Bulgaria celebrated a landmark moment at the 70th edition of Eurovision, as Dara delivered a winning performance that brought the country first place in the competition with a commanding lead.
Her song “Bangaranga” dominated both the jury and public vote, securing a total of 516 points. Israel finished second with 343 points, while Romania placed third with 296. Bulgaria first emerged as the favorite among the professional juries, collecting 204 points, including maximum 12-point scores from Australia, Malta, Denmark and Lithuania.
The televote widened the gap even further, adding another 312 points and turning Bulgaria’s victory into one of the most decisive results of the evening.
An emotional Dara struggled to process the outcome moments after lifting the trophy. “I hope you felt ‘Bangaranga’. I still can’t comprehend what is happening,” she told the audience after the final results were announced.
The singer explained that the title of the song represents a feeling of inner power and emotional balance. “‘Bangaranga’ is a feeling of strength, to overcome fear with special energy. When you are in harmony with nature and the world, then you can achieve anything,” she said.
Dara performed 12th during the final in Vienna, where nearly 10,000 spectators packed the arena, while millions more followed the anniversary edition of the contest worldwide. Eurovision 2026 featured performances in 23 different languages.
Last year’s winner JJ presented the Eurovision trophy to the Bulgarian performer following the result announcement. “I knew you would win,” he told her on stage.
Speaking after the show, Dara insisted the emotional connection with the audience mattered more to her than the final score. “For me, the most important thing was to go on stage, sing the song with all my heart and convey love and light. Everything else is points,” she said. She also encouraged viewers to embrace themselves as they are and praised the other contestants in the competition.
Bulgaria’s Eurovision journey this year began with Dara’s victory in the national selection organized by BNT back in January. During the live final broadcast, Bulgarian jury spokesperson Vladimira Ilieva announced the country’s 12 points for Malta.
The triumph sparked celebrations among Bulgarian fans both in Vienna and at home, with “Bangaranga” quickly becoming one of the defining songs of this year’s contest.