without breaching Eurovision's , though neutrals critiqued the outcome for eroding the contest's apolitical , established since to foster through amid divisions. This polarization exemplified recurring debates on whether entries like "1944" prioritize remembrance or serve as veiled geopolitical tools, with the jury's to the song's underscoring interpretive divides over and .

Awards and Fan Recognitions

Marcel Bezençon Awards

The honor exceptional entries in the across three categories: Award, selected by journalists; the Artistic Award, chosen by the contest's artistic director; and the Composer , voted by participating composers. These unofficial prizes, established in and named after the contest's , emphasize qualitative merits beyond televoting and scores, often highlighting artistic or . For the 2016 edition in , the awards were announced on , shortly after the grand final on . The Press Award went to representing with "You Are the Only One", praised by attending for its polished production and visual spectacle despite geopolitical voting tensions. The Artistic Award was awarded to of for "1944", recognized by artistic director Christer Björkman for its emotional depth and vocal addressing historical themes. The recognized Musumeci and Egizi, composers of 's "" performed by , selected by fellow songwriters for its melodic and . Notably, all three recipients achieved top-three finishes in the final results: first with 534 points, second with 511 points, and third with 491 points, underscoring the ' with high-performing entries evaluated on non-quantitative criteria.

OGAE Polling and Barbara Dex Award

The for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, organized by the —a of 43 fan clubs from and beyond—aggregated votes from members to predict the winner prior to the event. France's entry, performed by Amir with the song "J'ai cherché", received the highest score of 425 points, narrowly ahead of Russia's Sergey Lazarev ("You Are the Only One") with 392 points. Australia placed third with 280 points, followed by Bulgaria (175 points) and Italy (170 points). Despite the poll's emphasis on fan preferences, it diverged notably from the official results, where Ukraine's won with "1944", earning 534 points from combined and televote tallies. finished sixth overall, while placed third; Australia's second-place result aligned more closely with its poll , but Ukraine ranked outside the OGAE tier, underscoring limitations in fan polls as predictors amid influences and televote . The Barbara Dex Award, a fan-voted honor named after the 1993 Belgian contestant Dex and recognizing the least flattering outfit, went to Croatia's Kraljić for her white worn during rehearsals and performances of "Lighthouse". Kraljić secured 770 votes in the online poll conducted by the House of Eurovision, far surpassing runner-up Germany's Jamie-Lee (335 votes) and Switzerland's Rykka. The award highlighted subjective critiques of stage attire, with Kraljić's design drawing widespread commentary for its perceived awkward fit and styling.

Commercial and Cultural Legacy

Official Album and Merchandise

The official , : Stockholm 2016, contains studio recordings of all 43 participating entries across two discs and was released by on April 22, 2016, prior to the contest dates. The album's involved licensing agreements with broadcasters for the to entrants' tracks, reflecting the EBU's coordination of releases. It achieved notable performance, including a peak of number 9 on the Australian where it remained for 11 weeks, and entries on the Official Downloads in and May 2016. platforms dominated , with streaming availability on services like underscoring the shift toward non-physical formats for such compilations. Merchandise production was handled primarily by the EBU in partnership with host broadcaster SVT, featuring items like t-shirts and mugs emblazoned with the contest's "Come Together" dandelion logo, promoted as early as February 2016. These products were sold via the official Eurovision shop, serving as supplementary revenue streams secondary to broadcast and ticket income.

Economic Impact on Host City

The hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm generated significant short-term economic benefits through tourism and visitor spending. Approximately 38,000 unique international visitors attended the event, contributing an estimated 27 million euros in direct expenditures on accommodations, dining, transportation, and local attractions. These figures, derived from Stockholm's tourism data, reflect a surge in hotel occupancy rates exceeding 90% during the contest week (May 10–14, 2016), with ancillary activities such as visits to the Eurovision Village attracting over 1.5 million attendees overall. Swedish public broadcaster SVT allocated a budget of 125 million Swedish kronor (approximately 13.5 million euros) for television production and event staging at the Ericsson Globe arena, a figure comparable to the 2013 Malmö hosting and lower than some prior years to emphasize cost efficiency. The City of Stockholm supplemented this with contributions totaling over 100 million Swedish kronor (about 10.7 million euros), covering infrastructure adaptations and promotional efforts, though these were offset by the influx of visitor revenues estimated at 263 million Swedish kronor citywide. Longer-term effects included enhanced global visibility for as a cultural and , mirroring the 2013 edition where similar visitor spending fully recouped hosting costs and sustained gains. Local businesses reported sustained in Eurovision-themed experiences post-event, contributing to a measurable uplift in Sweden's , though precise multi-year multipliers remain to varying economic models without peer-reviewed quantification specific to 2016.

Long-Term Influence on Contest Rules and Perception

The split voting system implemented for the 2016 contest, which separately aggregated jury and televote results to award distinct sets of points (1-8, 10, and 12), was retained as the standard format in subsequent editions, including 2017 and beyond, to promote greater transparency in revealing public preferences independent of professional juries. This structure, designed to mitigate the sway of national alliances by ensuring the televote favorite could secure 12 points irrespective of jury rankings, addressed pre-2016 concerns over opaque combined votes but faced ongoing refinements, such as expanded online voting options from 2018 onward, amid persistent allegations of discrepancies between voter blocs and juries. Jamala's win with "1944," referencing the Soviet deportation of amid contemporary Ukraine-Russia tensions over , exemplified a loosening of the Union's (EBU) non-political guidelines—allowing historical narratives while prohibiting overt contemporary —and set a precedent for heightened scrutiny of entries' geopolitical undertones in future contests. Russian officials responded by advocating a boycott of the 2017 event hosted in Kyiv, escalating bilateral friction that culminated in Ukraine barring Russia's entrant, Julia Samoylova, for performing in annexed in 2015, leading to Russia's withdrawal and underscoring the contest's vulnerability to real-world conflicts. This episode fueled EBU discussions on enforcing anti-bloc measures and entry vetting, though core rules emphasized artistic expression over explicit bans, influencing perceptions of the event as a platform where identity-driven appeals could amplify divisions rather than unify through music. In retrospective analyses, the 2016 edition is frequently cited by fans and commentators as a benchmark for musical diversity and quality, with strong entries from , , , and contributing to broad appeal, yet it drew criticism for enabling wins perceived as rewarding political messaging over melodic or performative excellence, a dynamic that persisted in debates over later politicized submissions. The outcome reinforced EBU efforts to balance voter enthusiasm with safeguards against instrumentalization, evident in sustained emphasis on transparent tallying and jury diversity, while shaping a public view of the contest as increasingly entangled in identity politics despite official apolitical mandates.

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