Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria makes history as Dara claims first-ever victory
Bulgaria has claimed its first-ever Eurovision Song Contest victory after Dara's high-energy performance of Bangaranga won over both juries and television audiences in the competition's 70th anniversary edition. The final in Vienna delivered its traditional mix of spectacle and suspense, with Israel finishing second and Romania taking third place in a dramatic night of voting.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in its history, with singer Dara securing victory at the 70th edition of the competition in Vienna.
Her song Bangaranga emerged as the clear winner after combining strong jury support with a powerful televote performance, ending the night with 516 points and delivering one of the most decisive victories in recent Eurovision history. The result marked a milestone moment for Bulgaria, which returned to the competition after several years away.
As the points were revealed during the traditional scoreboard finale, the competition initially appeared to be heading toward a much tighter finish. However, audience votes shifted the balance and pushed Bulgaria comfortably ahead of the field. Israel ultimately finished in second place with 343 points, while Romania completed the top three. Australia and Italy rounded out the top five.
The anniversary contest, held in Vienna under the slogan "United By Music", brought together 25 finalists and celebrated seven decades of Eurovision history. Organisers also used the occasion to highlight former contestants and commemorate the show's long-running influence on European popular culture.
But the event was not without controversy. Political tensions surrounding Israel's participation prompted criticism and boycott calls from several countries in the lead-up to the competition. Demonstrations also took place during the event, adding a political backdrop to a contest traditionally focused on music and entertainment.
For Bulgaria, however, the night belonged entirely to Dara. As celebrations began in Sofia and fans gathered across the country, the result instantly became one of the nation's biggest Eurovision moments.
Eurovision Song Contest 2026 – Top Five
- Bulgaria – Dara – Bangaranga – 516 points
- Israel – Noam Bettan – Michelle – 343 points
- Romania – Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me – 296 points
- Australia – Delta Goodrem – Eclipse – 287 points
- Italy – Sal Da Vinci – Per sempre sì – 281 points
