Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 after a three-year absence, with singer Dara securing a total of 516 points — 304 from the jury and 312 from the public vote. This marks the first time Bulgaria has ever won the competition.
Dara, born Darina Nikolaeva Yotova in Varna, first gained fame in 2015 as a finalist on the Bulgarian edition of The X Factor. Her hits include Thunder, Call Me and Mr Rover, and she served as a mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria in 2021 and 2022. Her latest album was released in 2025.
Speaking about representing Bulgaria, Dara told The Independent: 'Eurovision for Bulgaria is not a given. We've been absent for three years. A win would be extraordinary, but what drives me is the idea of Bulgaria being seen. We are a small country with an enormous cultural soul.'
Her winning song, Bangaranga, is described as 'pop music with folklore bones'. Dara explained: 'The word comes from Jamaican slang meaning uproar or beautiful disorder. It has a raw, phonetic power that bypasses translation.'
The contest faced controversy over Israel's participation amid the Gaza war. Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland boycotted the event. The EBU stated that a large majority of members agreed no further vote on Israel's participation was needed.
