Eurovision 2026 final draws 20% fewer viewers amid boycott

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest final attracted significantly fewer viewers than the previous year's event, with audience figures falling by around 20%, according to data released by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

The EBU said that 131 million people watched the final, held in Vienna, where Bulgarian singer Dara won the competition with her song "Bangaranga," dpa reports. 

By comparison, the 2025 Eurovision final in Basel attracted 166 million viewers.

According to the EBU, the decline in viewership was partly due to the absence of several participating countries. Iceland, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia chose not to send performers to the contest in protest against Israel's participation.

The broadcaster also reported a decline in engagement among younger audiences. Viewers aged 15 to 24 accounted for 54.8% of the final's audience, down from 60.4% recorded for the 2025 event in Basel.

Despite the drop in viewership, Eurovision remains one of the world's largest live entertainment broadcasts.

Following Bulgaria's victory, the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is expected to be hosted in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia.

By Sabina Mammadli