EBU announced the Eurovision 2026 final results. Akylas represented Greece at the Eurovision Grand final with Ferto. Credit: EPA via AMNA
Bulgarian singer Dara with her contagious dance song Bangaranga was crowned grand winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria, while Greece’s Akylas finished in 10th place and Cyprus’ Antigoni Buxton in 19th place.
Bulgaria took the top spot both in the jury’s vote and the public televotie – the first time any country has achieved this double victory since 2017.
One of the composers of Bangaraga is Greek songmaker Dimitrios Kontopoulos, who has taken part in several Eurovision entries for Greece and other countries over the years but today reached the win for the first time with Dara and the Bangaranga.
Despite the controversy surrounding its participation, Israel took 2nd place, thanks to its massive ranking in the televoting which was only beaten by Bulgaria.
Greece takes 10th place in Eurovision with Akylas’ high-energy performance
Despite the Greek entry, Ferto, figured among the bookmakers’ favorites since the beginning of the contest’s promo tour, the song finished in 10th place.
Akylas gained enthusiastic applause from the audience in Wiener Stadthalle during a high energy performance.
The song was composed by Akylas, in collaboration with papatanice and TEO.x3, and the lyrics written by Orfeas Nonis and Akylas.
For the creators, the song is deeply personal—an experiential tale of the journey from hardship to success. It explores the internal conflict between chasing genuine dreams and the impulse to fill emotional voids left by a deprived childhood. The song tackles themes of greed and the endless human desire for “more,” while ultimately serving as a poignant reminder that true value lies in gratitude.
The Greek entry followed a classic, albeit maximalist, Eurovision recipe, featuring an energetic, charismatic performer and a highly catchy track in a fast-paced and ambitious staging by by Fokas Evangelinos, which included a poignant homage to Helena Paparizou’s winning 2005 performance, My Number One.
Eurovision 2026 Final Results
The full list of the Eurovision 2026 final results. Credit: EBU / Video Still
Dara from Bulgaria, the big winner of the 70th edition of Eurovision with the song “Bangaranga,” earned a total of 516 points after dominating both the jury vote and the public televote.
Israel finished in second place with 343 points, while Romania completed the top three with 296 points. Australia and Italy rounded out the top five.
Greece scored a total 220 points -in close competition with Ukraine- and Cyprus scored 75.
More viewers than the Super Bowl
The Eurovision Song Contest dates back to 1956 and reaches around 160 million viewers, according to the EBU —more than the almost 128 million recorded for last year’s US Super Bowl, according to figures from Nielsen.
This year’s contest featured 25 finalists and marked Eurovision’s 70th anniversary with large-scale performances, elaborate staging, and a strong mix of contemporary pop and culturally inspired entries.
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia withdrew from the 2026 competition in protest for the Gaza war, even though the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided not to call a vote on Israel’s participation.
The Grand Final broadcast of Eurovision 2026 reached a staggering 84 percent viewing in Greece during Akylas’ performance and the results’ announcement. The average viewing was 68.7 percent and 71.7 percent in dynamic audiences.