S10 prefers the small theaters in Paris and Berlin

Today we had the opportunity to talk to Stien den Hollander. You know her better as S10, the Dutch candidate for the festival in Turin. “We’ve been keeping an eye on it from the start, of course, and we really just wanted to see all of your faces too,” S10 explains why she’s so curious about the fan media.

Not a lot of choreogrography

The conversation soon came to the rehearsals: “Of course there are some problems with the sun, I think everyone suffers from that. So do we, but not too much because our act was also quite intimate and small.”, says S10 light-hearted. “We’ve actually built the show in a way that I’m very free in where I look and stand,” the singer explains about the act. “So there’s not a lot of choreography in terms of looking. When the camera is very close to me, I look into it and that feels nice to me. Then I enclose myself completely and I actually do things for the people at home. Not like Now I have to look here and oh yes, now I have to look there, that would really be a bit too much for me.”

I couldn’t wait

“I also saw the stand-in rehearsal”, the singer said, “That was crazy. They pick out someone who looks a bit like you, so it was a blonde girl too, but she was pretty sultry and pretty sexy. She had quite a sexy interpretation of “De diepte”, which I really liked, because it was something different. It was good to see because then you really see: oh yes, we made this and now she is performing it there.”

“I wasn’t nervous at all for the first rehearsal. It was also nice because it was still quite private. It just felt really good. The very first rehearsal went really well for me. We could just really do some stuff. I am of course completely in my own focus. I look into the camera and i don’t see what’s happening behind me. We had the first rehearsal on Saturday and the second rehearsal on Wednesday and I couldn’t wait for Wednesday. I really wanted to get on that stage again.”

Small theaters

S10 also looked ahead, because she possibly can end up high in the contest. So, what would be next? “It is quite difficult to estimate that. Thinking: the higher you finish, the bigger your career i think can be or become abroad. I would like, if I finish high, for example to do a tour through Europe end of this year, but especially the small theaters in Paris or Berlin, for example, a bit underground. I wouldn’t fly to LA to sign a contract there.”

Music first and rock and roll never dies

And who does she think, will win? “If there is someone I would really like to see win, it is Sam Ryder. I just think he is so nice and so sympathetic and such an appearance. Still find it quite difficult to place all Eurovision candidates in a sort of ranking. I feel like there were about five artists last year who we thought: yes, they can all win. I think i can really see Sam Ryder winning.”
And if S10 would win herself, what would she say? “I still don’t really have a plan for that. Maybe I’ll just say ‘Music first’ and ‘Rock and roll never dies’, just a copy of the other artists who won.”

 

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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.    

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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.    

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