Eurovision 2006 Results: Voting & Points

Eurovision Song Contest 2006 result: Finland won with the song "Hard Rock Hallelujah" by Lordi with 292 points

Date: Saturday 20 May 2006
Location: Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens, Greece
Broadcaster: Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi (ERT)
Hosts: Maria Menounos & Sakis Rouvas
Slogan: Feel The Rhythm

Voting: Televoting (Monaco and Albania used juries)
Qualification for the Grand Final: 24; Big-4 (Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom), Top 10 from Eurovision 2005 Grand Final, Top 10 from Eurovision 2006 Semi-Final

Opening act: "The Mermaid Song" performed by Foteini Darra accompanied by Greek dancers; "My Number One" performed by Elena Paparizou
Interval act: "Mambo!" performed by Elena Paparizou; 4000 Years of Greek Song

Debuting countries: Armenia

Serbia & Montenegro withdrew from Eurovision 2006 but still voted

In 2004 there were 37 countries giving points, resulting in a very long voting procedure. The voting time was cut in 2006 where each spokesperson started to just announce the top three votes

Finland had to wait forty-four years since their debut in 1961 to achieve their first victory. They had only received three 12 points in the history of the contest up to the 2006 contest, and none since 1977

Three of the songs sent to Eurovision have been in made up languages. Two of these entries have come from Belgium: Sanomi (2003) and O Julissi (2008); and one from the Netherlands: Amambanda (2006)

In 2006 Ireland's Brian Kennedy, who has sung duets with Van Morrison, became the 1000th act to sing on the Eurovision stage with Every Song Is A Cry For Love. He came tenth