This article contains spoilers. Scroll down to find out who won this year’s Eurovision.
A Eurovision Song Contest like no other has wrapped up in the Netherlands.
And while Australia didn't make it through to the grand final, there was still plenty of glitz and glamour on display.
The competition was able to return in 2021 after last year's cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was forced to take place in front of smaller live audiences than usual and amid various COVID-safe precautions.
Italy's entry, rock band Maneskin, took out the grand final scoring 524 points on Sunday morning (AEST) ahead of France and Switzerland.
Eurovision fans gather in Rotterdam earlier this week. Source: AFP/Getty Images
The glam-rock four-person band wore leather lederhosen and eyeliner as they sang the winning song "Zitti E Buoni".
"We just want to say, to the whole of Europe, to the whole world, rock 'n' roll never dies," Maneskin's frontman Damiano David said after the win.
It marked Italy's first victory since 1990, when Toto Cutugno took the top spot.
The country was the bookmakers' favourite to win, but was behind Switzerland, France and Malta after the national juries delivered their votes. Votes from the viewing public saw the band pushed to the top.
Some performers were unable to travel from their representative countries, including Australia's Montaigne. Her pre-recorded video performance of her song Technicolour was instead beamed into the Rotterdam venue and on screens across the world earlier this week.
The Sydney singer-songwriter competed against several other countries in the first semi-final on Wednesday morning .
But it didn't stop Eurovision fans in Australia from getting behind the final.
Speaking from a party at Hurstville's Civil Theatre in Sydney on Sunday morning, fans said Eurovision was an opportunity for Australians to "celebrate diversity".
"I can't really explain it in words. It's my life. It's the best experience in the world. It's pretty much Christmas for me," OGAE Australia Secretary Kurtis Carter told SBS News.
"Australians have always loved Eurovision since it's been broadcasted in Australia since 1983 on SBS. We just love the kookiness, the craziness, the diversity of music. It's just a great time just to get together with friends and just celebrate music."
Eurovision fan Jacqui Gildaly, from the UK, said the competition was "designed to celebrate diversity".
A Eurovision grand final party was held in Sydney on Sunday morning. Source: SBS News/Nadine Silva
"Everybody is here. Everybody is celebrating a different part of it yet you all come together and celebrate the same part," she told SBS News.
Sydney Drag Royalty entertainers Charisma Belle, Hanna Conda and Carmen Geddit, who were also at the event, praised the "fun" and "campness" of the program.
Eurovision fan Jacqui Gildaly (left) praised the show for celebrating diversity. Source: SBS News/Nadine Silva
"It's just like a wonderful experience watching people express themselves in all fun ways, and they don't take themselves so seriously. I think that's the best part about it," said Charisma.
"It goes from this gorgeous Glamazon one year to like a band of monsters the next," added Hanna.
Even though Eurovision 2021 was able to go ahead, the operation was rocked by several cases of COVID-19.
Sydney Drag Royalty entertainers Charisma Belle, Hanna Conda and Carmen Geddit. Source: SBS News/Nadine Silva
The winner of the 2019 edition, Dutch singer Duncan Laurence, tested positive on Thursday and was unable to perform live at the grand final in front of a home crowd.
Laurence’s positive test came after those from members of the Iceland and Poland delegations earlier in the week.
The Eurovision performers were in a COVID bubble and no artist was allowed inside the Rotterdam venue without a negative COVID-19 test.
Live audiences were limited to 3,500 per show, around a fifth of the arena's capacity.
But the theme of this year's Eurovision was "Open Up", and the Dutch government-backed coronavirus restrictions could be a model for events such as Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics as the world slowly emerges from lockdown.
Other highlights included Norway's contestant Tix, who took to the stage in huge white angel wings, and who takes his stage name from the tics that he suffers as a result of having Tourette's Syndrome.
Russia's contestant Manizha has angered conservatives with her song Russian Woman - even as she wowed audiences during the semi-finals with a huge Russian doll-style dress that burst open to reveal the singer in a red boiler suit.
A year ago, the Rotterdam Ahoy venue was being used as a makeshift hospital for coronavirus victims, and the shadow of the disease still hung over this year's contest.
Russia's contestant Manizha has angered conservatives with her song "Russian Woman". Source: Getty Images Europe
With AFP.
The 65th Eurovision Song Contest is broadcast exclusively on SBS. You can watch a replay of the grand final on Sunday 23 May at 7:30pm. You can also watch the final and the semi-finals (featuring Montaigne) on .
Visit the for more and join the conversation online by using the #SBSEurovision and #ESC2021 hashtags.
