Bulgaria has officially confirmed its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Dara will represent the country in Vienna, Austria, after winning Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, the national selection organized and broadcast by Bulgarian National Television (BNT).
The result follows several weeks of televised shows and performances, culminating in a live final in which Dara secured the highest combined score from the professional jury and the public televote.
Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026 — The Road to the Final
For Eurovision 2026, Bulgaria returned to a multi-stage national selection format, aiming to involve both music professionals and the public in the decision-making process. Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026 featured a diverse lineup of established artists and emerging acts, with a strong emphasis on live performance, vocal ability, and artistic identity.
The competition began with an initial round featuring a larger pool of artists, which was gradually narrowed down through jury evaluation and audience voting. From this process, eight finalists advanced to the decisive live final.
Finalists of Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026
The final brought together eight artists representing a wide range of musical styles within the Bulgarian contemporary scene:
- Dara
- Mihaela Marinova
- Mona
- Preyah
- Roksana
- Molets
- Innerglow
- Kerana & Kosmonavtite
Each finalist performed live on the BNT stage, presenting songs prepared specifically for the selection and competing for the chance to represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026.
The Final Result
The winner was determined by a combined voting system, blending scores from a professional jury and the public televote. The jury panel consisted of well-known figures from the Bulgarian music industry, including Bogdana Karadocheva, Nina Nikolina, Lyubo Kirov, Krisko, and vocal coach Viktoria Halkiti.
Following the aggregation of jury and televote results, Dara emerged as the overall winner, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026.
Song Selection Still to Come
Although Dara has been selected as the artist, the song she will perform at Eurovision has not yet been chosen. BNT confirmed that the final song decision will take place on 28 February 2026, during a special live broadcast of Natsionalna Selektsiya.
During the show, Dara will perform three original songs, all written and produced specifically with Eurovision in mind. A new round of jury and public voting will determine which song will become Bulgaria’s official Eurovision 2026 entry.
About Dara
Dara is one of Bulgaria’s most successful pop artists of recent years. She rose to fame after her participation in X Factor Bulgaria and quickly established herself with a series of hit singles, a strong digital presence, and a modern pop sound influenced by international trends. Known for her confident stage presence, polished visuals, and contemporary production, Dara has become a defining figure of Bulgaria’s mainstream pop scene.
Her Eurovision selection represents a major milestone in her career and positions her as one of Bulgaria’s most high-profile representatives in recent contest history.
Eurovision 2026 in Vienna
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna in May 2026, with semi-finals scheduled for 12 and 14 May, and the Grand Final on 16 May. Following the official Semi-Final Allocation Draw held in January 2026, Bulgaria has been placed in the Second Semi-Final, which will be broadcast on 14 May 2026. Bulgaria will perform in the first half of the show, competing alongside entries from countries including Armenia, Romania, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, and Czechia.
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