For the first time: Sacha Jean-Baptiste and Fredrik “Benke” Rydman will join forces to direct DARA for Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
It seems that Bulgaria does not intend to leave anything to chance for Eurovision 2026. In a post published by the esteemed Swedish director Sacha Jean-Baptiste, it was revealed that she and Fredrik “Benke” Rydman will join forces for the first time to direct the performance of the Bulgarian singer, pop star DARA.
“We are very happy and excited to unite forces for Bulgaria and the superstar DARA,” Jean-Baptiste wrote on her Instagram account. “We have created something ‘BANGARANGA’ together and we cannot wait to share it with you!”
הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם
The Masterminds Behind the Biggest Victories
This is a historic collaboration, as both creators are considered the most successful and influential directors in Eurovision over the past decade, each boasting an almost endless list of credits.
Rydman is the man behind some of the most unforgettable moments on stage: he directed the massive performance of Käärijä, which finished in second place in 2023 with a record-breaking public vote, “Heroes” by Måns Zelmerlöw, which won in 2015, and “The Code” by Nemo, which won in 2024.
Conversely, Jean-Baptiste is credited with the second victory of Loreen with “Tattoo” in 2023. Her rich resume also includes the iconic performance of Eleni Foureira with “Fuego” (in English: “Fire”), the second-place finish of Kristian Kostov for Bulgaria in 2017, as well as successful performances for Cornelia Jakobs, Destiny, and Luca Hänni along with dozens of other representatives over the years.
The Road to Vienna Leads Through Athens and Stockholm
Currently, DARA is on a particularly tight schedule. She is staying in Athens for vocal rehearsals under the guidance of the famous vocal coach Victoria Halkiti. At the same time, she has flown to Stockholm several times to work on the staging of the song together with Rydman and Jean-Baptiste. According to a report by the Greek website Eurovisionfun, Rydman is even expected to arrive in Athens in the coming days to perform final polishes on the Bulgarian performance.
Before arriving in Vienna, the singer will perform this coming weekend at Eurovision pre-parties in London and Romania. Afterward, she will return for final preparations in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and land in Vienna on Sunday, May 3rd, ahead of her first rehearsal on the Eurovision stage planned for the following day.
This Season’s Busiest Directors
Bulgaria is not the only country that will enjoy the golden touch of the Swedish directors this year. As previously published, Jean-Baptiste will also direct the performance of the Cypriot singer, Antigoni.
Meanwhile, Fredrik Rydman is not resting for a moment: besides working with Bulgaria, he is also responsible this year for the staging of the Swiss representative for Eurovision, Veronica Fusaro. For both directors, this is a particularly busy year, where they are expected to present some of the most impressive visual displays on the competition stage in Vienna.
DARA – Who Are You?
DARA, whose full name is Dara Nikolaeva Yotova, is one of the most prominent pop singers of her generation in Bulgaria. She rose to public attention in late 2015 after reaching the final of the Bulgarian version of The X Factor. Since then, she has established herself as a leading figure in the national pop scene.
She launched her solo career in 2016 with the hit “K’vo ne chu“, which topped the Bulgarian charts and later received an international English-language version titled “Onto You“. In the years that followed, she released a series of successful singles, appeared on major television productions such as the Bulgarian edition of “Dancing with the Stars”, and became widely recognized beyond music audiences.
Since 2021, she has served as a mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria, where she has guided contestants to victory on two occasions. Now, she is set to take the international stage as she represents Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026 with her entry, “Bangaranga”.
Bulgaria in Eurovision 2026
“Bangaranga” is the title of the song to be performed by DARA, which will represent Bulgaria as the first performance in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria. The song was written and composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Cristian Tarcea. While this is the performer’s first Eurovision entry, it marks the 15th song in the contest for composer Dimitris Kontopoulos.
The song “Bangaranga” is an expressive pop-dance anthem that channels the voice of a bold, fearless, and unapologetically dominant woman – someone who chooses to lead rather than follow. Its theme resonates with the values of female empowerment and individuality. For DARA, the song acts as a mantra of explosive energy and a call for a positive riot, designed to captivate the audience with a relentless rhythm and a magnetic presence.
Currently, Bulgaria ranks 13th in the Eurovision betting charts.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Bulgaria’s 15th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Bulgaria joined the competition in 2005 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2017 when the singer Kristian Kostov finished in second place with the song “Beautiful Mess”.
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Noy Yehoyada is an Israeli journalist and content creator at the EuroMix team since 2024, bringing a personal, feminine, and LGBTQ+ voice into the Eurovision sphere. A devoted Eurovision fan since the age of 16, she plays an active role in covering the contest—including on-site reporting at Eurovision 2025 in Basel and across European pre-party events. Alongside her writing and commentary, Noy plans the editorial schedule for the website, closely tracks national selections and song reveals, participates in live broadcasts, and creates digital content focusing on representation, musical diversity, and emotional connections.
Beyond her work at EuroMix, Noy has over six years of experience in the cosmetics and pharma industries, with a background in sales, personal consulting, and managing beauty departments. She enjoys pop, rap, contemporary art, and traveling in Europe—and especially loves songs that make her want to dance, as well as those that tell a story.
