Bulgaria has won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, thanks to singer Dara, 27, and her song Bangaranga. It's the country's first victory in 70 years of the contest - not bad for a nation that only joined in 2005 and sat out the last three editions. Dara describes the track as "pop music with folklore bones," a pulsating party anthem inspired by kukeri, an ancient Bulgarian ritual involving men in furry costumes, bells, and animal masks. The meaning of "bangaranga" became the night's running joke, with Dara explaining it as "a special energy that everyone has got in themselves, a feeling that everything is possible." The surprise win spares the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) a major logistical migraine: had second-placed Israel won, organizers would have faced awkward questions about where to host the 2027 edition amid ongoing Gaza-related boycotts.
The 70th anniversary extravaganza took place in Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle, with about 10,000 spectators and an expected TV audience of over 100 million. Austria hosted for the third time after last year's operatic winner JJ. The grand final featured 25 countries, including returning Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania. But five nations - Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland - boycotted over Israel's participation while attacks continue in Gaza. The EBU changed rules around multiple votes and state-sponsored promotion of songs but stopped short of banning Israeli broadcaster Kan. In December, 2024 winner Nemo (Swiss) handed back their trophy in protest. Police reported about 2,000 people protested against Israel's inclusion in Vienna's city centre on Saturday.
Israel's entry, Noam Bettan's romantic pop song about a toxic relationship, came second after a strong public vote. Austrian broadcaster ORF declined to use so-called anti-booing technology, and the crowd was warmer to Bettan than to 2025's Yuval Raphael, though some booing occurred during Israel's vote read-out. The 2025 edition had seen Israel come second amid concerns over heavy Israeli government promotion via social media, leading to voting rule changes: fans could now cast ten individual votes (down from 20), could vote for the same act ten times, but couldn't vote for their own country. During the jury vote read-out, Israel's KAN presenter appeared to reference last year's controversy, saying he already knew the winner.
Before the final, KAN apologized for mocking Croatian group Lelek, comparing their traditional makeup to "henna tattoos in Eilat." Lelek condemned the remarks as disrespectful to their culture and oppressed women's history; their song Andromeda centers on Catholic resistance to the Ottoman Empire, with makeup featuring sicanje - a folk tattooing custom against forced conversions. The UK finished last with Sam Battle (AKA Look Mum No Computer), whose self-made synthesisers and song Eins, Zwei, Drei scored nul points in the public vote, continuing the UK's post-2022 misery (James Newman also got nil points in 2021). Belgium and Germany also received zero public votes. San Marino's entry featuring Boy George failed to qualify from the semi-finals. Australia's Delta Goodrem came fourth.