Bulgaria's Dara Wins Eurovision Contest

UPDATED Bulgaria's Dara Wins Eurovision Contest

Eurovision Song Contest winner Dara returns to Sofia, May 17, 2026 (BTA Photo/Blagoy Kirilov)

Sofia,

17.05.2026 02:13 | UPDATED 17.05.2026 20:45

(BTA)

Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in a dazzling final gala at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on Saturday. This country's representative, Dara, was the favourite of jury and the audience. The show was broadcast live by Bulgarian National Television.

Dara's song, Bangaranga, collected 516 points and secured Bulgaria's first ever win in the 70-year-old song contest.

It was also the first time the juries and the public have chosen the same winner in almost 10 years, since Kyiv 2017, according to Eurovision statistics. It also shows that Bangaranga won the Contest with a 173-point lead over the song in second place, which makes it the biggest winning margin ever seen at Eurovision.

Bulgaria this year made its return to the Eurovision Song Contest after a three-year absence, having withdrawn from the competition between 2023 and 2025.

On Saturday night, Israel came in second with 343 points, while Romania finished third.

Bulgaria's representative was not among the favourites for the win and the victory caused a furore in her home country.

The votes from the juries of the participating countries determined Bulgaria as the winner with the highest number of points - 204 - giving it a significant lead over the countries in second place, Australia and Denmark, both with 165 points. The juries of Malta, Australia, Denmark, and Lithuania awarded Bulgaria the maximum 12 points. Bulgaria gave its own 12 points to Malta.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest gathered around 10,000 spectators in the arena in Vienna and millions more in front of television screens around the world, the hosts of the ceremony announced, noting that 1,789 songs have been performed throughout the history of the contest.

Songs in 23 languages were performed on the grand final stage by representatives from 25 countries.

Back in Sofia on Sunday, Dara was met by a crowd of cheering fans. At Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, she was also welcomed by Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, members of the Bulgarian National Television management board and numerous fans. The aircraft was greeted with a water salute upon landing.

In her first statement in Sofia, Dara said: "We have done something great for Bulgarian music, and I hope this sends a message that Bulgaria's performers and artists deserve stronger support."

"We are an exceptionally talented nation that will continue to receive more and more attention," she added.

Bulgarian National Television Director General Milena Milotinova said the whole world is talking about Bulgaria. Speaking at Sofia Airport, she said a person is as big as their dreams and achievements. She stressed that next year marks the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's EU accession and that the country is expected to host Eurovision. The music event will likely take place in Sofia, but other Bulgarian cities have also expressed interest in hosting, she said.

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