Eurovision

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The 70th Eurovision Song Contest begins today in Vienna, Austria. The event is among the most-watched live entertainment broadcasts, drawing 166 million viewers last year. See standout outfits from the turquoise carpet here. Now the world's longest-running annual global TV music competition, Eurovision began in 1956 as a post-World War II effort to unite Europe through live TV broadcasting (with seven countries and 14 songs). Today, it features countries across Europe and some outside the continent, including Australia and Israel. The contest has evolved into a mix of pop spectacle, national identity, and over-the-top theatrical performances, launching the international careers of stars like ABBA and Celine Dion. Explore an interactive history of Eurovision here.  The event has drawn renewed political scrutiny over Israel's participation amid the war in Gaza; Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain have withdrawn from the competition in protest. Meanwhile, a new report alleges Israel sought to influence voting in recent years as part of a broader public diplomacy effort.

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Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision contest with pop banger “Bangaranga.” The win marks the first-ever for the Balkan nation, which first joined the contest in 2005. Watch her grand finale performance here.

The contest is among the most-watched live broadcast events in the world, reaching 166 million viewers last year. This year, five broadcasters—from Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—boycotted over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza. A report also found Israel’s government has invested in ad dollars in recent years to promote Israeli musical acts. This year’s Israeli participant came in second place for his ballad “Michelle” (see performance here).

Eurovision began in 1956 as a post-World War II effort to unite Europe through live broadcasting, with seven countries and 14 songs. Today, it features countries across Europe and some outside the continent, including Australia and Israel, whose broadcasters are part of the European Broadcasting Union. Learn more here.