After a dramatic finale, Bulgaria's Dara won the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with "Bangaranga." Sal Da Vinci believed in it right to the end: in tears at the end of his Eurovision-themed wedding, his "Per sempre sì" took an excellent fifth place on an evening when Domenico Modugno's "Nel blu dipinto di blu" resounded at the Wiener Stadthalle.

But it was the explosive pop star Dara who took home the crystal microphone. Second place went to Israel once again, whose participation prompted five countries, including Spain of the Big Five, to withdraw from the event. Noam Bettam remained firmly in the lead, despite boos until Dara's breakthrough. Romania's Alexandra Căpitănescu came in third, while Australia's Delta Goodrem was fourth .

A bittersweet outcome for the Austrian management, with hosts Victoria Swarovski, heir to the glass giant, and comedian Michael Ostrowski often struggling to keep up with the pace of the world's most watched non-sporting TV event. Gabriele Corsi, now in his sixth commentary role, was more comfortable with the debuting and highly promoted Elettra Lamborghini.

With 2000s-era outfits, metallic glitter, and a dominant pop-disco aesthetic, Sal Da Vinci's Napoli team played a different game from the start . Fourth from last to sing, dressed in white, he once again served as master of ceremonies at the wedding between former Amici dancer Francesca Tocca, whose white skirt unraveled into a gigantic Italian flag, and Marcello Sacchetta, with best men and acrobatic dancers Mirko Mosca and Jhon Cruz. The arena echoed for Sal, who finally gave in to emotion and buried his face in his hands.

The final process of assigning points from televoting and the 35 participating countries was as lengthy as ever , with our spokesperson, actress and host Maria Sole Pollio, announcing from Naples the 12 points awarded to Belgium by the distinguished Italian jury. This year, the jury included event producer Angelo Bonello, maestro Enrico Cremonesi, choreographer Dalila Frassanito, journalist Giorgia Belfiore, radio host Nicole Angelozzi, the singer who came in second at Sanremo Nuove Proposte, Angelica Bove, and Roberto Paolillo of the Sanremo Festival's artist coordination committee.

Thus ends the seventieth Eurovision Song Contest, staged under heightened security. And while Vienna celebrates the winner, Madrid calls for a boycott: "We cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and Lebanon. This year we will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history."

Angelica D'Errico

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