DARA, Bulgaria’s representative, won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, Austria.
According to a correspondent for the “Interfax-Ukraine” agency, the final of the “Eurovision 2026” song contest took place on the night of May 17 in Vienna, Austria, with Bulgaria’s representative, singer DARA, winning with the song “Bangaranga.”
The top five finalists also included Israel, Romania, Australia, and Italy.
Ukrainian singer Leléka, performing the song “Ridnym,” placed 15th with 54 points based on the votes of the national juries of the participating countries. Only the Swiss national jury awarded Ukraine the maximum score of 12 points, while Azerbaijan gave 10 points. After the public vote, Ukraine moved up to 9th place, receiving 167 points from viewers.
In total, performers from 25 countries participated in the contest final: Denmark: Søren Torpegaard Lund – “Før Vi Går Hjem,” Germany (Sarah Engels – “Fire”), Israel: Noam Bettan – “Michelle,” Belgium: ESSYLA – “Dancing on the Ice,” Albania: Alis – Nân, Greece: Akylas – Ferto, Ukraine: Leléka – Ridnym, Australia: Delta Goodrem – Eclipse, Serbia: LAVINA – Kraj mene, Malta: Aidan – Bella, Czech Republic: Daniel Žižka – Crossroads, Bulgaria: DARA – Bangaranga, Croatia: LELEK – Andromeda, United Kingdom: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER – Eins, Zwei, Drei, France: Monroe – Regarde!, Moldova: Satoshi – Viva, Moldova!, Finland: Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen – Liekinheitin, Poland: ALICJA – Pray, Lithuania: Lion Ceccah – Sólo Quiero Más, Sweden: FELICIA – My System, Cyprus: Antigoni – JALLA, Italy: Sal Da Vinci – Per Sempre Sì, Norway: Jonas Lovv – Ya Ya Ya, Romania: Alexandra Căpitănescu – Choke Me, and Austria: COSMÓ – Tanzschein.
As reported, Austria’s representative, the artist JJ, won the international song contest “Eurovision 2025” in the Swedish city of Basel. Accordingly, the 70th anniversary contest “Eurovision 2026” took place in Vienna (Austria) at the country’s largest indoor arena, the Wiener Stadthalle.
Throughout their participation in Eurovision, Ukraine’s representatives have always advanced to the final and have never finished in last place in the contest.
Ukraine made its debut at Eurovision in 2003, and as early as 2004, Ukrainian singer Ruslana won the contest with the song “Wild Dances,” earning the country the right to host Eurovision in Ukraine.
In 2016, after a one-year hiatus, Ukraine was represented in the contest by singer Jamala with the song “1944,” which won the contest, and in 2017, Ukraine once again hosted Eurovision.
In 2019, Ukraine did not participate in the contest due to public criticism of the winner of the national selection, singer Maruv, over her performance in Russia.
In 2020, Eurovision was not held in its usual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Ukraine was represented at Eurovision by the electro-folk band Go_A, which placed fifth in the contest’s final.
In 2022, the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision with the song “Stefania,” but due to the war, the United Kingdom hosted Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine.
In 2023, Ukraine was represented at Eurovision by the band Tvorchi with the song “Heart Of Steel,” which placed sixth.
In 2024, Ukraine was represented at Eurovision by the duo Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil with the song “Teresa & Maria,” which placed third.
In 2025, the band Ziferblat took 9th place at “Eurovision 2025” with the song “Bird Of Pray.”
In total, Ukraine has participated in the “Eurovision” Song Contest more than 20 times and has won three times (Ruslana, Jamala, Kalush Orchestra). Ukraine has also made it to the top five finalists six more times: Verka Serduchka (2nd place), Ani Lorak (2nd), Zlata Ognevich (3rd), Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil (3rd), Mika Newton (4th), and Go_A (5th).
