The grand final took place on Saturday in Vienna at the Wiener Stadthalle, where 25 performers from different countries competed with a wide mix of musical styles. Dara stood out with her energetic stage performance and strong vocal delivery, which connected well with both professional juries and global viewers.

She finished ahead of Israel’s Noam Bettan, who took second place, while Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu came in third. Australia’s Delta Goodrem secured fourth place, followed by Italy’s Sal Da Vinci. Finland’s Pete Parkkonen and Linda Lampenius, who were among the early favorites, placed sixth.

Britain’s entry, Look Mum No Computer, ended the night in last place with just one point.

Dara’s winning song, “Bangaranga,” is inspired by Bulgaria’s traditional kukeri rituals and carries a message about inner strength and breaking free from perfection pressure. After her win was announced, she expressed shock and joy, thanking supporters who “felt the bangaranga” during her performance.

The event was colorful and widely watched across Europe and beyond, but it also became part of wider public debate due to Israel’s participation. Some countries chose not to take part, while groups gathered outside the venue to express their views.

Despite these discussions, the show continued as planned, highlighting music, creativity, and cultural diversity from across the continent.

Organizers have also confirmed plans to expand the Eurovision brand, including a new Eurovision Asia edition set to take place in Bangkok later this year.

Dara’s victory marks a major moment for Bulgaria, placing the country at the top of Europe’s biggest music stage for the first time.