Bulgaria wins the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking the top prize in Saturday’s final in Vienna. The event is overshadowed by political protest: five countries boycott the contest in response to the war in Gaza and Israel’s involvement. Despite the boycotts and related public backlash, Israel again finishes second, supported by strong voting from audiences. Multiple outlets report that the contest remains competitive and widely watched after the show begins, with politics largely limited to the surrounding controversy.
France is reported to finish 11th. Other participating countries include Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia among those that stage what is described as the biggest boycott in Eurovision history over Gaza-related issues. Across coverage, the main outcomes are consistent: Bulgaria claims first place for the first time, Israel places second for another year, and the final occurs amid boycotts prompted by the Gaza war.
