Eurovision 2026: what we take away from Vienna

Eurovision 2026 results at a glance: Bulgaria won in Vienna with Dara and “Bangaranga,” collecting 516 points and taking first place in both the juries and the televote. Israel finished second, while Akylas with “Ferto” brought Greece to 10th place with 220 points. Below, you’ll find what these numbers mean and what we’re taking away from the night of May 16.

If you watched the final with friends, as we suggested in our guide on where to watch the Eurovision final with queer company, you already know that Eurovision is more than just a competition. And if your night ended on the dance floor, the guide to Enola, the gay bar in Thessaloniki has all the practical details for next time.

Eurovision 2026: the top of the table

Bulgaria’s win was clear. Dara and “Bangaranga” took 516 points and came first in both votes. That doesn’t happen every year: often the professional juries and the public see different songs as winners, and the final ranking is decided in the last announcements.

This year, there was no such dilemma. When a song wins both the juries and the televote, it means it convinced both those judging vocals, composition, and stage presence and those who simply wanted to dance on their couch. That is, in essence, the hardest thing in Eurovision.

• 1st place: Bulgaria, Dara, “Bangaranga,” 516 points, first in juries and televote.
• 2nd place: Israel.
• 10th place: Greece, Akylas, “Ferto,” 220 points.

You’ll find the full table, the scores by country, and the performances of all entries on the official site Eurovision.tv.

Akylas and “Ferto”: what 10th place means

Greece finished the night in the top ten, with 220 points. In a final with so many strong entries, a top 10 result is something worth celebrating, even if your group was hoping for something more.

Most of all, though, “Ferto” gave Greek groups a reason to gather in front of the screen, wave flags, and shout together. That feeling of supporting something with all your heart alongside your people is a big part of why we love the competition.

Also remember how the final ranking is decided: the jury points and the public points are added together. That’s why an entry can move up or down several places in the last minutes of the broadcast, when the televote is announced. If your group kept a scoreboard, now is the time to see who had the most “European” ear.

Vienna as host

The competition went to Vienna thanks to Austria’s win in 2025. If you want to remember that night, we wrote about JJ’s win with “Wasted Love”. The city has hosted Eurovision before, in 2015, after Conchita Wurst’s 2014 victory, a moment many of us still remember as a milestone for queer visibility on European television.

That history gave this year’s event a special weight for the community. Vienna was not just the city that hosted the final; it was a city that had already linked its name with one of the most queer moments in the competition.

What we’re taking away from the night

Beyond the Eurovision 2026 results, what remains are the moments around the screen. Living rooms with scoreboards, balconies with lights, groups who kept the night going outside — all of these make up the queer version of the competition.

• The joy of watching together: Eurovision remains one of the few TV nights that brings whole groups together.
• The conversation about politics: how current events make their way onto the competition stage didn’t end with the voting. If you want the context, read about the changes and Eurovision’s “neutrality”.
• The songs that will stay: the winner is not always the only song we’ll be listening to all summer.
• The nights in Thessaloniki: from living rooms to balconies, for many queer groups in the city the final is a reason for flags, cheers, and comments about every costume.
• The feeling of community: for one night, Europe sings together, and we’re in the front row.

And now? From Vienna to Bulgaria

As tradition dictates, the country that wins usually hosts the next edition. The city and dates of the next final will be announced officially, so keep eurovision.tv in your favorites.

Until then, this year’s songs will keep playing on the dance floor. If you want to dance to them with your people, Enola opens every night at 23:30, at Valaoritou 19, with no reservation needed for a regular visit and no dress code. To get in the mood, also see what to expect the first time at Enola.