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The dust has finally settled on the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, and what a breathtaking week it was in the heart of Austria! Hosted by ORF at the iconic Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, the 2026 contest truly lived up to its theme, “United by Music.”

Vienna delivered a flawless, highly sustainable, and production-forward show celebrating seven decades of Eurovision history. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, the stage production was visually unmatched, and the voting sequence kept millions of fans worldwide on the absolute edge of their seats until the very last second.

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The Grand Final: The Top 5 Exploded

This year’s competition has ended, featuring 25 elite finalists. However, these five outstanding acts had managed to get closer to the hearts of the national juries and the public at home:

1. Bulgaria: DARA – “Bangaranga” (516 Points)

• Jury Vote: 204 points | Televote: 312 points
• History has been made! DARA secured Bulgaria’s first-ever Eurovision victory with an absolute landslide. “Bangaranga” dominated both the professional juries and the public vote, achieving a historic 173-point winning margin achieving the biggest gap in the contest’s history. With its modern pop production, unmatched energy, and a stunning staging concept engineered by Fredrik Rydman, Bulgaria took the trophy in spectacular fashion.

2. Israel: Noam Bettan – “Michelle” (343 Points)

• Jury Vote: 123 points | Televote: 220 points
• Israel finished comfortably in the runner-up spot. Noam Bettan delivered an incredibly performance with “Michelle,” securing an impressive haul from the public, who strongly backed the track’s vocal vulnerability and crisp artistic presentation.

3. Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – “Choke Me” (296 Points)

• Jury Vote: 64 points | Televote: 232 points
• An incredible podium finish for Romania! Alexandra Căpitănescu completely blew the roof off the Wiener Stadthalle. While the professional juries were somewhat conservative with their scoring, the global audience went absolutely wild for “Choke Me.” Gaining a massive 232 points from the televote, Romania proved to be one of the ultimate crowd-favorites of the entire night.

4. Australia: Delta Goodrem – “Eclipse” (287 Points)

• Jury Vote: 165 points | Televote: 122 points
• Pop royalty Delta Goodrem brought immense star power to the Eurovision stage. “Eclipse” was highly praised by the professional juries for its pristine vocal execution and high-concept staging, ensuring Australia a well-deserved spot in the top tier.

5. Italy: Sal Da Vinci – “Per sempre sì” (281 Points)

• Jury Vinci: 134 points | Televote: 147 points
• Italy closed out the Top 5 with a characteristically polished, passionate performance. Sal Da Vinci’s “Per sempre sì” struck a perfect balance, collecting consistent, heavy scores across both the juries and the public televoters.

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Looking Ahead: What to Expect for Eurovision 2027

Now that Bulgaria has taken the crown, the road leads straight to the Balkans for Eurovision 2027.

While the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Bulgarian national broadcaster (BNT) have not yet officially confirmed the exact host city, the Bulgarian government has already swung into action by creating an official organizing committee to prepare a world-class event.

The race to become the official host city is already heating up. Four major Bulgarian cities have officially expressed a strong, ambitious desire to host the contest:

• Sofia: As the nation’s capital, it stands as the frontrunner with the strongest overall infrastructure and venue availability.
• Burgas & Varna: The two beautiful Black Sea coastal hubs are throwing their hats into the ring, offering a gorgeous seaside backdrop.
• Plovdiv: One of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities wants to bring its deep cultural heritage to the stage, though technical arena logistics are still being evaluated.

We can expect the official host city announcement later this summer, but one thing is certain: Bulgaria is ready to put on an unforgettable show!