Episode 32: DARA Wins For Bulgaria! 🇧🇬

Two of this year’s Grand Finalists join Steve to debrief the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest! Akylas won the hearts of everyone when he sang Ferto for Greece, finishing in 10th position. He talks about his memories of Vienna, and the release of his debut album Press Start. Also joining the chat is JONAS LOVV, who represented Norway with Ya Ya Ya. He chats about his special friendship with winner DARA, proposing to Søren Torpegaard Lund and his summer of music. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is brought to you by Novartis! It is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a first ever victory for Bulgaria! Hear one of DARA's first interviews, just minutes after winning the Eurovision Song Contest with her club banger Bangaranga! She achieved a total of 516 points in the Grand Final. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Norway's Eurovision winning icon Alexander Rybak drops by for a chat on the podcast. The singer and violinist is performing in the Grand Final as part of a star-studded medley to celebrate the Contest's 70th birthday. He talks to Steve about being part of the Eurovision family and the continued success of Fairytale. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's 20 years since Lordi became Eurovision icons after storming to victory with Hard Rock Hallelujah for Finland. Frontman Mr Lordi joins Steve for a chat about two decades of success, the joy of the contest, and why he has to always check in excess baggage wherever he flies. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your ten qualifiers from the second semi-final are right here! The artists representing Bulgaria, Ukraine, Norway, Australia, Romania, Malta, Cyprus, Albania, Denmark and Czechia give their immediate reaction after making it through to Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.  Steve then hosts a Liverpool 2023 throwback as Salena (from Teya & Salena) and Danny from Voyager reunite to share their memories of that amazing contest. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The current Eurovision champion JJ returns to the podcast to reflect on his incredible year. He talks to Steve about performing his new single Unknown during the second semi-final and the love he's received from Austria since winning with Wasted Love. JJ also spills the tea on his friendship with the Beauty Blenders (Miriana Conte, Erika Vikman, Sissal and Kyle Alessandro). The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your ten qualifiers from the first semi-final are right here! The artists representing Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland give their immediate reaction after making it through to Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.  Steve then talks to Monroe, who's representing France with her pop-opera epic Regarde! The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready to join COSMÓ, Alis and Atvara at one of this year's Eurofan Cafés - the legendary Gerstner in Vienna. In front of a live audience of ESC volunteers, the trio of stars talk about their Eurovision experience so far. Austria's COSMÓ chats the Tanzschein, Latvian star Atvara is feeling like a celebrity and Albania's Alis reveals how he got one of his country's acting legends involved in his song Nân. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't get Sweden's FELICIA out of our system as she joins us on the podcast, alongside LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER from the UK. The Swedish star talks about her love of Eurovision icon Carola, being influenced by Shrek and tells us about her mask collection. Meanwhile, LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER chats about his rise to YouTube sensation and his hands-on approach to the Contest. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Noam Bettan joins the podcast for a chat about his journey to the Eurovision Song Contest to represent Israel. He talks about his lifelong love of music, his influences and the unusual animal he'd like as a pet. The Official Eurovision Song Contest Podcast is produced and presented for the EBU by Steve Holden. The music is composed by Will Kitchener. Design by Ángela Espejo & Chris Fox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices