The 2026 competition was held in Vienna, Austria, after their act JJ won the 2025 contest with the song ‘Wasted Love’.

Favourites going into the final included the Finnish duo Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius, and Australian singer Delta Goodrem.

Meanwhile, the UK’s entry was Sam Battle (known by his stage name Look Mum No Computer), who is known for his unusual electronic music.

But how did the votes stack up, and who impressed the juries and viewing public the most?

Who won Eurovision 2026?

The full leaderboard for Eurovision 2026 is as follows:

Bulgaria’s Dara secured victory, with her song ‘Bangaranga’ scoring 516 points.

A tense finale saw Israel in first place until the last points were announced, eventually finishing second with 343 points.

The country’s entrant, Noam Bettan, sang his song ‘Michelle’, in English, Hebrew and French.

Some chants and booing could be heard in the crowd, where many Israeli flags and banners could also be seen.

There were a number of protests in Vienna this week over Israel’s inclusion in the contest amid its actions in Gaza.

Romania’s Alexandra Capitanescu, with the intense pop metal song Choke Me, finished third on 296 points.

Speaking at a press conference after her win, Dara said: “I want to thank my husband, because he was the one to push me to come to Eurovision.

“Because in the beginning I was not sure if I want to come or not, because I had anxiety and doubt with myself, and he was the one that he just pushed me, and he was like, ‘you need to go right now to Eurovision, right now, pick up your phone tell them you’re going’.”

She added: “I’m so thankful that I (got) the chance to be in Eurovision, and every day I’ve been here in this place, I felt safe, protected, loved, supported.

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“I felt that I can do everything, that everything is possible, and I really, truly think that this community is so amazing.

“I will miss you so much, today I woke up, and I almost cried, because I will miss this place, and you all.”

Dara’s win means next year’s contest will take place in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

What did you think of Eurovision 2026 this year? Let us know in the comments.

Nathan Stear, of Market End Way, Bicester, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 15.

The 21-year-old is charged with two counts of assault by beating and one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm against three police officers in Banbury on January 27.

He pleaded guilty to the offences.

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In committing these offences, Stear is in breach of a suspended sentence which he received last year for breaching a restraining order against an ex-partner.

This was a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Kelly Purcell-Chandler, mitigating, said: “He was surrounded by four officers.

“There was no intention to cause any harm at all. He is very remorseful for the injury caused.

“This was a blip. He has worked on himself in custody.”

It was agreed to adjourn the sentencing to June 12 for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Maria Lamb said: “There is no indication whatsoever that this will be anything other than immediate custody.”

A total of 160 students and 35 staff members took part in the Town & Gown 10K, marking the school’s largest and most inclusive showing yet, with a further 20 volunteers supporting the day.

The event, organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK and sponsored by Bidwells, raises funds and awareness for the charity while bringing together schools, businesses, and the wider community.

Participation from The Bicester School began in 2022 when a member of staff took part and set out to bring state school students to the start line the following year.

Since then, involvement has increased each year.

Sarah Masterson, PE teacher and assistant SENCo at The Bicester School, said: “For me, effort and belief are everything.

“The Bicester School demonstrated the power of both participation in sport and competition, with Edward Styles winning the Junior 3K race in an outstanding time of 9:55.

“We showed that when people work hard and believe in one another, extraordinary things can happen.”

This year’s record turnout reflected the school’s commitment to inclusion, equality and widening participation, with efforts made to remove barriers and ensure as many students and families could take part as possible.

Year 10 student Amelia said: “I have loved being able to work with other teachers to help prepare for the Town and Gown.

“It’s been nice working on craft projects beyond the normal academic subjects and as a team.

“It is great for building on transferable skills in communication, leadership, organisation and time management too.”

The school’s Ambassadors of Change, a student leadership group, played a key role in promoting the event and encouraging involvement.

Their motto, ‘Together we have it all,’ was displayed on high-visibility jackets worn by supporters on the day.

In addition, the student neurodiversity ambassadors helped design and produce running kits for the event.

The school’s attendance was further supported by Blackstones Plumbing & Heating, helping to ensure a strong and visible presence throughout the event.

Headteacher Sam Knowlton, who is also executive director of school improvement at Activate Learning Education Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of every student, member of staff and volunteer who represented The Bicester School at this year’s Town & Gown event.

“What makes this achievement so special is not just the number of people involved, but the sense of community behind it.

“We are committed to ensuring all young people feel they belong and have access to opportunities like this, regardless of background or circumstance.”

With its largest-ever team taking part, the school’s turnout embodied its wider ethos of community, opportunity and support for every young person.