DARA delivered a landmark moment for Bulgaria at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026, securing the country’s first-ever victory with the explosive dance-pop anthem “Bangaranga.”
The singer stormed Saturday night’s Grand Finale in Vienna with a commanding 516 points, sweeping both the jury vote and public televote in one of the contest’s most decisive wins in recent memory. “Bangaranga” earned 204 jury points before dominating the televote with another 312, marking the first time since 2017 that both voting blocs backed the same winner.
Held at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, this year’s Eurovision also saw DARA set a new record margin, finishing 173 points ahead of runner-up Noam Bettan, who represented Israel with “Michelle.” Alexandra Căpitănescu placed third for Romania with “Choke Me,” while Australia and Italy completed the Top 5.
Fueled by slick choreography, pulsating beats and a chorus built for arena-sized singalongs, “Bangaranga” quickly emerged as the undeniable standout of the night. The track, written by Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Darina Yotova, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Monoir, not only powered Bulgaria to its first Eurovision victory, but also reinforced DARA’s position at the forefront of modern Bulgarian pop.
Already known across the Balkan music scene for hits including “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover,” the singer has spent recent years expanding her international profile, particularly following her 2025 album ADHDARA.
Before the Grand Final results were announced, DARA also picked up the prestigious Marcel Bezençon Artistic Award for Best Artistic Performance. Delta Goodrem won the Media Award for Australia’s “Eclipse,” while Denmark’s “Før Vi Går Hjem” received the Composer Award.
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