Bulgaria Wins Eurovision 2026 as Belgium Finishes 21st
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in its history, with singer Dara’s energetic entry “Bangaranga” scoring 516 points in the grand final held in Vienna on May 16. Israel placed second with 343 points, while Belgium finished in 21st place with just 36 points. The 70th edition of the contest was overshadowed by the largest boycott in Eurovision history and ongoing protests over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza.
A Historic Victory for Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s triumph marks a remarkable comeback for the nation, which returned to Eurovision in 2026 after a three-year hiatus due to financial constraints. Dara (Darina Yotova), a 27-year-old singer who rose to fame as an X-Factor finalist a decade ago and now serves as a coach on Bulgaria’s The Voice, delivered a performance inspired by the ancient Kukeri tradition — a Bulgarian ritual involving colorful costumes and masks meant to ward off evil spirits and bring prosperity.
According to VRT NWS, the song “Bangaranga” was co-written by Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos, who has written 15 previous Eurovision entries but never won. Dara described the song’s meaning in a BBC interview: “‘Bangaranga’ is the feeling that everything is possible and everything will work out.”
Bulgaria scored 204 points from the professional juries and received a massive boost from the public televote, which propelled it past Israel in the final moments. Romania finished third with 296 points, followed by Australia (287) and Italy (281).
Belgium’s Disappointing Result
Belgium’s entry Essyla finished 21st with 36 points — a result that fell largely in line with bookmaker expectations, though slightly better than the predicted 24th place. The Belgian act received 12 points from the Italian jury but notably scored zero points from the public televote across all participating countries. Only Lithuania (22 points), Germany (12 points), host nation Austria (6 points), and the United Kingdom (1 point) finished below Belgium.
Largest Boycott in Eurovision History
The 2026 contest saw five countries — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia — withdraw in protest over Israel’s participation, reducing the number of competing nations to 35, the lowest since 2004. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the boycott as being on “the right side of history,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
Thousands of protesters gathered in Vienna on the day of the final, with police intervening against pro-Palestinian activists. Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard denounced the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to participate, calling it “an act of cowardice and an illustration of blatant double standards” compared to Russia’s exclusion in 2022.
VRT Threatens Withdrawal from 2027 Contest
In a development with significant implications for Belgium’s future participation, VRT — the Flemish public broadcaster responsible for sending Belgium’s entry in alternating years — announced it is unlikely to send an artist to Eurovision 2027. VRT spokesperson Yasmine Van der Borght stated that the broadcaster expects the EBU to “make a clear statement against war and violence and for respect for human rights,” as reported by VRT NWS.
“Therefore we ask for a clear framework for participation, an open debate and a direct vote among EBU members,” Van der Borght said. “So far we have received insufficient response.”
VRT had already reduced its presence at the 2026 contest, with commentator Peter Van de Veire broadcasting from Brussels rather than traveling to Vienna. The French-speaking Belgian broadcaster RTBF, which faced its own political controversy over participation, ultimately decided to take part.
Analysis: Existential Questions for Eurovision
The 2026 edition has raised fundamental questions about Eurovision’s future. The EBU’s handling of Israel’s participation — allowing the country to compete while maintaining Russia’s ban — has exposed what critics call a double standard and has triggered the most significant political crisis in the contest’s seven-decade history.
BBC News reported that Iceland became the fifth country to boycott in December 2025, with broadcaster RÚV stating that Israel’s participation had “created disunity among both members of the EBU and the general public.” The EBU has defended Israel’s participation by arguing that Eurovision is a competition between broadcasters, not governments.
What’s Next
VRT’s threat to withdraw could trigger a domino effect among other European broadcasters who share similar concerns. The coming months will determine whether the EBU reforms its participation rules in response to growing pressure, and whether Belgium — a founding Eurovision participant — will be represented in the 2027 contest. For Bulgaria, the victory marks a historic cultural milestone, making it the 28th nation to win the contest and potentially boosting the country’s international profile.