Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday as pop singer Dara triumphed with her energetic dance anthem “Bangaranga”. The victory marked Bulgaria’s first Eurovision title after missing the previous three editions. Israel finished second despite controversy surrounding its participation, while Romania came third.
Dara, 27, gained momentum during Eurovision week following a standout semi-final performance featuring elaborate choreography. Speaking after her win, she described “Bangaranga” as a song about choosing love over fear and embracing harmony.
The final, held in Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle arena, drew around 10,000 fans. However, the event was overshadowed by politics, with Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia boycotting over Israel’s involvement amid the Gaza conflict.
Israel’s Noam Bettan had led the public vote, but Bulgaria surged ahead in the closing moments. Bulgaria ended with 516 points, comfortably ahead of Israel’s 343. Pro-Palestinian protests also took place outside the venue during the event.
