Bulgaria claims its first-ever Eurovision; Lelek places 15th

Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday night, claiming its first-ever victory in the competition.

Bulgarian pop star Dara secured the title with her energetic dance anthem Bangaranga, earning strong support from both viewers and international juries.

Dara finished the contest with 516 points in a surprise victory over pre-contest favorites. Israel placed second with the song Michelle, while Romania finished third.

“I want to thank everyone who felt connected to Bangaranga, to that force,” Dara said after the win. “I believe it is called God and the universe. It is the language we all speak — music. It is love, it makes our reality brighter, and it connects us all.”

Croatia’s entry, the ethno-pop group Lelek, finished in 15th place with 124 points for their song Andromeda.

“Of course, first place is the best, but 15th is quite enough for us,” the group said in a post-show interview with HRT. “Making it to the final was our primary goal, and we are very happy with that. We hope everyone is happy and satisfied with us as well.”

The group also said they enjoyed spending time in the green room dancing to Bangaranga.

This year’s competition was also marked by controversy surrounding Israel’s participation, prompting five countries to withdraw. Despite mixed reactions inside Vienna Arena, Israel’s entry received strong backing from televoters, helping secure a second-place finish.