DARA brings the Bulgarian Kukeri tradition to the Eurovision 2026 stage in Vienna with a powerful first rehearsal for “Bangaranga”.
Bulgaria’s first rehearsal for Eurovision 2026 opened today at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, promising to be one of the most talked-about moments of the contest. DARA arrived to open the second semi-final with the song “Bangaranga“, accompanied by a dance troupe creating a sense of absolute madness on stage. European audiences are set to witness a powerful display that merges ancient tradition with dark, modern pop.
Bulgaria’s First Rehearsal: more details
The performance begins with a visual sequence reminiscent of iconic shows from recent years, but it quickly becomes clear that this is something entirely different. The dancers appear out of control, channeling the ancient Bulgarian Kukeri tradition, which is intended to exorcise evil spirits and clear dark energies. The rapid movements and facial expressions of the team in Vienna create immediate tension, signaling an extraordinary musical purification ritual.
The singer is presented as the protagonist leading the ritual, dressed in a black skirt, high boots, and a pink top with matching fur-trimmed gloves. The main stage in Vienna features a house structure placed in a style reminiscent of “The Wizard of Oz”, from which the artist and her dancers break free throughout the song. The combination of vivid colors and a mysterious atmosphere creates a strong visual contrast that highlights the Bulgarian representative from the very first moment of the evening.
Toward the end of the song, “Bangaranga” undergoes a refreshing musical change (Revamp), turning into an energetic display of driving out the darkness. The choreography becomes more synchronized and tight, symbolizing the victory over the evil spirits presented at the beginning. Bulgaria is aiming as high as possible with a performance that leaves no room for doubt regarding the vocal and stage capabilities of the artist.
Whether this exorcism ritual will be enough to grant Bulgaria a ticket to the Grand Final remains to be seen.
Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026
“Bangaranga” is the song that will be performed by the singer DARA, which will represent Bulgaria as song number 1 in the second semi final on May 14th, 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 is performed entirely in English.
Currently, Bulgaria is ranked 14th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
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”.
