DARA is the big winner in the national selection of BNT for the selection of an artist and will represent Bulgaria at “Eurovision 2026“ in May in Vienna.
With the performance of her song “Thunder“, DARA won the audience and the jury - Bogdana Karadocheva, Nina Nikolina, Lyubo Kirov, Krisko and Victoria Halkiti, who is a true legend with over 30 years of “Eurovision“ experience. The Greek star is one of the most respected vocal pedagogues in Europe and has worked with artists such as Dima Bilan, Despina Vandi, Ani Lorak, Elena Paparizou, Sakis Rouvas, Eleni Foureira, as well as many other winners and finalists of “Eurovision“. This year, Victoria Halkiti was part of the jury in the national selection of Luxembourg.
DARA received a statuette made especially for the national selection of BNT, the work of the talented Bulgarian artist Stoyan Zikov. The sculpture represents a stylized heart, built from separate, mutually intertwined elements, which together create harmony.
It symbolizes the diversity of the participants in the national selection and their styles, united by music and the common aspiration to represent our country with dignity on the international stage. The award was presented by Alexandra Zhekova - one of the most successful Bulgarian competitors in winter sports and co-host of the studio “Today of the Games“, in which together with Radostin Lyubomirov they will present to the viewers of the Bulgarian National Television the most important highlights of the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, from 6 to 22 February.
Special guest performers at the final of the national selection of the public television for the selection of the artist were Nevena Tsoneva and Ivo Dimchev. As an artist with international recognition, the provocative musician received an unexpected exclusive invitation from BNT to participate in the next national selection for the song contest.
International participants in the „Eurovision“ contest from Azerbaijan, Malta and Albania also took to the stage of the glamorous show. The winner of „Eurovision“ in 2011, Eldar (Azerbaijan) performed his hit „The One“. AIDAN (Malta) and Alis (Albania), with whom Bulgaria will compete in the second semi-final of the contest in Vienna, performed the songs „Bella“ and „Nân“, with which they will represent their countries.
For the final of the national selection for the selection of the Bulgarian representative at “Eurovision 2026“ representatives of several European public televisions arrived in Bulgaria. Impressed by the first show on BNT 1 on January 24, they closely followed the organization and implementation of the final this Saturday. DARA has a period of preparation ahead for the final third stage of the national selection. On February 28, she will perform live on BNT 1 three songs written especially for her participation in “Eurovision 2026“. The song that will represent Bulgaria at the contest in the Austrian capital will be determined again by a combined vote – of the jury and viewers voting via the eurovision2026.bg platform.
In Vienna, DARA will participate in the second semi-final on May 14, and the grand final of “Eurovision 2026“ is on May 16.