Bulgaria has missed the last three editions of the glitzy extravaganza but took the crown for the first time in Vienna, overtaking Israel at the very end as the points came in, with Romania finishing third.
Pop 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.
“Bangaranga, it’s a feeling that everybody has got in themselves,” Dara said Sunday.
“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.
“Once you feel at one with the nature and the universe you will feel the harmony that you can be whatever you want to be and everything is possible,” Dara said.
Boycott over Israel
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.
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.
However, 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.
Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, who won Eurovision 2025 for Austria with his song “Wasted Love”, handed over the winner’s trophy to Dara.
JJ had opened Saturday’s musical extravaganza with a nod to Austria’s grand musical history, singing the “Queen of the Night” aria from composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 1791 opera “The Magic Flute”.
Finnish fiddling, Romanian choking
The bookmakers’ overwhelming favourites going into the final were the Finnish double-act of violinist Linda Lampenius and pop singer Pete Parkkonen, with their song “Liekinheitin”, or “Flamethrower”.
As the song built to a climax, 56-year-old Lampenius was shredding her bow as she worked her way to the very top of the fingerboard.
Romanian singer Alexandra Capitanescu’s switched up the vibe with the 22-year-old’s heavy metal song “Choke Me” triggering controversy in the build-up over its repeated lyric: “I want you to choke me”.
Australia’s Delta Goodrem, who has sold nine million albums, came fourth after wowing the crowds with her song “Eclipse”, which was filled with strong moments, ending with her soaring high on a riser coming up out of a glittering piano.
Serbian metallers Lavina had the deepest throat-shredding growl of the night, the Czech Republic’s Daniel Zizka navigated a hall of mirrors, while Lithuania’s silver-painted Lion Ceccah brought an air of brooding mystery.
Ukrainian fans held their breath as Leleka slowly built up to the exceptionally high note in her song “Ridnym”, then erupted when she nailed it.
Croatian group Lelek’s dark choral song “Andromeda” evoked the persecution of Christian women in the Ottoman Empire.
British experimental electronic music artist Look Mum No Computer got the crowd chanting along to “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, with lyrics mentioning drudgery and custard.
The set changes between each three-minute song required a small army of crew to manoeuvre sets into place with the coordination of a Formula One pit-stop.
Protests and Spanish message
Some 166 million viewers watched the contest on television last year when it was hosted in Basel.
Earlier Saturday, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched past 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.
As it began, it showed the message: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition, but human rights are not. There is no room for indifference. Peace and justice for Palestine”.