Dara has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with her energetic dance anthem “Bangaranga”, securing Bulgaria’s first-ever Eurovision victory.
The 27-year-old singer delivered one of the night’s most talked-about performances, combining intense choreography with a catchy chorus that ultimately captured both the public and jury vote.
Dara finished with a commanding 516 points, beating Israel’s representative Noam Bettan into second place with 343 points, while Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu came third with 296 points.
The competition was held in Vienna following last year’s victory by Austrian singer JJ in Basel, Switzerland.
Although Dara was not initially viewed as one of the main favourites heading into the contest, her dramatic staging and emotionally driven performance quickly gained momentum among viewers across Europe.
The song’s title, “Bangaranga”, is derived from Jamaican patois meaning “uproar”, with Dara explaining the track was inspired by overcoming anxiety and ADHD following her diagnosis last year.
Her stage performance also drew inspiration from Bulgaria’s traditional Kukeri rituals, known for masked performers symbolically driving away evil spirits.
Following her victory, Dara thanked fans and viewers who “felt connected to the force” of the song.
Bulgarian National Television later confirmed next year’s Eurovision contest will be hosted in Sofia.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom suffered another disappointing result after entrant Look Mum No Computer finished last with just one point from the Ukrainian jury.
The quirky synth-driven song “Eins, Zwei, Drei” failed to connect with European audiences despite attracting attention online before the final.
Commentator Graham Norton said the performer “gave it his all” but acknowledged the act simply did not resonate strongly with viewers.
This marks the third time since 2020 that the UK has finished at the bottom of the Eurovision scoreboard.
The top five countries in the final standings were Bulgaria, Israel, Romania, Australia and Italy.
Australia’s representative Delta Goodrem impressed viewers with a powerful ballad performance titled “Eclipse”, ultimately finishing fourth.
Italy’s Sal Da Vinci rounded out the top five with his nostalgic disco-inspired love song “Per Sempre”.
This year’s contest was also overshadowed by political tensions and protests surrounding Israel’s participation due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Several countries, including Spain, Iceland and Ireland, reportedly boycotted the event, while protests took place in Vienna ahead of the grand final.
Despite concerns over disruptions, Israel’s performance proceeded without major incident during the live show.
