site.btaDara to Represent Bulgaria at 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna

DARA is the overall winner of BNT’s national selection and will represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), to be held in May 2026, in Vienna. On February 28, DARA will perform three songs live on BNT, all written especially for her participation in the competition in Vienna. A combined vote of viewers and a professional jury will determine which song she will use to represent Bulgaria.

On Saturday night, with her performance of the song Thunder, DARA won the vote of both the audience and the jury, which included Bogdana Karadocheva, Nina Nikolina, Lyubo Kirov, Krisko, and Victoria Chalkitis.

DARA was presented with a trophy created especially for BNT’s national selection, designed by artist Stoyan Zikov. The sculpture depicts a stylized heart, composed of individual, interwoven elements that together form a harmonious whole. It symbolizes the diversity of the participants and their musical styles, united by music and a shared ambition to represent Bulgaria with dignity on the international stage. The performers who competed in the national selection included Kerana and the Cosmonauts, Mihaela Marinova, Mihaela Fileva, Molec, Roksana, Fiki, DARA, Dara Ekimova, Dia, Elizabeth, Innerglow, Mona, Preya, Val, and Veniamin.

ESC participants from Azerbaijan, Malta, and Albania also took the stage. The 2011 ESC winner Eldar (Azerbaijan) performed his hit song The One. AIDAN (Malta) and Alis (Albania) who will compete alongside Bulgaria in the second semifinal in Vienna, performed their respective entries Bella and Nan.

DARA now enters a period of preparation for the final third stage of the national selection. On February 28, she will again perform three songs live on BNT, written specifically for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. The song that will represent Bulgaria in the Austrian capital will once more be chosen through a combined jury and public vote, with viewers casting their votes on eurovision2026.bg.

Bulgaria will compete in the second semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on May 14, with the grand final of the 70th anniversary edition of the contest scheduled for May 16.