Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time on Saturday, with singer Dara securing victory in a competition overshadowed by political tensions and a boycott by five countries over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza.
The 70th edition of the annual music competition, held in Vienna, saw public broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and Netherlands boycott the event in protest against Israel’s inclusion.
Bulgaria triumphed with the upbeat dance track “Bangaranga,” a high-energy performance that steered clear of politics and won over audiences despite the turbulent backdrop.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t even know what’s going on right now,” Dara told reporters after the victory.
The singer described “Bangaranga” as a feeling rather than a word, saying it reflected choosing “love over fear” and finding harmony with oneself and nature.
Israel again finished second after receiving a strong public vote, mirroring last year’s result. Its entry, “Michelle,” a trilingual love song, surged from eighth place in the standings following audience voting.
Boos were heard inside the arena as Israel’s public vote totals were announced, reflecting continuing tensions surrounding its participation.
Israeli broadcaster KAN had earlier received a formal warning from organisers over online promotional videos viewed as overly aggressive in soliciting votes. The broadcaster said the content had been removed and that it complied with competition rules.
Pre-contest favourites included Finland’s entry “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”), featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen, while Australia fielded “Eclipse,” performed by Delta Goodrem. Australia finished fourth and Finland sixth.
The contest unfolded against the backdrop of the Gaza war, which began after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, according to figures cited in the report.
The boycott reduced the number of entries to 35 — the lowest since 2003 — potentially impacting viewership of an event that drew an estimated 166 million viewers last year.
Authorities in Vienna had prepared for larger demonstrations, but protests remained limited. A brief disruption occurred during Tuesday’s semi-final when protesters chanting pro-Palestinian slogans were removed from the venue.