Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the very first time, with singer Dara taking the top spot in Vienna, Austria.
Dara’s entry, a pop song called Bangaranga, won over both the public vote and the jury, earning her a massive 516 points. Israel came second, followed by Romania in third. The contest featured 25 countries, but several others chose to sit out. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain all boycotted the competition because of Israel’s involvement, given the Israeli government’s actions in the Gaza conflict.
Before the final, Finland and Australia were seen as the favourites to win. But Dara stole the show. The 27-year-old is one of Bulgaria’s biggest pop stars and is a coach on their version of The Voice.
Speaking backstage after picking up the iconic crystal microphone trophy, Dara thanked everyone who connected with her music.
Bulgarian National Television has also confirmed that next year’s contest will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.
