Bulgaria’s Dara wins Eurovision 2026 with ‘Bangaranga’ in first victory for BNT

Bulgaria’s Dara has won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bangaranga”, securing the country’s first victory in the competition’s history.

Hosted by Austrian broadcaster ORF at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle under the theme “United by Music”, the Grand Final featured 25 countries and attracted millions of viewers worldwide.

“Bangaranga”, written by Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Darina Yotova, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Monoir, topped both the jury and public vote. It marked the first time since 2017 that the winning entry had led in both categories. The song also achieved the largest winning margin in Eurovision history with a 173-point lead.

Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second for broadcaster KAN with “Michelle”, while Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu placed third for TVR with “Choke Me”.

The anniversary edition celebrated 70 years of Eurovision with performances from former contestants and a focus on sustainable live broadcast production.

Martin Green CBE, the EBU’s Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “Our congratulations go to the fabulous Dara and to BNT, and we wish her every success as the Eurovision Song Contest provides a global springboard for his future career.”

ORF Director General Ingrid Thurnher said the event demonstrated “cultural diversity, openness, and successful collaboration across national borders”.

Around 11,000 spectators attended the Grand Final inside the Wiener Stadthalle, while the contest was broadcast live across participating countries and online.

This year's competition was also marked by calls for boycotts, as five countries, including Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, formally withdrew from the competition in protest against Israel's inclusion amidst the ongoing crisis in Gaza. It marked the largest boycott in the contest's history since 1970.