Eurovision Song Contest, Bulgaria wins with Dara. Sal Da Vinci fifth

Bulgaria with Dara and its catchphrase Bangaranga wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Dara - surprisingly and against the eve's predictions - succeeded in the not easy task of getting both the quality juries and the televote to agree. It is the first victory for the country, whose best result so far was a second place in 2017. Italia has to settle for fifth place, although Sal Da Vinci, winner of the last Sanremo Festival with Per Sempre Sì can console himself with over 60 million streams on digital platforms.

To support the Italian singer, the Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi had also flown to Vienna, in order to strengthen institutional support for Italian music and encourage the internationalisation of artists, while at the same time enhancing music tourism as an economic lever for the country. Delusion also for the favourite Finland (sixth), Australia (fourth) and Romania (third). As always, the show was spectacular in terms of scenery, special effects (with the 'usual' fireworks, lights and explosions), excessive looks and performances beyond imagination.

But the Eurovision Song Contest is increasingly split between singing event and political protest. For the third year in a row, the competition was weighed down by calls for the exclusion of Israel - which came second pushed by a massive favourable vote - over the conflict in Gaza, with five countries (Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia) having demonstrated their dissent by deserting the event. And while the 25 competing artists were preparing to take the stage for the final evening, a Pro-Pal procession was organised on the streets of Vienna in the afternoon with some 3,000 participants. A mood that also found its way into the arena to some extent. Some booing was heard at the announcement of the performance by the Israeli singer Noam Bettan, who - against the rules that prohibit political messages on stage - shouted "Am Yisrael Chai!" at the end of his performance, i.e. "The people of Israel live", a slogan expressing the strength of the Jewish nation. This protest was even more evident during the awarding of the televote points that put Noam on the podium.

But there is another country that has long been bringing its demands to the Eurovision stage: Ukraine - as for the past four years - renewed its "Slava Ukraini!" ("Glory to Ukraine!") on the vocals of singer Viktorija Leléka. The evening was opened by JJ, winner in 2025, with an aria from The Magic Flute, a tribute to the home composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After the flag parade, the parade of all the competing artists with their flags, the challenge was kicked off by Denmark. Among the artists who, for better or worse, attracted attention were the Greek cat-man Akylas who with Ferto looks like something out of a 1980s video game and was among the eve's favourites, the Swedish Felicia who sported her glittery mask and singing My System inflamed the Arena, which also rewarded the originality of the Briton Look Mum No Computer who came in last place with his bizarre Eins, Zwei, Drei, performed on stage as a faithful reproduction of the video clip. The audience also appreciated Moldovan Satoshi with the energetic Viva, Moldova! and Romanian Alexandra Căpitănescu with the song Choke Me.