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Bulgaria’s comeback story for 2026 has a name: DARA. After a competitive national final in Sofia, the pop star booked her ticket to Vienna with a decisive win and now the only missing piece is the song she’ll bring to the big stage.

A Sofia showdown and a unanimous winner

On Saturday 31 January, eight artists took to the stage in Sofia to fight for the honour of representing Bulgaria. The twist? Instead of debuting their Eurovision entries, every act performed something from their existing catalogue, and the winner was decided through a combined vote of TV viewers and a professional jury.

DARA sealed the victory with Thunder, and it wasn’t just a narrow escape: she topped both the jury vote and the public vote. In other words, the decision was as clear as it gets! Bulgaria has chosen its artist.

What happens next: Bulgaria still has to pick the song

This selection is part of a three-show national final format created by BNT, designed to crown the artist first, then the song.

The final chapter arrives on Saturday 28 February, when DARA will perform three different potential Eurovision songs in a live show. Once again, jury + televote will decide the outcome and by the end of the night, Bulgaria will have its full 2026 package: artist and song.

Meet DARA: hitmaker, risk-taker, and modern Balkan pop staple

If you’ve followed Bulgarian pop in recent years, DARA needs no introduction, but Eurovision viewers across Europe are about to get one.

She’s described as one of Bulgaria’s most prominent contemporary pop artists, known for a strong stage presence and fearless genre-blending. Her catalogue includes multiple airplay chart-toppers, and her music has built up tens of millions of streams and views. Beyond the local spotlight, she’s also worked with an international circle of writers and producers, helping push her sound beyond borders.

She’s also had a mentor role on The Voice of Bulgaria, and in 2025 she released her most personal project yet: ADHDARA, a release framed as a step toward a more international artistic identity.

Looking ahead to May

With the artist now locked in, Bulgaria’s focus turns fully to the February song selection, the moment that will define how DARA’s story lands on the Eurovision stage. We already know one concrete checkpoint: Bulgaria is scheduled to perform in the Second Semi-Final on Thursday 14 May.

One thing’s certain: the comeback energy is real. Now let’s see what kind of song Bulgaria chooses to launch it.