Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with her party anthem "Bangaranga," giving the southeast European country its first-ever victory in the competition's seven-decade history. Dara beat 24 other competitors during Saturday's grand final in Vienna, with the song's infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine proving a hit with both national juries and viewers.
The contest's milestone anniversary was shadowed by ongoing controversy over Israel's participation amid the country's military operations in Gaza. Israeli competitor Noam Bettan finished second after a contest marked by protests calling for his exclusion and a boycott by five European nations: Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia.
What the Right Is Saying
Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the competition. "It's a brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show," Green said. The organization has maintained that Eurovision is a non-political event focused on music and cultural exchange.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was loudly cheered during his performance of "Michelle," a rock ballad performed in Hebrew, French and English, though there was also a smattering of boos. Supporters argued that excluding any country from participation undermines the contest's founding principle of bringing nations together through music regardless of geopolitical disputes.
What the Left Is Saying
Protest organizers argued that allowing Israel to participate in Eurovision sends the wrong message during ongoing conflict. "Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness," said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers of counter-events in Vienna.
Pro-Palestinian groups staged an outdoor concert Friday under the banner "No stage for genocide." Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday's final, some holding placards saying "Block Eurovision." Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt Bettan's semifinal performance. Boycotting nations Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia refused to send delegations in protest over what they called Israel's conduct during its war against Hamas.
What the Numbers Show
The five-nation boycott represents a revenue and viewership challenge for Eurovision organizers, who say 166 million people watched last year's contest globally. This marks the third consecutive year protests have targeted Israel's participation in the competition.
Street protests opposing Israel's inclusion were smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmö, Sweden, and last year's event in Basel, Switzerland, according to reports from the ground. Bettan's second-place finish outperformed betting market expectations, which had Finnish duo Pete Parkkonen and classical violinist Linda Lampenius as favorites; they ultimately placed sixth.
Bulgaria's victory completes a notable arc for a country that has competed since 2005 without previously winning. Romania placed third with "Choke Me" by Alexandra Căpitănescu, Australia fourth with Delta Goodrem's ballad "Eclipse," and Italy fifth with Sal Da Vinci's "Per Sempre Si." The British act Look Mum No Computer's novelty song "Eins, Zwei, Drei" finished last.
The Bottom Line
The 70th anniversary contest demonstrated Eurovision's enduring capacity to generate both musical surprises and political controversy. Bulgaria's underdog victory aligns with historical patterns; as Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic noted, "Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It's largely been a contest for underdogs."
The political tensions are unlikely to subside before next year's competition. The five-nation boycott marks the most significant coordinated withdrawal since boycotts over participation rules in previous decades. Eurovision is also pursuing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia scheduled for Bangkok in November, which organizers hope will broaden the event's appeal beyond its current European focus.