Bulgaria wins 70th Eurovision Song Contest with DARA in Vienna

Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, beating 24 other countries after the final scoring confirmed singer DARA’s Bangaranga at the top with 516 points. Israel’s Noam Bettan finished second with 343 points, while the United Kingdom’s Look Mum No Computer, performed by electronics enthusiast and YouTuber Sam Battle, placed last with 1 point. The contest was staged at the Wiener Stadthalle amid protests and a boycott by five countries over Israel’s participation in the competition during the war in Gaza.

In the final, the scoring combined jury and televote results. Bulgaria secured the win from both components, according to the event’s published totals. For Israel, parts of the audience reacted during Bettan’s earlier appearance, and his second-place finish came alongside ongoing demonstrations in Vienna related to the dispute around Israel’s inclusion. Alongside Israel’s entry, organizers said demonstrations occurred in the Austrian capital, and police had prepared for potential disruption.

Several public broadcasters declined to take part in the event as a form of protest. Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia were among the countries that...