Bulgaria pulled off a stunning upset at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, claiming its first-ever victory when singer Dara’s energetic pop anthem “Bangaranga” surged ahead in the final moments of voting to edge out Israel’s Noam Bettan.
Bettan’s song “Michelle” secured second place with 343 points, marking the second consecutive year Israel has finished as runner-up. However, this year’s contest was shadowed by the largest political boycott in Eurovision’s history, with five nations refusing to participate over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The Winning Performance
Dara’s “Bangaranga”—a high-octane dance-pop track featuring infectious rhythms and sharp choreography—captured both the jury vote and the public televote, making it the first song to win both voting blocs simultaneously since Kyiv in 2017. Bulgaria finished with 516 points, a commanding lead that came down to a dramatic last-minute surge.
The victory is particularly significant for Bulgaria, which had been absent from the competition for three years due to financial difficulties and had never won since its debut in 2005.
Political Tension Dominates Discourse
Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia withdrew from the contest in protest, reducing the field to just 35 competing nations—the smallest number since 2003. Demonstrators gathered outside the Vienna venue accusing organizers of providing Israel a platform while the country faces allegations of war crimes in Gaza.
Despite heated protests outside the arena, the final show proceeded without major disruptions. Organizers also addressed concerns about Israel’s online voting campaigns after similar controversies last year, announcing revised voting protocols ahead of next year’s contest.
Viewership figures remain under scrutiny, though last year’s contest drew 166 million viewers globally.
Final Standings
Romania finished third with 296 points, followed by Australia’s Delta Goodrem in fourth place with 287 points, and Italy in fifth with 281 points.
