Alexandra Căpitănescu's performance at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna marked a historic achievement for Romania, securing third place. Despite initial doubts, Căpitănescu’s song “Choke Me” received a surprising 232 points from the public, totaling 296 points. This result placed Romania third, just behind Israel and Bulgaria, the overall winner with 516 points.
The jury votes initially placed Romania in 13th place with only 64 points. However, the public vote shifted the final standings dramatically. Căpitănescu’s performance, known for her fiery support for Oțelul Galați, resonated strongly with the audience, elevating her standing.
Bulgaria's Dara, with the song “Bangaranga,” dominated the competition, followed by Denmark and Australia, who shared second place with 165 points each.
Căpitănescu, a former winner of "Vocea României" under Tudor Chirilă, achieved a significant milestone, matching Luminița Anghel's record from 2005 with the song “Let Me Try.”
This result is a massive comeback for Romanian representation! It's about time we saw a strong performance like this at Eurovision. What do you think, is this the start of a new era for Romania in the competition?