Bulgaria claims first Eurovision victory amid historic boycott
The 2026 contest in Austria saw five nations withdraw over Israel’s participation, while the UK finished last with zero points.
Bulgaria has secured its first victory in the 70-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest, with singer Dara winning the 2026 edition in Vienna. The 27-year-old performer swept to victory with “Bangaranga,” a pulsating anthem described as pop music with folklore bones, inspired by the ancient kukeri ritual. Israel finished in second place, while the United Kingdom ended the contest last, receiving zero points.
The anniversary event was overshadowed by the largest boycott in the competition’s history, with five countries withdrawing in protest of Israel’s participation amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland declined to participate after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) adjusted rules regarding multiple votes and state-sponsored promotion, though it did not prevent Israeli broadcaster Kan from competing. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez publicly supported the boycott, stating it placed Spain on the right side of history.
Structural changes to the contest’s integrity measures were introduced this year following accusations that the Israeli government unfairly influenced voting outcomes. New rules allowed fans to cast ten individual votes, down from 20, and prohibited voting for the act from the country fans were calling from. Despite these changes, the contest remained polarised, with some national broadcasters in boycotting countries refusing to air the broadcast, fragmenting media coverage.
Bulgaria’s win avoids a logistical headache for the EBU, which would have faced difficult questions regarding the hosting of the 2027 edition had Israel won. The 70th anniversary took place at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, where approximately 10,000 spectators watched the show. The event marked the return of Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania, which had been absent in previous years, while Austria hosted the contest for the third time after JJ’s operatic triumph last year.
The United Kingdom’s performance was particularly stark, with Look Mum No Computer, aka Sam Battle, failing to win over neutral voters with the song “Eins, Zwei, Drei.” The track received nul points in the public vote, meaning it did not make it into the top ten in any voting country. This follows a decade of poor fortune for the UK, including zero points for James Newman in 2021, with Belgium and Germany also receiving zero points in the public vote. Australia’s entry, sung by Delta Goodrem, finished in fourth place.