Who is Dara? Meet Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 entry

Bulgaria will make their Eurovision Song Contest return tonight (14 May) after a three year absence from the competition.

This year, the Balkan nation will be represented by Dara, whose songs and videos have amassed over 80 million listens and views, and will be kicking off the second semi-final.

As ever, only 10 spots are up for grabs to qualify for the grand final, and Dara will be hoping to secure Bulgaria spot for Saturday night.

With the second semi-final fast approaching, read on for everything you need to know about Dara.

Who is Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 entry Dara?

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Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, known professionally as Dara, is a singer who first rose to fame in 2015 after reaching the final in the Bulgarian edition of The X Factor.

Dara is best known for her biggest smash hits Thunder, Call Me and Mr Rover, all of which dominated the music charts for weeks upon their release.

Alongside her rising musical career, Dara was also a mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria in 2021 and 2022.

Her latest album was released in 2025, which expanded her global presence in the music scene.

How old is Dara?

Dara is 27 years old.

What nationality is Dara?

Dara is Bulgarian. She was born in Varna, the third largest city in Bulgaria.

What has Dara said about representing Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026?

Speaking of representing Bulgaria at the competition, Dara told The Independent: "Eurovision for Bulgaria is not a given. We've been absent from the contest for three years. Our greatest moment was Kristian Kostov's extraordinary second place in 2017 – Kristian is a dear friend, and that result meant a lot to the country.

"A win would be in a completely different dimension. But I want to be honest with you. Winning would be extraordinary, and I will compete to win, absolutely. But what drives me just as much is the idea of Bulgaria being seen. Really seen.

"We are a small country with an enormous cultural soul – ancient, complex, stubborn in the best sense. We have a musical heritage that the world has barely scratched the surface of.

"If Bangaranga can be the song that makes someone in Manchester or Edinburgh or Brighton pull out their phone and look up Bulgaria – look up its music, its coast, its literature, its people – then I've already achieved something real."

What is Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 song called?

Dara will represent Bulgaria with the song Bangaranga, which she describes as "pop music with folklore bones".

She added: "The word itself comes from Jamaican slang – it means uproar, commotion, a beautiful kind of disorder. It has this raw, phonetic power that bypasses translation – you feel it before you understand it."

You can watch the music video below.

Where did Bulgaria come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Bulgaria did not participate in Eurovision last year, with the nation previously being absent from the contest since 2023.

Their last participation was in 2022 and they finished in 16th in the first semi-final, and did not qualify for the grand final.

The Eurovision Song Contest has faced significant criticism over its decision to allow Israel to take part in the event due to the ongoing war in Gaza.

This year, a number of countries will boycott the contest following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision not to expel Israel from the competition.

At the EBU general assembly in December 2025, a vote was held to introduce new rules that would stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters. No vote was held on Israel’s participation.

The EBU said in a statement: “A large majority of members agreed that there was no need for a further vote on participation and that the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 should proceed as planned, with the additional safeguards in place.”

Following this, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland confirmed they would not participate in this year’s Eurovision.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ said: “RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”

The BBC, which broadcasts the competition in the UK, has said it supports the decision made by the EBU. “This is about enforcing the rules of the EBU and being inclusive,” it said in a statement.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

You can also check out the full list of Eurovision winners and how many times the UK has won Eurovision.

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