Bulgaria celebrated its first ever Eurovision Song Contest victory on Saturday as Dara, a 27-year-old pop singer, swept both jury and public votes with her high-energy dance track Bangaranga. The win, by a record margin of 173 points over Israel's second-placed entry, marked the first time since 2017 that the two voting bodies agreed on the same winner. The result was greeted with euphoria in Sofia, where the mayor vowed the capital was ready to host the 2026 edition, and the president hailed it as a triumph for the nation.

The contest was heavily politicised, with the participation of Israel amid the Gaza war prompting widespread boycott calls. Several countries considered withdrawing, and the final was overshadowed by protests outside the Wiener Stadthalle. Viewed from Tel Aviv, the runner-up position was seen as a vindication: Israeli media portrayed Noam Bettan’s Michelle as the moral victor of the night. Yet from capitals in the Middle East and among pro-Palestinian activists, the event was condemned for normalising a state accused of war crimes. The Spanish prime minister, among others, had urged a boycott.

Central to Bulgaria’s success was a performance crafted by two Swedish choreographers, Fredrik Rydman and Keshia von Arnold, who said they drew inspiration from the Bulgarian Kukeri ritual, a folk tradition of costumed dancers meant to ward off evil spirits. “We dared to do something different,” Rydman told Swedish media. The duo admitted they were shocked by the win, having expected a more modest result. The elaborate staging and the catchy, club-ready beat propelled the song past pre-contest favourites.

The evening was less kind to the United Kingdom, whose entry, the synth-pop track Eins, Zwei, Drei by Look Mum No Computer, finished last with a single point from the Ukrainian jury. The performer had likened his song to Marmite, anticipating the polarised reception. It was Britain’s third last-place finish in five years. For Bulgaria, however, the victory signals a new chapter: the nation will now prepare to host Europe’s biggest live music event, a task that will test its infrastructure and political resolve amid continuing divisions over the war in Gaza.