Vienna (AFP) - Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday with Dara’s catchy floor-filler “Bangaranga” sweeping the 70th edition of the world’s biggest live televised music event and pushing into second place Israel, whose participation had triggered a major boycott.

Bulgaria had missed the last three editions of the glitzy extravaganza but took the crown in Vienna for the first time ever, overtaking Israel at the very end as the points came in, with Romania finishing third.

Singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, was not among the favourites going into Eurovision week but the 27-year-old gained traction following a strong performance in the semi-finals, with her highly choreographed dance routines.

“Everything is possible: Bulgaria just won Eurovision!” Dara told a news conference.

“I really like breaking rules. I’m really good with following my rules – not anybody else’s.

“We wanted to give to the audience something new and fresh, something that is not expected.”

- ‘Magnificent story’ -

Eurovision highlighted that “the song ended up winning both sets of scores, which is the first time the juries and the public have chosen the same winner in almost 10 years, since Kyiv 2017”.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev hailed “a young artist who, thanks to her talent and professionalism, has managed to rise above all the complexities and prejudices surrounding the voting process.

“Bulgaria is looking forward to welcoming Europe and the world for Eurovision 2027!” he added on social media.

And on Sunday afternoon at Sofia airport, several hundred people turned out to welcome Dara home.

“I’m proud of Dara’s success!” said 72-year-old Boyko Karakolev, carrying a large Bulgarian flag fixed to the end of a fishing rod. “It’s going to give some visibility to the country.”

Around 10,000 glammed-up fans filled the Wiener Stadthalle arena in the Austrian capital to watch Saturday’s showpiece final of Eurovision, where, as always, the razzmatazz didn’t escape the geopolitics in the background.

Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia staged the biggest political boycott in Eurovision history over Israel’s participation, citing the war in Gaza.

And it looked as though Noam Bettan was going to win the contest for Israel with his song “Michelle” following a big score in the televoting from the public around Europe.

But as Bulgaria’s televote points were revealed, Dara ultimately won by a comfortable margin.

Bulgaria finished with 516 points, ahead of Israel on 343, Romania on 296, Australia on 287, Italy with 281 and Finland on 279.

- Israel second, again -

It was the second year in a row that Israel had finished runners-up.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Bettam to congratulate him, saying “everyone is really really proud of you”, the leader’s office said.

Fan Shlomit Shabat, 35, told AFP in Tel Aviv that it was “good and noble” that Israel had finished second “despite all the antisemitism against us”.

Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, who won Eurovision 2025 for Austria with his song “Wasted Love”, handed over the winner’s trophy to Dara.

“Bangaranga, it’s a feeling that everybody has got in themselves,” Dara said earlier Sunday as the votes were coming in.

“It’s the moment that you choose to lead through love and not fear, and this is a special energy that I know everybody has got in themselves.”

Some 166 million viewers watched the contest on television last year when it was hosted in Basel.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched past on Saturday chanting “boycott Eurovision” and carrying banners reading “Don’t celebrate genocide”.

Spanish public broadcaster RTVE – traditionally one of Eurovision’s major backers – not only boycotted but refused to screen the show.

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