site.btaUPDATED BlagoDara! – Bulgaria Coins New Word to Thank Its Eurovision Winner

Bulgarian musicians, actors and writers, including some of the brightest stars on the national entertainment and intellectual scene, congratulated Dara on winning the Eurovision Song Contest on the night of Saturday to Sunday with her song "Bangaranga". Bulgaria has won the contest for the first time. This happened during its 70th edition in Vienna, and it means that Bulgaria will host the event next year.

Lili Ivanova, singer, said in a Facebook post: "A historic success for Bulgaria! Congratulations to the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest – the young and very talented Bulgarian singer DARA / Darina Yotova!"

Vasil Naydenov, singer, shared on his social media profiles a photo of Dara with the trophy, and wrote: "Dara wins Eurovision! Bravo!"

Georgi Gospodinov, writer, posted on Facebook photos of the final ranking and of the Eurovision winner, accompanied by the portmanteau "BlagoDara!", coined from Dara's name and sounding like the Bulgarian word for "thank you".

The reaction of actress Maria Bakalova also came via social media. She posted a photo of Dara and wrote that she was very proud of the Bulgarian winner of Eurovision.

Orlin Goranov, singer, exclaimed: "With my hand on my heart – absolutely phenomenal, wonderful and moving! A pinnacle for our country! Bravo, Dara! Bravo, our Bulgarian child!" Goranov also said: "Dara brought Eurovision to Bulgaria! Let us celebrate this historic moment and unite once and for all in the way we are meant to."

Yordanka Hristova, singer, announced: "The world is Bangaranga!"

The band Molec commented: "Dara was on a level, terribly many levels, above every other participant in the contest. She showed them how it's done! We are proud of Dara." Molec competed with Dara in the national selection that chose Bulgaria's representative for Eurovision 2026.

Kristian Kostov, singer, who took second place at Eurovision 2017 with the song "Beautiful Mess", wrote in English on Instagram: "I have always believed in you and truly couldn't be happier for someone else, our shared dream is finally HOME! [...] Unapologetically perfect delivery during every performance, rehearsal, show, doesn’t matter if there’s a 100 people in the crowd or 100million!"

Vladimir Mihaylov, musician and actor, also congratulated Dara on her victory. Mihaylov represented Bulgaria at Eurovision twice - once as a backing vocalist for Kristian Kostov in Kyiv in 2017, when Bulgaria reached second place in the final ranking with the song "Beautiful Mess", and again in 2018 as part of the group Equinox, which represented Bulgaria at Eurovision in Lisbon with the song "Bones".

Teodora Duhovnikova, actress, advised everyone who had criticized Dara for her song not to do so again. "And next time, Bulgaria, do not turn away from your children! Dara won! Bulgaria won!", Duhovnikova said in a social media post.

National Television (BNT) director Milena Milotinova said: "I am so proud. What Dara did was truly incredible. I want to tell everyone: Welcome to Sofia next year!" Milotinova thanked her colleagues at BNT, who were behind the Bulgarian project for Eurovision 2026.