Reactions: the artists who missed the final

Road to Vienna: Bulgaria As the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna approaches, we continue our daily series of spotlights—today commencing the second semi-final with its first contestant: Bulgaria.   Dara: From X-factor to Eurovision Dara (born Darina Yotova) is one of Bulgaria’s most successful modern pop artists. Born in Varna in 1998, she first gained national recognition as a finalist on The X Factor Bulgaria in 2015, where she finished third and quickly became a household name. Breakthrough and Chart Success After signing with Virginia Records, Dara launched her career with the hit single “K’vo ne chu,” which topped the Bulgarian charts. She followed this with a string of successful releases, including “Rodena takava,” “Nedei,” and “Darbie.” Her energetic mix of pop and R&B, combined with a distinctive voice and strong stage presence, helped her achieve multiple number-one hits and over 80 million streams. Songs like “Thunder,” “Call Me,” and “Mr. Rover” further cemented her status, with the latter even gaining international attention. Television and Mentorship Dara expanded her career through television, appearing on Kato dve kapki voda and later becoming a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria. She quickly proved her talent as a mentor, winning the competition with her team in both 2022 and 2024. Albums and International Growth Her debut album Rodena takava (2022) confirmed her place at the top of the Bulgarian music scene. In 2025, she released ADHDARA, a more personal and internationally oriented project, featuring collaborations with global producers and songwriters. Eurovision 2026 In 2026, Dara won Natsionalna Selektsiya 2026, earning the right to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. With her experience, chart success, and international ambition, she enters the competition as a strong contender.       Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest   After a three-year break from the contest, Bulgaria returned for Eurovision 2026. Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and initially struggled to qualify for the final. However, since the mid-2010s, the country has experienced a strong resurgence, driven by modern pop productions and more competitive entries. This renewed success led to some of Bulgaria’s best-ever results, with standout performances by Kristian Kostov and Poli Genova. Despite these achievements, Bulgaria has also been absent from the contest multiple times due to financial and organizational reasons. The Bookmakers Bulgaria is currently 13th with the bookmaker, qualification for the final should be well within reach. But can they turn momentum into a Top 10 finish?