Singer Dara, whose real name is Darina Yotova, returned to Bulgaria on Sunday to a hero’s welcome after clinching her country’s maiden Eurovision title. Her high-energy performance of “Bangaranga” in Vienna on Saturday night conquered a field of 24 other entrants, resonating with both national juries and viewing audiences who collectively choose the winner.
The 27-year-old appeared visibly tired but jubilant as she stepped off the plane at Vasil Levski Airport clutching the Eurovision trophy. Major Bulgarian television networks interrupted their regular programming to broadcast her arrival live, as hundreds of supporters chanted and waved national flags.
“This award marks the beginning of my future international career,” Dara told reporters. “We have done something great for Bulgarian music, and I hope this sends a message that Bulgaria’s performers and artists deserve stronger support.”
She added that the Balkan nation is “an exceptionally talented nation that will continue to receive more and more attention.”
The atmosphere was not merely celebratory but pointed toward the future. Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev was among the officials waiting on the tarmac. He immediately signaled the capital’s ambition to host the next edition of the European song contest in 2027, a year when Bulgaria will also celebrate two decades since joining the European Union.
The triumph triggered a rare unified outburst of pride across Bulgaria’s typically fractious political landscape. Parliamentary Speaker Mihaela Dotsova described Dara’s win as an “inspiration for the nation.” President Iliana Yotova praised it as a “triumph for Bulgaria,” while Prime Minister Rumen Radev proclaimed the victory had a global impact, cementing the idea that a pop song had, for a moment, placed the country firmly in the world’s spotlight.