The victory of DARA at the adult contest earlier this year seems to have set a new standard, as Naré takes the Junior Eurovision trophy to Armenia with another upbeat pop anthem.
The year 2026 is shaping up to be the year that upbeat, infectious pop completely took over the Eurovision world. Yesterday (Saturday), the 24th Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malta, concluding with Naré taking the trophy to Armenia with the song “!BOO“. This completed a fascinating double: both the main contest and the junior edition were conquered this year by rhythmic pop entries that share striking similarities. This raises the question – has the era of ballads come to an end, with pop poised to replace it?
The DARA Effect: From the Eurovision Stage to Grammy Nominations
It is impossible to ignore the striking similarities between the Armenian entry and the winner of Eurovision 2026, DARA from Bulgaria, who even performed on the contest stage in Malta as a guest artist. The fierce attitude, the explosive energy on stage, the uplifting musical style, and even the fashion choices feel like a direct continuation of the same artistic line.
While previous Eurovision winners, like Lou Deleuze from France who won the junior version in 2025 and JJ who won the adult version that same year, both with powerful ballads, tended to lower their profile after their victories, the Bulgarian singer proved that a catchy pop song works big time – and she is here to stay. Since her win, DARA has not stopped conquering stages worldwide and has even earned nominations in no less than four categories at the upcoming 2027 Grammy Awards.
The End of the Ballad Era? When Rhythm Beats Jury Favorites
The parallel success of the two entries raises an intriguing thought: do these victories officially open the door and give more space to lighthearted pop acts combined with intricate choreography? Historically, ballads with impressive vocal performances were considered jury favorites and a safe recipe for success. However, at the latest Junior Eurovision, it became evident that emotional ballads considered clear favorites – like the Spanish entry, which finished second despite leading the betting odds by a massive margin – failed at the moment of truth against the energy of Armenia and the elaborate staging, which drew many parallels to the Bulgarian performance in Vienna.
It is hard not to wonder whether the victory this past May influenced the mindset of viewers and juries alike, paving the way for a pop victory in the junior edition of the same year.
Persistence Pays Off: Naré’s Long Road to Victory
For the Armenian singer, this victory is especially sweet and comes after a long journey. The artist shared that she had tried to represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision three times in the past, and only succeeded this time. The persistence paid off, and it seems the winning formula of the year is clearer than ever: rhythm, charisma, and pop that you just cannot get out of your head. Will we see changes in the balance of pop-ballad entries submitted to the contest in 2027 as a result? Time will tell.
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