Bulgaria Selects Dara and 'Bangaranga' for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna

Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 Entry

According to Главком: Bulgarian singer Dara (Darina Yotova) will represent her country at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with the song 'Bangaranga'. She won the national selection by securing the highest combined scores from both the jury and the public vote. During the selection show, Dara performed the song 'Thunder', showcasing her vocal talent and stage presence. The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the world's largest non-sporting television events, and national selections are often fiercely competitive.

The composer of 'Bangaranga' is Dimitris Kontopoulos, a well-known figure in the Eurovision world who has collaborated with numerous popular artists, including:

• The Tolmachevy Sisters
• Sergey Lazarev
• Natalia Gordienko

Kontopoulos was also part of producer Philipp Kirkorov's 'Dream Team', indicating the song has been developed to a high professional standard for the competition. Three songs were presented in the selection final: 'Bangaranga', 'Curse', and 'This Is Me'. The final voting results awarded 'Bangaranga' 6 points, 'Curse' 4 points, and 'This Is Me' 2 points.

Dara's Career and Eurovision Journey

Dara has been a coach on 'The Voice of Bulgaria' since 2021. In 2025, she released an album titled 'ADHDARA', marking another step forward in her career. Her participation in Eurovision 2026 confirms her rising profile on the international stage. Reflecting on her path to the contest, Dara commented:

"Her desire to go to the competition had been 'killed and crushed,' and the greatest insult to her was the lack of trust in her talent."

In Vienna, Dara will face competition from other selected artists. Germany will be represented by Sarah Engels with the song 'Fire', while Finland's entry will be the duo Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen with 'Liekinheitin'. These selections suggest that Eurovision 2026 promises to be a vibrant and eventful contest where each artist will present their best musical work.

Dara's participation underscores not only her personal success but also Bulgaria's growing role on the international music scene. Her collaboration with the renowned composer Dimitris Kontopoulos could provide a significant advantage, as his experience and reputation may positively influence the song's reception. The singer emphasized the importance of support and trust, which could prove to be a key factor in her future career trajectory.