Bulgarian pop star Dara has won the Eurovision Song Contest with her pneumatic dance anthem “Bangaranga,” giving Bulgaria its first ever Eurovision title.
The 27-year-old topped both the public and the jury vote in a nail-biting conclusion, soaring ahead of Israel in second and Romania in third to score a massive 516 points.
Dara was far from a front-runner going into the contest, but her intricate choreography and naggingly catchy chorus helped her eclipse the competition.
The United Kingdom, however, continued its run of disastrous results. Look Mum No Computer’s song “Eins, Zwei, Drei” took last place, with one solitary point from the Ukrainian jury. It is the third time since 2020 that the UK has placed last.
The top five of the leaderboard saw Bulgaria first with 516 points, Israel second with 343 points, Romania third with 296 points, Australia fourth with 287 points, and Italy fifth with 281 points.
Dara’s lyrics address her commitment to overcoming anxiety and ADHD, which she was diagnosed with last year. “Bangaranga is something that everyone’s got in themselves,” she explained. “It’s the moment you choose to lead with love, not fear.”
The run-up to this year’s contest was overshadowed by protests over Israel’s participation due to the death toll of the war in Gaza. Five countries boycotted the event, including Spain, Iceland, and seven-time winners Ireland. However, there were no disturbances during Israel’s performance.
This year’s contest was held in Vienna, Austria, and marked the 70th anniversary of Eurovision, which launched in 1956. Bulgarian National Television confirmed next year’s contest will be held in the country’s capital, Sofia.
