Bulgaria wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Austria overshadowed by politics and protests

Bulgaria won 70th place The Eurovision Song Contest with singer Dara's party song “Bangaranga.”

Dara defeated 24 other competitors in the final on Saturday in Vienna. The song's infectious rhythms and tightly choreographed dance moves were a hit with the national judges and viewers who decided the vote together.

This is the first time Bulgaria has won Eurovision.

Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second after a competition marred by protests against the country's participation.

After a week-long build-up, performers from 25 countries entered the Wiener Stadthalle stadium in Vienna to fight for the continent's pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world cast their spell on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at the 70th anniversary of Eurovision.

This hot, colorful competition has been compared to the World Cup with songs instead of football. And like global sports, it often gets political. The tournament has been overshadowed for the third year by complaints that Israel was excluded due to conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, as five long-time participants – Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia – boycotted the event.

A variety of artists

The first was Denmark's Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the sultry competition favorites “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany's Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” undoubtedly the first of several performances to freely use fire jets.

Israeli contestant Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semi-final performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium's Essyla.

Ukrainian singer Leleka delivered the ethereal, beautiful “Ridnym”, and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her clever middle-class ballad “Eclipse” – and a bravura performance that saw her lifted into the air above a sparkling piano. The European country will likely host Australia next year if they win.

Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angry “Kraj Mene.”

Newcomers looking to grasp the essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics need look no further than two of the fan favorites that will appear in a week that saw two semi-finals before the final.

Rapper Satoshi's song “Viva, Moldova” is an upbeat, pro-European Union anthem from a country that is moving towards the European Union after decades in Moscow's orbit. Greek artist Akylas' song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a play on public consumption in a country still reeling from the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.

Both may receive high scores from viewers, although national judges, who are often more impressed by technical excellence, may not be so impressed. The winners are chosen by a combination of votes from the two, which are translated into points in a system that confuses even Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the tournament next year.

Finland is the betting favorite for “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the playing of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.

Eurovision can produce surprises

“Eurovision has never really been a contest for superstars. It's mostly been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see humble people on stage. They like a singer who is playing on stage or a singer from a small, poor country on stage.”

Street protests against Israel's involvement in the conduct of its war with Hamas in Gaza were smaller in Vienna than in 2024 competition in Malmo, Sweden, and last year's event in Basel, Switzerland.

Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday's final, some holding placards saying “Stop Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also held an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”

“Inviting Israel to a stage as beautiful as the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest is an insult to all people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and unity,” said the Congolese-Austrian singer, Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.

The five-nation boycott is a result of the revenue and viewership of the event, which organizers say was watched by 166 million people worldwide last year. This year's field of 35 contestants is the smallest since 2003.

However, Eurovision is looking to expand, with the Eurovision Song Contest Asia to be held in Bangkok in November.

Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “beautiful, beautiful, heartfelt show” that is the contest's grand final.

Vuletic says political rivalry is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969, ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a team Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.

“We've seen very politicized tournament programs in the past,” Vuletic said, including the 2009 tournament in Russia, Azerbaijan's turn as host in 2012, and the 2024 tournament in Sweden, which was marred by protests and the expulsion of a competitor after an on-stage brawl.

“They were all involved in political conflicts, yet Eurovision is still going on,” he said.

Eurovision was broadcast by national broadcasters in the participating countries, on Peacock in the United States and on the Eurovision YouTube channel in many locations.