Who is Dara? Meet Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2026 entry

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Bulgaria is back in the Eurovision Song Contest tonight, May 14th, after being absent for three years.

This year, Dara will represent the Balkan nation in the competition. Her music and videos have already been streamed and viewed over 80 million times, and she’ll be performing in the second semi-final.

Just ten finalists will advance to the grand final, and Dara is aiming to earn Bulgaria one of those spots this 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?

Instagram: @darnadude

TikTok: @darbiethings

Dara, whose full name is Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, is a singer who became well-known in 2015 when she made it to the finals on the Bulgarian version of The X Factor.

Dara became famous for her popular songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr Rover,” which all reached the top of the music charts when they were first released.

I’ve been following Dara’s career, and it’s amazing to see how much she’s achieved! Not only is she a successful musician, but she also gave back by being a mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria for two years, in 2021 and 2022. It’s great to see her using her experience to help other singers.

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?

Dara recently told The Independent that representing Bulgaria at Eurovision isn’t automatic. Bulgaria hasn’t participated in the competition for three years. She highlighted Kristian Kostov’s impressive second-place finish in 2017 as a particularly proud moment for the country, adding that he’s a close friend.

A victory would be incredible, truly on another level. I want to be upfront: winning would be amazing, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. However, what motivates me just as much is the chance for Bulgaria to gain recognition – to really be noticed.

Despite our small size, we possess a rich and deeply rooted culture – one that is both old and intricate, and resilient in a positive way. Our musical traditions are incredibly vast, and largely undiscovered by the rest of the world.

If “Bangaranga” inspires someone in a city like Manchester, Edinburgh, or Brighton to search for Bulgaria online – to discover its music, beaches, books, or culture – then I’ll feel I’ve truly accomplished something meaningful.

What is Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2026 song called?

Dara will be representing Bulgaria at the upcoming competition with her song, “Bangaranga.” She describes it as a pop song with traditional Bulgarian folk influences.

She explained that the word originates from Jamaican slang, where it describes a lively and exciting disturbance – a beautiful kind of chaos. It’s powerfully evocative, communicating its energy through sound rather than needing to be translated; you experience its feeling before you grasp its meaning.

You can watch the music video below.

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Where did Bulgaria come in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest?

Bulgaria didn’t compete in Eurovision last year and hasn’t participated since 2023.

They last competed in 2022, finishing 16th in the semi-finals and therefore didn’t advance to the final round.

The Eurovision Song Contest has received a lot of criticism for letting Israel compete this year, given the current war happening in Gaza.

Several countries are choosing not to participate in this year’s contest because the organization in charge, the European Broadcasting Union, decided against removing Israel from the competition.

During a meeting in December 2025, the European Broadcasting Union voted to establish rules preventing governments or outside groups from unfairly boosting certain songs to sway voting results. However, they did not vote on whether Israel would be allowed to participate.

As a big Eurovision fan, I was really glad to hear the EBU’s announcement. Basically, most of the member broadcasters agreed they didn’t need another vote on whether to go ahead with the 2026 contest. It’s full steam ahead as planned, but they’re adding some extra safety measures to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s reassuring to know the show will go on!

After that, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland announced they wouldn’t be competing in Eurovision this year.

Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, has decided not to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, citing the ongoing and devastating loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which continues to endanger civilians.

The BBC, the UK broadcaster of the competition, stated it backs the EBU’s decision. In a statement, they explained it’s about following the rules and ensuring inclusivity.

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

You can find a complete list of Eurovision winners, and see how many times the UK has been victorious in the competition.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she reported on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-05-14 13:06