Eurovision winner DARA returns to Sofia, greeted by crowds

DARA returned to Sofia on May 18 after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 for Bulgaria, with fans and officials gathering at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport to greet her. Sofia Airport said the singer arrived after her victory in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” and the plane was met with a water salute on landing. Eurovision’s official site lists DARA as the winner of the 70th contest and says the result gave Bulgaria its first-ever victory in the competition. ### When did DARA get back to Bulgaria, and what did the reception look like? Sofia Airport said DARA’s arrival turned the airport into a celebration scene, with supporters gathering to welcome her home after the final in Vienna. The airport’s account described the moment as a “triumphant welcome” for Darina Yotova, the singer known professionally as DARA. (sofiaairport.bg) BTA reported that DARA returned from Vienna on Sunday, May 17, just hours after the final, and was welcomed by Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, members of Bulgarian National Television’s management board and numerous fans. To Vima separately reported a festive airport celebration in Sofia after the win. (sofiaairport.bg) ### What exactly did she win in Vienna? Eurovision’s official Vienna 2026 page says DARA won the contest for Bulgaria with “Bangaranga” at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria. The site says the grand final was held on May 16 and identifies the 2026 edition as the 70th Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision’s Bulgaria country page says the win was Bulgaria’s first since the country debuted in the contest in 2005. (bta.bg) Rolling Stone also described the result as a surprise victory, with DARA and “Bangaranga” taking the title at the 2026 contest. ### Who is DARA beyond the Eurovision result? Eurovision’s artist profile identifies DARA as Darina Yotova and says she is one of Bulgaria’s best-known pop musicians. (eurovision.com) The profile says she has had multiple No. 1 songs on the Bulgarian Airplay Chart, has amassed more than 80 million listens and views across her songs and videos, and released the album “ADHDARA” in 2025. (eurovision.com) A separate Eurovision feature published after the final described the win as a historic breakthrough for Bulgaria and presented it as a defining moment in DARA’s career. That framing came from Eurovision’s own post-contest coverage rather than from Bulgarian officials. ### What is known about “Bangaranga”? Eurovision said “Bangaranga” was Bulgaria’s selected entry for Vienna 2026 and credited the song to Anne Judith Wik, Cristian Tarcea, Darina Nikolaeva Yotova and Dimitris Kontopoulos. (eurovision.com) The song was chosen after Bulgaria’s national final on January 31, according to Eurovision’s pre-contest coverage. Eurovision’s participants page and winner listing both show DARA performing “Bangaranga” for Bulgaria in Vienna. (eurovision.com) Those pages now identify her entry as the contest winner. ### Why did the homecoming draw so much attention? Bulgaria’s country page on Eurovision now lists one victory, with DARA’s 2026 result recorded as the country’s first. (eurovision.com) That gave the airport reception a national significance beyond a standard artist arrival, with public officials and broadcaster representatives joining fans at the terminal. Novinite reported that relatives, media and supporters were at the airport, while Sofia Airport published photos and a statement marking the arrival as a historic moment for Bulgaria. (eurovision.com) ### What comes next after the Sofia celebrations? Eurovision’s news feed says Malta will host the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2026, the next confirmed event on the organization’s calendar linked from the Vienna 2026 coverage. (eurovision.com) The Vienna 2026 winner pages and Bulgaria country page continue to list DARA and “Bangaranga” as the official result of this year’s contest. (eurovision.com) (novinite.com)