From folk vocals to triumph at Eurovision: How Dara Became Europe's New Star (4 photos)

Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, performing under the stage name "Dara," achieved a historic victory at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with her hit song "Bangaranga." This was Bulgaria's first victory in the country's history at the contest, and the artist instantly became one of the most talked-about stars of the European scene. The song earned Dara a record 516 points and won both the jury and audience votes.

Despite her modern sound, the singer has repeatedly emphasized that her musical style is closely rooted in Bulgarian folklore. As a child, Darina trained professionally in folk singing and graduated from the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts in Varna with a degree in folk singing. The future Eurovision winner grew up in Varna, one of Bulgaria's main cultural centers on the Black Sea coast. According to Dara, even in dance tracks like Bangaranga, one can hear characteristic Balkan intonations, microtones, and emotional delivery, which she considers part of her creative DNA.