Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
Bulgaria’s entrant Dara won with the upbeat dance track “Bangaranga”, securing a dramatic win in a competition marked by political tension, audience division and unusually subdued participation.
The winning performance avoided political themes, instead focusing on what Dara described as a message of “energy” and “harmony”.
“This is unbelievable. I don’t even know what’s going on right now,” she said after the win.
“Bangaranga is a feeling that everybody gets in themselves. It’s the moment that you choose to be in love and not fear,” she added explaining the meaning of her song.
The annual contest, now in its 70th year, was shaken by a dispute over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October, 2023.
Public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted the event in protest.
Despite the controversy, Israel again performed strongly in the public vote, propelling its entry “Michelle” to second place for the second consecutive year.
Some boos were heard in the arena as Israel’s points were announced, though the final was less disrupted than earlier rounds.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN had previously received a warning from organisers over promotional videos linked to its entry, which were later removed. The broadcaster said it complied with contest rules.
Organisers said the boycott reduced the number of participating countries to 35, the lowest since 2003, potentially affecting global viewership.
Protests in the host city of Vienna remained limited, despite earlier disruptions during a semi-final where demonstrators briefly chanted pro-Palestinian slogans before being removed.
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