Bulgarian singer Dara was crowned the winner of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday, May 17, 2026, with her energetic song "Bangaranga." Despite not being a pre-show favorite, Dara's high-energy performance and choreography captivated audiences throughout Eurovision week in Vienna, Austria. The grand final, held on Saturday, May 16, at the Wiener Stadthalle arena, featured 25 countries competing. Israel secured second place. The event, described as the world's biggest live televised music show, also saw significant geopolitical undertones, with Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia staging a protest boycott over Israel's participation due to the war in Gaza, while hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched outside the venue.