This year’s Eurovision Song Contest final attracted around 20% fewer viewers than in 2025, the European Broadcasting Union said on Friday.
A total of 131 million people watched Bulgarian singer Dara win in Vienna with the song “Bangaranga,” according to the EBU, which organizes the annual extravaganza.
The 2025 final in Basel had attracted 166 million viewers.
The EBU attributed the drop to the absence of several countries. Iceland, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia did not send any performers to the song contest in protest against Israel’s participation.
The proportion of young people aged between 15 and 24 among the final’s viewers was also lower than in 2025, standing at just 54.8%.
In May 2025, the EBU had reported a figure of 60.4% for the Basel final.
Next year's grand final is likely to be held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
