Weekly Update

It’s Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and time for another weekly update! This week saw a Eurovision icon bow out, national finals making headlines, and key developments for the 2026 contest in Vienna. Conchita Wurst announced her departure from all Eurovision activities, Ukraine’s Vidbir added its final wildcard act, and Moldova set the stage for its national final. Meanwhile, Eurovision 2026 preparations accelerated with ticket sales (which sold out within an hour) and the Semi-Final Allocation Draw results. Plus, we’ve introduced new features on Eurovision Universe – including a country-by-country lyrics search and a dedicated 2026 page. Here are this week’s top stories:

Conchita Wurst

Conchita Wurst has shared a personal statement on social media. In her message, she reflects on recent developments in her life and career. She explains that she will step back from all Eurovision-related activities. According to Conchita, the contest will remain an important part of her history, but no longer a place for future projects.

📷 EBU

She thanks Eurovision for the opportunities it gave her and for the impact it had on her personal growth. Fans and colleagues reacted quickly to the statement. Many expressed support and appreciation for her openness. Conchita’s words once again underline her role as a strong voice within the Eurovision community. Her influence reaches far beyond her victory in 2014. source: Facebook Conchita Wurst

National finals: Ukraine and Moldova

🇺🇦 In Ukraine, broadcaster Suspilne has confirmed the final participant for Vidbir 2026. The artist won the public vote for the remaining spot in the national final. This result completes the line-up for the Ukrainian selection show. Vidbir continues to attract strong interest from the public. It remains an important platform for Ukrainian artists. Source: suspilne.media

🇲🇩 Moldova has also shared new details about its national final. The show will take place on 17 January. Broadcaster TRM confirmed that Paula Seling and Jamala will appear as special guests. Their participation adds international attention to the Moldovan selection. The event marks Moldova’s official return to the Eurovision stage. source: RTM

Agenda:

January 15 🇲🇹 Malta semifinal 21.00 CET TVM
January 17 🇲🇩 Moldova final 18.00 CET TRM or YouTube
January 17 🇲🇹 Malta final 21.00 CET TVM
January 20 🇮🇱 Israel final artists 20.30 CET To be announced

 

Eurovision 2026: tickets and allocation draw

Ticket sales for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna started today. Demand proved extremely high. The first range of tickets sold out within around one hour after sales opened. This result highlights the strong interest in the contest. It also suggests that future ticket waves may sell quickly. source: instagram eurovision

The allocation draw has also taken place. Participating countries learned in which semi-final they will compete. The draw also decided whether they will perform in the first or second half of the show. With this step completed, the on-screen Eurovision season for 2026 has officially begun. Find all about the draw here.

New on Eurovision Universe

Eurovision Universe has expanded its online encyclopedia. A new tool now allows visitors to search Eurovision lyrics by country. This feature offers a fresh way to explore songs and themes. Have a look at it here!

In addition, the dedicated Eurovision 2026 page is now online. It brings together confirmed news, background information, and updates about the upcoming contest. Readers who want to follow the road to Vienna are encouraged to explore both new sections.

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with DARA’s “Bangaranga”

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner has been revealed after a dazzling Grand Final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Dara won the contest with “Bangaranga”, representing Bulgaria, and finished the night with  points. The victory brought a dramatic conclusion to the 70th edition of the contest, which once again united millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. From the first notes of the performance, Dara stood out with a staging concept that combined strong vocals, clear storytelling and a memorable visual identity. A winning performance with impact “Bangaranga” became one of the most talked-about entries of the season thanks to its instant hook, emotional build and confident live delivery. During the Grand Final, the performance connected with both juries and viewers, turning early expectations into a winning result. Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 in spectacular fashion, as DARA’s “Bangaranga” topped both the jury vote and the public televote in Vienna. The country scored 516 points in the Grand Final, turning its Eurovision comeback into a historic first victory. The result was clear proof of broad appeal. Professional juries rewarded the entry with 204 points, while viewers across Europe and the Rest of the World added another 312 points. That rare double gave Bulgaria the strongest possible mandate: technical recognition from experts and emotional support from audiences. A Eurovision victory built on impact “Bangaranga” arrived at the Wiener Stadthalle as one of the most energetic entries of the year. DARA combined sharp pop production with a confident stage presence, making the song feel immediate from the first beat. The performance was bold, polished and easy to remember, three qualities that often decide a Eurovision result. For Bulgaria, the win carries extra meaning. The country returned to the contest in 2026 after several years away, and its comeback quickly became one of the season’s biggest stories. Instead of simply rejoining the competition, Bulgaria went all the way and claimed the trophy for the first time. DARA’s victory also marks a personal breakthrough. Already known in Bulgaria and across the Balkan pop scene, she now has a major international platform. “Bangaranga” is likely to gain fresh momentum on streaming services, while the performance itself will remain one of the defining Eurovision moments of 2026. Why Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with juries and viewers The voting sequence underlined the strength of the entry. Bulgaria led the jury vote, then confirmed its win with the highest televote score of the night. That balance is important: many Eurovision entries succeed with either juries or viewers, but “Bangaranga” managed to connect with both. It also shows how effective the Bulgarian package was. The song had radio-friendly energy, the staging delivered arena impact, and DARA carried the performance with charisma and control. Nothing about the win felt accidental. It was exactly the kind of result that Eurovision fans remember long after the Grand Final. After the final votes were revealed, Bulgaria stood at the top of the scoreboard with a result that will change the country’s Eurovision story forever. From comeback participant to Eurovision champion, DARA and “Bangaranga” gave Bulgaria a night of celebration and a place in contest history.    

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with DARA’s “Bangaranga”

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner has been revealed after a dazzling Grand Final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Dara won the contest with “Bangaranga”, representing Bulgaria, and finished the night with  points. The victory brought a dramatic conclusion to the 70th edition of the contest, which once again united millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. From the first notes of the performance, Dara stood out with a staging concept that combined strong vocals, clear storytelling and a memorable visual identity. A winning performance with impact “Bangaranga” became one of the most talked-about entries of the season thanks to its instant hook, emotional build and confident live delivery. During the Grand Final, the performance connected with both juries and viewers, turning early expectations into a winning result. Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 in spectacular fashion, as DARA’s “Bangaranga” topped both the jury vote and the public televote in Vienna. The country scored 516 points in the Grand Final, turning its Eurovision comeback into a historic first victory. The result was clear proof of broad appeal. Professional juries rewarded the entry with 204 points, while viewers across Europe and the Rest of the World added another 312 points. That rare double gave Bulgaria the strongest possible mandate: technical recognition from experts and emotional support from audiences. A Eurovision victory built on impact “Bangaranga” arrived at the Wiener Stadthalle as one of the most energetic entries of the year. DARA combined sharp pop production with a confident stage presence, making the song feel immediate from the first beat. The performance was bold, polished and easy to remember, three qualities that often decide a Eurovision result. For Bulgaria, the win carries extra meaning. The country returned to the contest in 2026 after several years away, and its comeback quickly became one of the season’s biggest stories. Instead of simply rejoining the competition, Bulgaria went all the way and claimed the trophy for the first time. DARA’s victory also marks a personal breakthrough. Already known in Bulgaria and across the Balkan pop scene, she now has a major international platform. “Bangaranga” is likely to gain fresh momentum on streaming services, while the performance itself will remain one of the defining Eurovision moments of 2026. Why Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with juries and viewers The voting sequence underlined the strength of the entry. Bulgaria led the jury vote, then confirmed its win with the highest televote score of the night. That balance is important: many Eurovision entries succeed with either juries or viewers, but “Bangaranga” managed to connect with both. It also shows how effective the Bulgarian package was. The song had radio-friendly energy, the staging delivered arena impact, and DARA carried the performance with charisma and control. Nothing about the win felt accidental. It was exactly the kind of result that Eurovision fans remember long after the Grand Final. After the final votes were revealed, Bulgaria stood at the top of the scoreboard with a result that will change the country’s Eurovision story forever. From comeback participant to Eurovision champion, DARA and “Bangaranga” gave Bulgaria a night of celebration and a place in contest history.    

Read More »
Follow Us: