Satoshi Moldova carries 40/1 odds into Eurovision 2026

Satoshi Moldova will represent Moldova at Eurovision 2026 with the song Viva Moldova, as Betway listed the country at 40/1 to win. Moldova enters the grand final against 24 other countries after missing the 2025 contest.

The entry gives Moldova another chance at a first Eurovision victory. The country has appeared 19 times since its debut in 2005, and its best result remains third place, earned by SunStroke Project with “Hey Mamma” in 2017.

Satoshi Moldova and Viva Moldova

Satoshi is the stage name of Vlad Sabajuc, who hails from Cahul in southwest Moldova. He first found his passion for music after teaching himself how to play the drums, has released three albums, and is well known in Moldova and Romania.

He has also toured in both countries and played his first London show in 2024. His stage name reflects his fascination with Japanese culture, while “Viva Moldova” is the song now carrying his Eurovision bid.

Moldova after 2025 withdrawal

Moldova withdrew from the competition in 2025, citing “economic, administrative and artistic challenges” and “a decrease in public interest and the overall quality of the songs and artistic performances of the national final.” That absence followed Natalia Barbu’s 2024 effort, when she performed “In the Middle” on May 7, 2024, finished 13th in the first semi-final with 20 points, and failed to reach the grand final.

The 2026 contest now places Satoshi in a field with 24 other countries, and the betting line gives Moldova a small but real outside chance. For a country that has never won Eurovision, the immediate question is whether its strongest result since 2005 can be matched or surpassed by a performer already established at home and across the border.