The usually good-natured competition has faced a boycott by five countries over the Gaza conflict
1-MIN READ1-MIN ListenReutersPublished: 7:46am, 17 May 2026Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time on Saturday in a final overshadowed by five countries’ boycott over Gaza, claiming a dramatic victory despite another big public vote for Israel that secured it second place.
The garish and usually good-natured competition involving pop acts from countries across Europe and beyond, now in its 70th year, has been plunged into crisis by a dispute over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
The public broadcasters of heavyweights Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland, as well as Iceland and Slovenia, are not taking part in protest at Israel’s participation.
Israel has alleged a global smear campaign against it.
Its performance at the final was not, however, marred by any obvious protests, unlike Tuesday’s semi-final.
Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga”, sung by female artist Dara, a thumping, crowd-pleasing dance track, avoided politics altogether, touching on themes of empowerment and surrendering to the night.
Israel’s effort, trilingual love song “Michelle”, was notable for courting less controversy than its entry last year, which was sung by a survivor of the October 7 attack.
