DARA on stage at Eurovision 2026, arms raised in victory, wearing a bold red and gold outfit with 'Bangaranga' displayed on the LED screen behind her.
DARA on stage at Eurovision 2026, arms raised in victory, wearing a bold red and gold outfit with 'Bangaranga' displayed on the LED screen behind her.

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Bulgaria's long-awaited breakthrough at Eurovision gives a fan or music lover a meaningful moment to connect over.

Bulgaria's First Eurovision Win Story flow and key facts

Bulgaria claimed its first-ever Eurovision Song Contest victory in 2026, with DARA’s 'Bangaranga' winning the 70th edition held in Vienna. After returning to the competition following a three-year absence, Bulgaria dominated both the jury and public votes, securing a record-breaking 516 points. The song earned 204 points from juries and 312 from televoters, making it the first time since 2017 that both voting groups selected the same winner. DARA’s triumph also set a new record for the largest winning margin in Eurovision history — 173 points ahead of second-place Israel, represented by Noam Bettan with 'Michelle'. Romania, Australia, and Italy completed the top five.

Facts

  • DARA won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 for Bulgaria with the song 'Bangaranga'.
  • Bulgaria scored 516 points, winning both jury (204) and televote (312) for the first time since 2017.
  • The 173-point winning margin is the largest in Eurovision history, surpassing Alexander Rybak’s 169-point lead in 2009.
  • Israel placed second with Noam Bettan’s 'Michelle'; Romania was third with Alexandra Căpitănescu’s 'Choke Me'.
  • Bulgaria returned to Eurovision in 2026 after skipping the 2023–2025 contests.
  • DARA is a prominent Bulgarian pop artist known for hits like 'Thunder' and 'Call Me', and released the album ADHDARA in 2025.

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