Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026

Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest early on Sunday, May 17, with DARA taking the title in Vienna for the song “Bangaranga.” The European Broadcasting Union said the win was Bulgaria’s first in the contest’s history and came after the song topped the combined jury and public vote. The grand final was hosted by Austria’s ORF at the Wiener Stadthalle on Saturday, May 16, with 25 countries competing. Eurovisionworld’s published scoreboard showed Bulgaria on 516 points, ahead of Israel on 343 and Romania on 296. ### How big was Bulgaria’s win? The EBU said “Bangaranga” secured a 173-point winning margin, which it described as the biggest in the contest’s history. The organizer also said DARA led after the jury vote and then won the audience vote as well, the first time a winner had topped both since 2017. Eurovisionworld’s results page listed Bulgaria with 312 public points and 204 jury points for a total of 516. (ebu.ch) Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second with “Michelle” on 343 points, while Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu took third with “Choke Me” on 296. ### Who is DARA, and who wrote “Bangaranga”? (ebu.ch) The EBU identified the winner as Bulgarian artist DARA, competing for Bulgarian broadcaster BNT. It said “Bangaranga” was written by Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Darina Yotova, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Monoir. Eurovisionworld described Dara as a Bulgarian pop artist with an established presence in Bulgarian and Balkan pop, with multiple hit singles and a mentoring role on “The Voice of Bulgaria” since 2021. (eurovisionworld.com) That background helped make her one of the better-known domestic names in this year’s field. (ebu.ch) ### Where was the 2026 contest held, and how large was it? Vienna hosted the 2026 contest, with the grand final staged at the Wiener Stadthalle under the Eurovision slogan “United by Music,” according to the EBU. The organizer said 25 finalists took part and that votes were received from 148 countries across participating nations and the “Rest of the World.” (eurovisionworld.com) The 2026 edition was billed by the EBU as the contest’s 70th anniversary. The organizer said the show also included performances from past contestants as part of the anniversary program. ### Who else finished near the top? Israel was runner-up with Noam Bettan’s “Michelle,” according to both the EBU and Eurovisionworld. (ebu.ch) Romania placed third, while Australia, Italy and Finland rounded out the top six on Eurovisionworld’s published table. NBC News reported that the arena booed when Israel’s public vote total was announced, and said the 2026 contest had been overshadowed by disputes over Israel’s participation. (ebu.ch) NBC also reported that Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and Iceland withdrew this year. ### Why does Bulgaria’s victory matter for next year’s contest? BNT’s win gives Bulgaria the right to stage the 2027 contest, following the usual Eurovision practice that the winning broadcaster hosts the next edition, barring other arrangements. NBC News said the victory means Bulgaria will host next year’s competition. (nbcnews.com) The EBU has not yet published 2027 host-city details in the material reviewed here. The next formal steps are expected to involve BNT and the EBU setting the host broadcaster arrangements and naming a city and venue for Eurovision 2027. (ebu.ch) (nbcnews.com)