“We wanted to give to the audience something new and fresh, something that is not expected.”
‘Magnificent story’
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov on Facebook hailed a “magnificent story of immense talent, tireless effort, and faith in success, against all criticism”.
Around 10,000 glammed-up fans filled the Wiener Stadthalle arena in the Austrian capital to watch the 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.
And 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.
But 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.
It was the second year in a row that Israel has finished runner-up.
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 the 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.
“Bangaranga, it’s a feeling that everybody has got in themselves,” Dara said as the votes were coming in.
“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.”
Fans streaming out of the arena revelled in Dara’s triumph.
“I didn’t like the song at first … but I saw it, I saw the performance, and I was stunned,” said Katerina, a Eurovision fan from Greece.
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 (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 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.
Protests over Israel
Some 166 million viewers watched the contest on television last year when it was hosted in Basel.
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.”
Belgian broadcaster VRT said before the final that it was unlikely to compete in next year’s Eurovision if the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, did not hold a direct vote on Israel’s participation in the contest.
– AFP