Bulgaria secured a surprise victory at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. Dara claimed the win with her song Bangaranga at the 70th annual event held in Vienna.
The win marked Bulgaria's first Eurovision victory since joining the competition in 2005. The country had skipped the previous three contests before returning this year amid several nations opting out over Israel's participation.
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Bulgaria has won the Eurovision 2026 contest in Vienna with Dara performing Bangaranga. France, represented by Monroe with her song Regarde !, finished in 11th place with 158 points.
Following DARA's selection as performer in January, Bulgaria has chosen 'Bangaranga' as her song for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The winner emerged from a national final on February 28 organized by broadcaster BNT, where DARA performed three tracks and 'Bangaranga' topped jury and public votes.
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Bulgarians welcomed home singer Dara on Sunday after her surprise victory in the Eurovision Song Contest with the track Bangaranga. The win marks Bulgaria's first success in the competition. Crowds gathered at Sofia airport to celebrate the achievement.
More than 1,000 artists including Brian Eno, Massive Attack and Sigur Rós have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. They criticize the European Broadcasting Union for allowing Israel to compete for the third year amid its actions in Gaza. The letter demands that broadcasters, performers and fans refuse participation until Israel's broadcaster KAN is banned.
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Romania's entry for Eurovision 2026, 'Choke Me' by Alexandra Căpitănescu, has drawn criticism from anti-sexual violence campaigners for appearing to glamorise sexual strangulation. The song repeats the phrase 'choke me' 30 times and has prompted online calls for its disqualification or modification. While some view the lyrics as metaphorical, experts highlight health risks associated with the practice.
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On March 5, Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen received the title of Ambassador of Culture of the Turkic World at the Astana Opera theater. He became the second person globally to earn this honor, following Turkish Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar. The ceremony also recognized actress Samal Yeslyamova for her contributions to Turkic cinema.