29th edition

The twenty-nineth edition of WAO Song Contest took place in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of  New Zealand.

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.

     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.

    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".

## Participating artists

**℃-ute**
Representing  Japan**AKS**
Representing  Belgium**Anitta**
Representing  Brazil**Anja Nissen**
Representing  Australia**Avicii**
Representing  Kosovo**Aylin Coşkun**
Representing  Turkey**Beatrice Egli**
Representing  Switzerland**Bebe Rexha**
Representing  Albania**Becky G**
Representing  Puerto Rico**BRAThANKI**
Representing  Poland**Carolina Deslandes**
Representing  Portugal**Cheraze**
Representing  Monaco**CHVRCHES**
Representing the  United Kingdom**Davido**
Representing  Nigeria**Drake**
Representing  Canada**Eldin Huseinbegović**
Representing  Bosnia & Herzegovina**Eric Nam**
Representing  South Korea**Fleurie**
Representing the  United States**Francesca Michielin**
Representing  Vatican City**Full Trunk**
Representing  Israel**GAC (Gamaliél Audrey Cantika)**
Representing  Indonesia**Gal George Gjurin**
Representing  Slovenia**Giorgia**
Representing  Italy**Hari Mata Hari**
Representing  Bosnia & Herzegovina**Helena Paparizou**
Representing  Greece**Il Volo**
Representing  San Marino**Ilinca**
Representing  Romania**Ina Wroldsen**
Representing  Norway**ÍV**
Representing  Hungary**Janet**
Representing  Belarus**Joel Brandenstein**
Representing  Germany**Kah-Lo**
Representing  Nigeria**Katarína Knechtová**
Representing  Slovakia**KOLAJ**
Representing  South Korea**Lela Seruvakula**
Representing  Lebanon**Louane**
Representing  France**Lukas Graham**
Representing  Denmark**M.I.A.**
Representing  Puerto Rico**Machine Gun Kelly**
Representing  Albania**Major Lazer**
Representing  Brazil**Malu**
Representing  Cyprus**Malú**
Representing  Spain**Marco Mengoni**
Representing  Italy**Marta Jandová**
Representing  Czech Republic**Megan**
Representing  Luxembourg**Miranda!**
Representing  Argentina**MishCatt**
Representing  Costa Rica**Moana Del Ray**
Representing  Lebanon**Mr Eazi**
Representing  Nigeria**Nargiz**
Representing  Uzbekistan**Nelli Matula**
Representing  Finland**Nicky Jam**
Representing  Colombia**Of Monsters and Men**
Representing  Iceland**OG3NE**
Representing  The Netherlands**Pabllo Vittar**
Representing  Brazil**Paulina Rubio**
Representing  Mexico**Polina Gagarina**
Representing  Russia**Revolverheld**
Representing  Czech Republic**Rihanna**
Representing  Canada**Rita Ora**
Representing  Kosovo**Riton**
Representing  Nigeria**Robin Packalen**
Representing  Finland**Rosa López**
Representing  Andorra**Sabina Ddumba**
Representing  Uganda**Shakira**
Representing  Colombia**Sivan Talmor**
Representing  Israel**Skott**
Representing  Sweden**Srbuk**
Representing  Armenia**The Script**
Representing  Ireland**Tinkara Kovač**
Representing  Slovenia**Triana Park**
Representing  Latvia**Tunisiano**
Representing  Monaco**Victoria Lungu**
Representing  Moldova**X Ambassadors**
Representing  Albania**ZOË**
Representing  Austria**Zowie**
Representing  New Zealand
## Returning artists

**Anja Nissen**
Previous participation: 13th edition for  Denmark**Bebe Rexha**
Previous participations: 13th edition for  Monaco, 14th edition for  Puerto Rico and 27th edition for  Kosovo**Carolina Deslandes**
Previous participation: 11th edition for  Portugal**Francesca Michielin**
Previous participations: 4th edition for  San Marino, 11th edition for  Vatican City, 13th, 16th and 24th edition for  Italy**Giorgia**
Previous participation: 5th edition for  Italy**Hari Mata Hari**
Previous participation: 25th edition for  Bosnia & Herzegovina**Helena 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**Il Volo**
Previous participations: 10th and 14th edition for  Italy**Ina Wroldsen**
Previous participation: 15th edition for  Norway**Katarína Knechtová**
Previous participations: 16th an 20th edition for  Slovakia**Lukas Graham**
Previous participations: 3rd and 22nd edition for  Denmark**Machine Gun Kelly**
Previous participation: 21st edition for  Cuba**Major Lazer**
Previous participation: 10th edition for  Denmark**Malu**
Previous participation: 20th edition for  Cyprus**Malú**
Previous participation: 2nd edition for  Spain**Marco Mengoni**
Previous participations: 7th edition and Special edition 1 for  San Marino, Special edition 2 for  Vatican City**Mr Eazi**
Previous participation: 24th edition for  Nigeria**Nargiz**
Previous participations: 13th, 17th and 28th edition for  Uzbekistan**Nicky Jam**
Previous participation: 26th edition for  Spain**Of Monsters and Men**
Previous participations: 2nd, 6th and 15th edition for  Iceland**OG3NE**
Previous participation: Special edition 2 for  The Netherlands**Paulina Rubio**
Previous participations: 7th, 23rd and 28th edition for  Mexico**Polina Gagarina**
Previous participations: 16th and 28th edition for  Russia**Rihanna**
Previous participations: 19th edition and Special edition 2 for  Barbados**Rita Ora**
Previous participations: 7th and 21st edition for  Kosovo, 17th edition for  Australia**Robin Packalen**
Previous participation: 13th edition for  Finland**Shakira**
Previous participations: 11th and 20th edition for  Colombia**The Script**
Previous participation: 4th edition for  Ireland**ZOË**
Previous participations: Special edition 2 and 25th edition for  Austria

## Semi-final 1

Also  New Zealand voted in this semi-final.

## Semi-final 2

Also  Uzbekistan voted in this semi-final.

## Semi-final 3

Also  Australia voted in this semi-final.

## Second Chance

Every country gave 1 point to its favourite country. One country qualified. Voting was not compulsory.