Helmut Fohringer/APA/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Bulgaria has received the seventieth Eurovision Music Contest — the nation’s first-ever win.
The achievement stunned many as a result of Bulgaria wasn’t among the many favorites to win in 2026. However with its catchy “Welcome to the riot!” chorus and bouncy vibe, performer Dara’s banging anthem “Bangaranga” bested 24 different nations for the glittery world musical crown on the finals on Saturday in Vienna, Austria.
Israel got here in second, because it did final yr. Ten rivals had been eradicated from the unique group of 35 within the semi-finals earlier this week.
In his appraisal of his 10 favourite Eurovision 2026 songs, NPR critic Glen Weldon known as “Bangaranga” an “insanely catchy bop” and praised its “deep, profound, abiding grooviness.”
“Oh my god!” Dara yelled, as she accepted the Crystal Microphone, the occasion’s glass trophy, from final yr’s winner, JJ of Austria.
As with different world cultural occasions, such because the Venice Biennale at present underway in Italy, the glittery annual songfest is meant as a show of goodwill and togetherness between nations. “In a world usually divided, we stand united by music,” stated host Michael Ostrowski on the conclusion of this yr’s occasion.
Final yr’s contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, noticed report viewership, reaching 166 million viewers throughout 37 markets.
Israel ready for ‘boos’
Eurovision has lengthy strived to prioritize artistry over political antagonism. Nevertheless, as with the Biennale, Eurovision 2026 discovered itself on the middle of protests associated to the struggle in Gaza.
5 international locations — Iceland, Eire, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — pulled out between September and December 2025 in protest over occasion organizer European Broadcasting Union’s choice to permit Israel to take part amid the continued struggle in Gaza.
On this yr’s finals, Israeli singer Noam Bettan carried out the romantic breakup music “Michelle” in French, Hebrew and English. In contrast to within the semifinal, when the artist sang over chants of “cease the genocide,” Bettan was not booed — not less than audibly. The artist instructed The Instances of Israel final month he had been training performing in entrance of hecklers.
There have been each anti- and pro-Israel demonstrations in Vienna this week.
Professional-Palestinian protests on the final two contests known as for Israel to be disbarred from Eurovision over its function within the battle, in addition to allegations it tried to govern voting to favor its entries. The European Broadcasting Union modified its voting guidelines in response. Amongst different necessities, contestants and broadcasters are prohibited from collaborating in promotional campaigns by third events together with governments. Nations exterior of Europe, equivalent to Israel, take part in Eurovision as a result of eligibility is predicated on European Broadcasting Union membership, not essentially geographics.
A double normal?
Though Israel’s participation is the largest reason behind dissent in 2026, the nation prevented being banned from the occasion.
That was not the case with Russia, which was disbarred indefinitely from taking part within the contest quickly after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
European Broadcasting Union deputy director common Jean Philip De Tender defended his group’s choice to permit Israel to carry out, the European version of Politico reported forward of the competition’s last, as a result of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the physique behind its entry, is impartial, whereas Russia’s state broadcaster, VGTRK, is run by the Russian authorities.
In a social media submit on Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez decried the European Broadcasting Union for its “double normal.”
