Bulgaria Takes First Eurovision Title with Dara’s ‘Bangaranga’

Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday, marking the country’s first victory since joining the competition in 2005. Singer Dara took the title with “Bangaranga,” a track she calls pop music with folklore bones, built around the rhythms and imagery of kukeri — an ancient masked ritual where men in furry costumes and bells chase away evil spirits through Bulgarian villages.

The win avoids the logistical and political headache that a victory for second-placed Israel would have caused. Noam Bettan’s romantic pop entry “Michelle” finished strongly on the public vote, but the contest was already under strain. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland boycotted the event over the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to keep the Israeli broadcaster in the fold while attacks in Gaza continue. Last year’s Swiss winner Nemo returned their trophy in protest. In Vienna, around 2,000 people demonstrated against Israel’s inclusion before the final.

Bulgaria’s return after three editions away brought a raw, percussive energy to the stage. Dara’s explanation of “bangaranga” — a special energy inside everyone, a feeling that anything is possible — landed with an undiluted sincerity on stage. The UK finished last. Moldova and Romania also returned, bringing the final’s lineup to 25 nations. The audience in the Wiener Stadthalle topped 10,000, with more than 100 million watching worldwide.