Bulgaria Wins 2026 Eurovision Song Contest With Dara's Bangaranga

Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night in Vienna with singer Dara's performance of the dance-pop song Bangaranga. The track earned 516 points, placing ahead of Israel's entry Michelle by Noam Bettan with 343 points and Romania's Choke Me with 296 points. Dara's win marks the first time the Balkan nation has taken the title.

The performance received strong audience applause inside the Wiener Stadthalle. Israel's entry faced boos from parts of the crowd when it briefly led the scoreboard during the public vote announcement. Bettan later said he focused on supporters waving Israeli flags during the performance.

Five countries withdrew from the contest over Israel's participation, citing the war in Gaza. Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Iceland did not send entries. Protests occurred in Vienna before the final, and some audience members waved Palestinian flags or turned their backs during Israel's performance.

Organizers said the event proceeded without major incidents. Bulgarian National Television confirmed the 2027 contest will take place in Sofia. Executive producer Martin Green said he respects the decisions of boycotting broadcasters while defending the participation of Israel's independent public broadcaster.