Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026

DARA’s win for Bulgaria answers the first question most viewers will have: yes, this was a first. The singer took the Eurovision Song Contest crown in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” delivering Bulgaria’s first victory in the competition, according to Associated Press coverage of the final and published results from Eurovision outlets. Bulgaria finished on 516 points after the grand final in the Austrian capital, ahead of Israel and Romania. The contest marked the 70th edition of Eurovision, with the grand final staged in Vienna on Saturday, May 16. The result closed a four-hour final that brought together 25 countries at Wiener Stadthalle. Eurovision World’s published scoreboard showed Bulgaria winning both parts of the vote — 204 points from national juries and 312 from the public. AP reported the victory shortly after the final scoring was completed in Vienna. ### How big was the margin, and who finished behind Bulgaria? The published scoreboard put DARA on 516 points, well clear of Israel’s Noam Bettan on 343 and Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu on 296. Australia’s Delta Goodrem placed fourth with 287, while Italy’s Sal Da Vinci was fifth on 281, according to Eurovision World’s results page. (eurovisionworld.com) The numbers show Bulgaria did not edge through on a split decision. Eurovision World’s breakdown listed DARA first with both juries and televoters, a combination that left the final standings settled by a wide gap rather than a last-minute reversal. ### Where did DARA perform in the show, and what was the song? (eurovisionworld.com) The official running order placed Bulgaria 12th in the grand final with “Bangaranga.” The same official Eurovision page described the event as the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest and said it was held on Saturday, May 16, in Vienna. (eurovisionworld.com) Eurovision World said “Bangaranga” was written by DARA, Anne Judith Wik, Cristian Tarcea and Dimitris Kontopoulos, with staging by Fredrik Rydman. That page identified DARA as a Bulgarian pop artist with an established profile on the Bulgarian and Balkan music scene. ### Was this really Bulgaria’s first Eurovision title? (eurovision.tv) AP said DARA’s victory gave Bulgaria its first-ever Eurovision win. Eurovision World’s recap also described the result as the first time Bulgaria had won the contest. That point matters because Bulgaria has competed at Eurovision before but had not previously taken the trophy. (eurovisionworld.com) Saturday’s result changes the immediate logistics around next year’s contest, because the winning country typically gets the right to host the following edition. That hosting step had not yet been formally announced in the material reviewed. (apnews.com) ### How many countries were in the final, and where was it held? Vienna hosted the 2026 grand final, and 25 countries competed, according to both the official running-order page and Eurovision World’s recap. The official Eurovision page tied the event to the contest’s 70th edition. (eurovisionworld.com) The final field ranged from Denmark, which opened the show, to Austria, which performed last in the host slot. Bulgaria appeared in the first half of the second dozen, before Croatia and ahead of the United Kingdom, according to the published running order. ### What happens next after a first-time winner? (eurovision.tv) Bulgaria now moves to the center of planning for Eurovision 2027, because the winner customarily hosts the next contest, subject to broadcaster and organizer arrangements. The official Eurovision materials reviewed here did not yet name a 2027 host city or set dates for the next edition. (eurovision.tv) The immediate record from Vienna is already set out in the final table: DARA won on 516 points, Israel finished second on 343, and Romania took third on 296. Those published results are the benchmark that broadcasters, delegations and organizers will use as preparations shift from Vienna to Bulgaria. (eurovisionworld.com) (eurovision.tv)