All articles tagged with #eurovision
Eurovision's 70-year tradition is overshadowed by politics as protests over Israel's participation in the Gaza war spark the largest boycott in the contest's history; the European Broadcasting Union defends Eurovision as non-political even as five countries pull out and fans wrestle with rooting for songs amid geopolitical tensions, with next year's event set to take place in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian singer Dara won Eurovision 70 in Vienna with 'Bangaranga,' giving Bulgaria its first victory after outperforming 24 rivals; the night featured a wide range of acts and political protests over Israel's participation, with Israel’s Noam Bettan finishing second and Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu third, amid ongoing tensions and talk of a future Eurovision Asia spinoff in Bangkok.
Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision 2026, the country’s first victory, while Israel finished second to boos amid a boycott that saw several nations withdraw over Israel’s participation, contributing to low attendance and viewership; the controversy over the EBU’s decision to let Israel compete has sparked debate about Eurovision’s future and its broadcasters.
Bulgaria pulled off a surprise victory at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna as Dara won with Bangaranga, Bulgaria’s first Eurovision title since joining the contest in 2005; despite not being a favorite, the performance captured a special energy inspired by kukeri rituals. Israel finished second with Noam Bettan’s 'Michelle', followed by Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu with 'Choke Me' in third, Australia’s Delta Goodrem with 'Eclipse' in fourth, and Italy’s Sal da Vinci with 'Per Sempre Si' in fifth; the United Kingdom finished last. The win secures hosting duties for Bulgaria in Eurovision 2027, traditionally held in the winning country.
Five countries boycott Israel’s Eurovision participation, prompting scrutiny of eligibility rules and how the EBU enforces them, as Bulgaria’s winner underscores the contest’s political tensions.
A Rolling Stone preview spotlights Denmark, Italy, Cyprus, and Lithuania as early frontrunners for Eurovision 2026, highlighting Denmark’s Før Vi Går Hjem, Italy’s Per Sempre Sì, Cyprus’ Jalla, and Lithuania’s Sólo Quiero Más as standout entries among 25 finalists, with Belgium’s Essyla also in contention for the win in Vienna.
Vienna hosts the 70th Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on May 16, 2026 at Wiener Stadthalle, featuring 25 finalists after two semi-finals. Viewers can watch on 35 participating broadcasters or online via YouTube; in the US, Peacock carries the show. Non-participants can vote via esc.vote (Rest of World voting) with up to 10 votes per person. Voting runs from before the first performance until about 40 minutes after the last song. The show includes a paper-boat opening sequence tied to JJ’s Basel 2025 win, three interval acts (including Lordi, Verka Serduchka and Parov Stelar), and a Vienna closing moment, followed by a 24/7 Eurovision stream and an invite to join Eurofan for exclusive updates.
BBC invites readers to test their Eurovision knowledge with a pre-final quiz ahead of Europe’s biggest pop spectacle.
The Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna features a mix of daring performances and dramatic staging—from Finland’s violin-driven Liekinheitin to Australia’s Delta Goodrem and Moldova’s Viva—along with eye-catching moments like Norway’s Ya Ya Ya. Protests over Israel’s participation shadow the event as acts from across Europe compete for the trophy on Saturday night.
Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, while the United Kingdom finished in last place on the scoreboard.
The 70th Eurovision final in Vienna tightens up as Finland and Australia emerge as frontrunners, with Delta Goodrem delivering Eclipse; the show features a diverse lineup, multilingual performances, and street protests surrounding Israel's participation as voting approaches.
Bulgaria clinched its first Eurovision title in Vienna with Dara’s Bangaranga, and will host next year’s event, as Israel placed second with Noam Bettan’s 'Michelle' amid ongoing protests and boycotts over its participation; the 70th edition also highlighted political tensions surrounding the contest, with several broadcasters withdrawing and fans voicing dissent while celebrating the ceremony’s festive performances.
Bulgaria's Dara wins Eurovision 2026 with Bangaranga, finishing on 516 points to clinch the title in a dramatic final that fluctuated across 25 competing countries; Israel takes second, the UK finishes last in the public vote, and the BBC live blog tracks the final scoreboard, moments and reactions as the winner is crowned.
Bulgarian act DARA won Eurovision 2026 with the punchy Bangaranga, delivering a riotous, crowd-pleasing result that united juries and televoters and secures Bulgaria as host of Eurovision 2027. The night blended spectacle and chaos, with UK finishing last and Australia and Denmark delivering strong showings, all tracked in live updates from reporters including Martin Belam.
The Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna proceeds amid protests and a boycott by five broadcasters over Israel's participation, reducing entries to 35 and the expected global audience to about 166 million. Twenty-five countries will compete, including Israel, after Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia pulled out in protest of Israel's Gaza actions. Organizers stress Eurovision as a neutral space, with security preparations and anticipated blockades. Israel's entrant Noam Bettan faced boos during a semi-final, and the EBU warned KAN over voting campaigns; Finland's Flamethrower and Australia's Eclipse are among the favorites.