DARA wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest for Bulgaria, at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria
Photo Credit: Alma Bengtson/EBU
Welcome, everyone, to my very first Eurovision live blog.
I’ve never really watched Eurovision before, but here I am, diving into the 70th edition, happening right now in Vienna, Austria.
The event is taking place at the Wiener Stadthalle, and, fortunately for you, I’ve been reading up a bit.
Last year’s winner was Austrian opera singer JJ with her powerful song Wasted Love.
The semi-finals wrapped up on Tuesday and Thursday, narrowing down the huge lineup of 35 countries to the 25 battling it out in tonight’s Grand Final.
That’s a lot of nations, each bringing their own flavour, style, and hopes to the stage.
But what really caught my attention is the big controversy this year: five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—decided to boycott the contest altogether to protest Israel’s participation.
It’s the largest boycott since 1970, which makes this edition even more complex.
So, as a newcomer, I’m excited to see how it all unfolds. The music, the performances, the drama.
Stay tuned as I dive into the spectacle of Eurovision 2026 from someone just discovering what this incredible event is all about.
