Live – Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria wins as nail-biting final sees Israel finish second

And… that’s a wrap.

This year’s Eurovision has been shrouded in controversy. But for Bulgaria, it is a moment of celebration.

We hope you enjoyed following our live commentary. We’ll see you again next year.

*Alexa, play Bangaranga*.

The 71st Eurovision will be hosted in Bulgaria next year, following DARA’s sweeping victory with her hit “Bangaranga”.



The audience votes have been announced, and the winner of the 2026 song contest is Bulgaria.

The top three countries are:

1. Bulgaria – 516
2. Israel – 343
3. Romania – 296

Despite bookies’ odds looking in their favour, Finland has not won Eurovision this year. The country ended with 279 points.

The audience has erupted into boos after Israel was bumped into first place following its audience points.

There is still time for the league tables to change.

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER  received just one point in the jury vote, and zero points in the audience vote for “Eins, Zwei, Drei”.

Bulgarian singer DARA first gained attention on X Factor Bulgaria and has since built a reputation for explosive pop tracks and confident stage energy. With “Bangaranga,” she’s now bringing that same wild, club-driven style to the Eurovision stage.

Will the audience appreciate her just as much?

In true Eurovision fashion, the strung-out voting system has commenced. Spokespeople for all 35 countries have revealed their votes, giving out a maximum of 12 points to their favourite.

Here are the current top three countries from the jury’s votes:

1. Bulgaria – 204
2. Australia – 165
3. Denmark – 165

And falling behind at the bottom with just one point each is Austria and the United Kingdom.

However, the televote is coming up, meaning anything is possible…

The vote is now closed. 25 countries, their fates have been sealed.

Each country picks a 7-person music industry jury to help decide Eurovision results. They’re music pros like singers, writers, and producers, all voting independently on vocals, song and stage vibe.

Bulgarian entry DARA with “Bangaranga” is currently on a 12% chance of winning according to bookmakers, placing her in third position overall.

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Based on bookmakers: Finland leads, Australia chases and the rest of the field is wide open.

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

• Denmark : 1
• Germany : 0
• Israel : 3
• Belgium : 0
• Albania : 1
• Greece : 3
• Ukraine : 0
• Australia : 5
• Serbia : 1
• Malta : 2
• Czechia : 1
• Bulgaria : 1
• Croatia : 0
• United Kingdom : 1
• France : 2
• Moldova : 0
• Finland : 3
• Poland : 0
• Lithuania : 0
• Sweden : 0
• Cyprus : 1
• Italy : 3
• Norway : 0
• Romania : 3
• Austria : 0

What can I say? Austria knows how to pull off weird. 

COSMÓ’s Tanzschein is a trippy mix of Eurovision kitsch and dark pop – and I’m low-key obsessed with the animal masks.

Romania, I’m all for an opera-emo moment, but Alexandra Căpitănescu’s “Choke Me” isn’t good enough for me to stop breathing. 

Feels like a watered down version of Serbia’s hardcore performance.

Vienna became a vibrant, bustling city during Eurovision week. Illuminations and Eurovision Village was just a part of many special events.

Unfortunately, the 2014 Austrian Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst did not appear at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

Sorry Norway, but Jonas Lovv is coming across like a Temu version of Damiano David.

“YA YA YA”- more like NAH NAH NAH.

Italy’s attempt to swoon the audience with Sal Da Vinci’s Per Sempre Sì started off slow, and absolutely tanked with that shoddy high note. 

It’s giving the best-man at a wedding after one too many shots. A disappointing performance for such a promising country.

God, I miss Måneskin.



A forgettable performance from Cyprus’ Antigoni, with shaky vocals and uninspiring choreography. 

Repeating “Jalla” won’t make me change my mind.



FELICA’s bop “My System” sounds like a Cascada song I used to Bluetooth my friends when I was 13. It may be nostalgic, but there’s nothing impressive about a recycled beat.

A round of the applause for the shades, though.

Lithuania’s Lion Ceccah graces the stage as a glittery grim reaper, but his vocals are intriguingly powerful. 

Still, “Sólo Quiero Más” lacks that Je ne sais quoi needed to stand out in Eurovision. 

Alicja Szemplińska came on stage calm and confident, with a voice strong as a bell performing „Pray”. Singer known for her powerful, emotional vocals and strong ballads.

Poland has never won the Eurovision Song Contest, will it happen this time?

Finland has resuscitated the competition with a heart-racing track and fabulous outfits.

Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen have fiddled their way to the bookies’ favourites and it’s easy to see why. 

“Liekinheitin” was born for Eurovision. It’s camp, sharp, and yearning, and the bleached brows are ICONIC.

Moldova’s “Viva Moldova” starts off as a headache and climaxes into a full-blown migraine. 

Sorry, Satoshi, but somebody needs to cut the mic… Or give it to the giant in the red dress!

Eurovision recently changed its voting rules following controversy over alleged political influence and televoting manipulation.

The changes come after Israel was accused by critics and broadcasters of aggressively campaigning and attempting to influence last year’s public vote.

For 2026, organizers reduced the maximum number of televotes per payment method and reintroduced professional juries in the semi-finals.

France brings an operatic flair to tonight’s contest, as Monroe smashes out “Regarde”.

It’s impressive, especially to say she’s only 17. But, I’m not so keen on the background dancers. Why are they wearing PE kits?

The UK last won Eurovision in 1997, the same year I was born. 

Look Mum No Computer’s “Eins, Zwei, Drei” feels like a TikTok spoof created in a parent’s basement. Guess I’ll be turning 29 before the UK has a proper chance of a second win.

A pink one-piece for Eurovision? Groundbreaking. 

Raw vocals and perfect harmonies from LELEK in their hauntingly tribal song, “Andromeda”. It makes me want to frolic around in the woods without my shoes on.

This will be a serious contender, if only they brought on the wolves…

“Bangaranga” was one of the night’s most intense and high-energy performances, with a bold, chaotic stage concept. THAT WAS HOT!

Daniel Zizka’s syrupy voice is almost hypnotising, with impressive restraint and a STUNNING soprano. 

That said, there’s still something missing from “Crossroads” (and no, the answer isn’t more mirrors).

A brilliant performance from Malta’s chic cowboy Aidan. The saloon doors have swung open and we’re obsessed. 

*It was never a phase, mum*

Australia is one of the favourites to win Eurovision, as diva Delta Goodrem belts out “Eclipse” with the dress of dreams and a bejewelled piano. 

It’s certainly an iconic moment, but I’m not convinced the contest will be flying down under next year… G’Day.

An ethereal performance for Leléka, who certainly knows how to command a stage.

What “Ridnym” lacks in theatrics it makes up for with a 28-second long note that echoed through the arena.

“It is our duty as artists to stand up and raise our voices,” Austrian musician Patrick Bongola told protesters at an alternative concert held near the arena. Another activist said Israel’s participation in a “peaceful music event should not be normalized” during the war in Gaza.

Several broadcasters and artists called for Israel to be excluded over the war in Gaza, but Eurovision went ahead as planned. Protesters said organisers could not claim neutrality while allowing Israel to compete.

Akylas Mytilinaios may have boots with the fur, but his song “Ferto” belongs in an arcade.

+10 points for the cat hat, though. 

A stellar intro that wakes the audience up. Albania’s chain-mail cloak and shades is exactly what the show was starting to lack: style.

Alis’ Godly vocals feel like we’re being transported to heaven. His song ‘Nân’ is about mothers longing for how much they wait for their children and no matter what, they will be there.

And boy are we MOTHERING.

Let’s hope the audience thaws out from Belgium’s “Dancing On The Ice”.

Let’s move on…

Israel’s representative Noam Bettan took to the Eurovision stage tonight with his song “Michelle”, receiving both loud cheers and audible boos inside Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle. TV viewers could also hear pro-Palestinian chants during parts of the performance as security remained on high alert around the arena.

For a song titled ‘Fire’, I expected more for Germany.



Sarah Engels has strong vocals, but the track sounds like a girl band that should have been left in 80s.

Maybe the ‘draw of doom’ is real after all.

Denmark has set the bar high, with a chic and sexy performance of “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Søren Torpegaard Lund managed to keep his buttery vocals while dangling upside down from a glass cube. If Lady Gaga is in need of a new music video choreographer, she knows who to call.

Slay!

Despite the controversies surrounding this year’s contest, millions of viewers are expected to tune in worldwide as Eurovision celebrates its 70th anniversary with tonight’s grand final in Vienna.

Here we suggest best places where you can watch the Eurovision Grand Final throughout the evening.

BBC presenter Graham Norton acknowledged the countries refusing to participate in this year’s Eurovision due to Israel’s involvement, as the show’s flag ceremony commenced.

As Europe twiddle its thumbs for the grand final to finally kick off, we’re breaking down the first three performances.

Denmark will open up tonight’s show, with Søren Torpegaard Lund performing “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”). Here’s hoping there will be more mesh outfits.

Germany will be next up, with Sarah Engels’ empowerment bop “Fire”. Fingers crossed the stage can handle the heat.

Then, it’s Israel. Noam Bettan will sing “Michelle”, but following the string of protests – it’s likely the performance will be met with backlash.

 Are your TVs switched on yet?

Amid demonstrations on the streets, many social media users have also expressed their choice to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter) one user wrote: “I’m doing the Eurovision boycott thing, so you’re all spared my usual low quality, hilarious live commentary for the evening.”

Another said: “Hot girls boycott Eurovision.”

The atmosphere in Vienna has remained tense during Eurovision week, with protests over Israel’s participation taking place across the city. Earlier today, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near the Eurovision Village under heavy police security.

Amid the political backlash, which you can learn more about here, it’s clear that nothing can dampen Eurovision flamboyance.

To get you in the mood for tonight’s fabulous antics, we’ve rounded up some of the most eccentric looks from the semi finals.

And the award for best hair goes to…

Want a banana?

When you have Eurovision at 8pm and the school nativity at 9pm.

Vienna is called the “City of Music,” home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Johann Strauss II. Their works are still performed in halls like the Musikverein, near today’s Eurovision-style shows.

Wiener Stadthalle, Austria’s largest indoor arena, is starting to fill as fans take their seat (or stand).

With five countries boycotting over Israel’s participation, this year’s Eurovision is facing its deepest identity crisis in years despite the “United by Music” slogan.

Today, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez doubled down on the boycott in a video posted on Instagram and X, saying Spain would not attend Eurovision because “silence is not an option” and insisting the country is “on the right side of history.”

Ahead of tonight’s competition, Italy’s Sal da Vinci has given an impromptu performance to journalists in the press room.

Fabien Randanne from 20Minutes shared the moment reporters cheered and danced on X (formerly Twitter).

• Finland : 1
• Australia : 3
• Israel : 2
• Greece : 2
• Romania : 0
• Denmark : 1
• Italy : 1
• Bulgaria : 4
• France : 4
• Cyprus : 1
• Other : 1

The grand final running order has been revealed, and it’s bad news for Germany.

Denmark will be kicking off the show, with Søren Torpegaard Lund performing the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”).

Germany’s Sarah Engels will follow, taking on what’s been previously described as the ‘death slot’ or the ‘draw of doom’. This is because no country that has performed second in the running order of the final has ever gone on to win the competition.

Will Germany be able to burn away the long-standing superstition with its song ‘Fire’?