In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Nikolaeva and the family name is Yotova.

Dara
Дара
Dara in 2026
Dara in 2026
Background information
Born
Darina Nikolaeva Yotova

(1998-09-09) 9 September 1998 (age 27)[1]
Varna, Bulgaria
Genres
  • Pop
  • R&B
  • synth-pop
Occupation Singer
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active 2015–present
Label Virginia [bg]
Spouse
Ervin Ivanov
​
(m. 2025)​
[2]
Website thisisdara.com

Darina Nikolaeva Yotova (Bulgarian: Дарина Николаева Йотова; born 9 September 1998), professionally known as Dara (Дара; stylised in all caps), is a Bulgarian singer. She first rose to prominence in 2015 after reaching the final in the Bulgarian edition of The X Factor. In 2016, she released her debut single "K'vo ne chu" under Virginia Records [bg].[3] In 2026, she won the Eurovision Song Contest for Bulgaria with the song "Bangaranga", giving the country its first ever win in the competition.

Early life and education

Yotova was born on 9 September 1998 in Varna, Bulgaria. She graduated from the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts [bg], where she studied folk singing.[4]

She attended the Dobri Hristov National School of Arts in Varna, where she studied folklore singing using traditional Bulgarian vocal techniques.[5][1]

Career

2015–16: The X Factor

In 2015, Yotova took part in the Bulgarian edition of the reality series The X Factor, in which she finished third,[1] with the Bulgarian rapper Krisko as her mentor.

2016–24: Early career

Following her departure from The X Factor, Yotova signed a record deal with the Bulgarian music label Virginia Records and adopted the stage name Dara. In the summer of 2016, she released her debut single, "K'vo ne chu," accompanied by a music video. A few weeks later, the single peaked at the top of the Bulgarian charts, and an English-language version of the song, entitled "Onto You," was released on 29 September, directed at an international audience.[6]

On 12 March 2017, Dara released her second single entitled "Rodena takava," also accompanied by a music video.[7] A few months later, on 21 July, she made her first guest appearance on a single named "Nyama da si tragnesh s drug" by labelmates Plamen & Ivo alongside Bulgarian hip-hop duo Pavell and Venci Venc'.[8] On 29 September, Dara's third single "Nedei" was released on YouTube with an official music video.[9] On 20 June 2018, Dara released her fourth single entitled "Vse na men," along with a music video.

In early 2020, Dara starred in the TV show Kato dve kapki voda, the Bulgarian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar, finishing in third place in the final.[10]

Dara with her Eurovision Song Contest trophy (2026)

Since 2021, Dara has been a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria.[11] In 2022, on the ninth season, Jacklyn Tarrakci, a member of Team Dara, won the competition. This made Dara the winning coach. In 2024, on the eleventh season, Dara's artist Slaveya Ivanova won the competition, marking Dara's second win in four seasons as a coach.[12]

In April 2022, Dara released her debut album Rodena takava accompanied by a live performance in Joy Station, Sofia. In March 2023, Kai released "Rover," a remake of Dara's original "Mr. Rover," with his solo album Rover.[13] In the Spring of 2024 she participated in Dancing Stars, where she finished as the runner-up.[14][15]

2026: Eurovision Song Contest

Dara at dress rehearsal for Eurovision 2026 semi-final 2 in Vienna

In early 2026 Dara participated in the Bulgarian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. After winning the second show on 31 January 2026, she was selected to represent Bulgaria at the contest in Vienna.[16] The song with which she competed in Vienna, "Bangaranga," was selected on 28 February 2026.[17][18] Dara won Semi Final 2 and then went on to Eurovision with the song "Bangaranga," scoring 516 points[19] and giving Bulgaria its first win.[20][21] She also won the Marcel Bezençon Award for the Best Artistic Performance category, voted by the partcipating commentators.[22]

Dara was greeted at the Sofia airport by the mayor of Sofia and the minister of culture of Bulgaria

Personal life

Ervin Ivanov (2026)

Yotova married Ervin Ivanov, a Bulgarian doctor and pharmacologist, in February 2025.[23]

Discography

Dara discography
Studio albums 2
Singles 32
Music videos 21

Studio albums

Title Details
Rodena takava
  • Released: 25 March 2022
  • Label: Virginia [bg]
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Adhdara
  • Released: 19 September 2025
  • Label: Virginia
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BUL
Air.
[24]		 BUL
Dom.
Air.
[25]
"K'vo ne chu" 2016 — 6 Rodena takava
"Rodena takava" 2017 — 1
"Nedei" 7 1
"Vse na men" 2018 9 2
"BTW (Bye Bye)"
(with Livin R & Noisy)		 2019 — 3
"Sosa maje"
(with Virgo [it])		 — —
"Darbie" 7 1
"Hotel 5 zvezdi"
(with Pavell & Venci Venc' [it])		 — — Upgrade
"Ella Ella" 6 2 Rodena takava
"Ai Ai" 2020 3 1
"Mamacita" — —
"Cold as Ice" 2021 5 2
"Thunder" 1 1
"Call Me"
(with Matteo)		 2022 — 1 Non-album singles
"Mr. Rover" — 4
"Veche nyama kak"
(with Lubo Kirov)		 2023 10 1 Tseluni me
"Boginya" — 3 Non-album singles
"In My Head" 6 1
"Zaminavam" — 1
"Nyama da mi lipsvash"
(featuring Bobo)		 10 2
"Samo moi" 2024 — 2
"Zmiya"
(with Venci Venc' [it])		 — 3
"Kradets na mechti" 8 1
"Nishto poveche" 2025 9 1 Adhdara
"Barbie & Ken"
(with Virgo)		 — — Sauce Kid 4
"Nito zvuk" 10 1 Adhdara
"Da ne mojem" — 2
"Onche bonche" 2026 — 2
"Curse" — — Non-album singles
"This Is Me" — —
"Bangaranga" 3 1
"USK"
(with Molec [bg])		 — 10 Paraklis
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BUL
Air.
[24]		 BUL
Dom.
Air.
[25]
"Nyama da si tragnesh s drug"
(Plamen & Ivo featuring Dara and Pavell & Venci Venc')		 2017 — 3 Non-album singles
"Sreshtu men"
(Pavell & Venci Venc' featuring Dara)		 2018 — —
"My Time"
(Monoir featuring Dara)		 4 1
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

Year Title Director Artist(s)
As main performer
2016 "K'vo ne chu" Lyusi Ilarionov, Andrey Andreev
2017 "Rodena takava" Lyusi Ilarionov, Georgi Markov[26]
As featured performer
2017 "Nyama da si tragnesh s drug" Lyusi Ilarionov, Georgi Markov Plamen & Ivo featuring Dara, Pavell & Venci Venc'

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 BG Radio Music Awards [bg] Song of the Year "Nedei" Nominated [27][28]
Female Artist of the Year Herself Won
Lyrics of the Year "Nedei"
(written by herself and Pavel Nikolov)		 Nominated
2022 Song of the Year "Thunder" Nominated [29]
Female Artist of the Year Herself Nominated
Music Video of the Year "Thunder"
(directed by Stefan Marinov)		 Won
2025 Female Artist of the Year Herself Won [30]
2026 Marcel Bezençon Awards Artistic Award "Bangaranga" Won [31]

References

  1. ^ a b c Pons, Miguel (6 May 2026). "Who is DARA? Get to Know Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 entry". ESCplus. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  2. ^ "Bulgarian Eurovision Winner Dara Marries Doctor Ervin Ivanov". BalkanArena. 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  3. ^ "Дарина Йотова – Dara: Честити ми 18" [Darina Yotova – Dara: Happy 18th birthday]. Signal.bg (in Bulgarian). 11 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. ^ signal.bg, archived from the original on 11 August 2017, retrieved 19 September 2016
  5. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (17 May 2026). "Meet DARA, Bulgaria's first ever Eurovision Song Contest champion". The Independent. I attended the National School of Arts in Varna, where I specialised in folklore singing, which might surprise people who hear "Bangaranga" for the first time. But that training in traditional Bulgarian vocal technique, with all its microtones and emotional rawness, is absolutely in my DNA. It shaped the way I hear music and the way I use my voice, even when I'm making something that sounds nothing like folklore.
  6. ^ Dara – Onto You (Official HD). Virginia Records [bg]. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Dara – Rodena Takava (Official 4k). Virginia Records [bg]. 10 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Plamen & Ivo feat. DARA, Pavell & Venci Venc'- Nyama da si tragnesh s drug (Official Video). Virginia Records [bg]. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ DARA- Nedei (Official Teaser). Virginia Records [bg]. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Conte, Davide (15 May 2026). "🇦🇹 Eurovision 2026: Meet The Artists". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  11. ^ "Coaches in the 2021 Season of "Glasat na Bulgaria"". Glasat na Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  12. ^ "ГАЛЕНА И ИВАН ЛЕЧЕВ СЯДАТ НА ТРЕНЬОРСКИТЕ КРЕСЛА В ПРЕДСТОЯЩИЯ СЕЗОН НА "ГЛАСЪТ НА БЪЛГАРИЯ" ПО BTV". Glasat na Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  13. ^ "K-pop суперзвезда се влюби в песен на DARA – KAI представи своя версия на „Mr. Rover" | CITY Radio&TV – Хитове до скъсване!". CITY Radio&TV.
  14. ^ "Неделя и Атанас вдигнаха шампионската купа в „Dancing Stars" по bTV" [Nedelya and Atanas lifted the champion cup in „Dancing Stars“ on bTV]. Dancing Stars (in Bulgarian). bTV. 15 May 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Суперзвездите на България ще танцуват в „Dancing Stars"" [Bulgaria's superstars will dance in „Dancing Stars“]. Dancing Stars (in Bulgarian). bTV. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Dara will represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2026". Eurovisionworld. 31 January 2026. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  17. ^ "DARA ще представи България на „Евровизия 2026" с песента „Bangaranga"". BNT (in Bulgarian). 1 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Bulgaria to select DARA's song for Vienna". Eurovision Song Contest. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  19. ^ Bulgaria have won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Sky News. Retrieved 17 May 2026
  20. ^ Spivey, Matt; Burgess, Jack; Bushby, Helen; Saunders, Emma; Savage, Mark (16 May 2026). "Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 as UK comes last". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  21. ^ Oktawia (16 May 2026). "Bułgaria wygrywa Eurowizję 2026! Polska kończy na 12 miejscu" [Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026! Poland finishes in 12th place]. ESCSpot (in Polish). Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  22. ^ "The 2026 Marcel Bezençon Award Winners". Eurovision Song Contest. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  23. ^ "Омъжена жена ли е вече DARA". lifestyle.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  24. ^ a b Peak chart positions for singles in Bulgarian Airplay:
  25. ^ a b Peak chart positions for singles in Bulgarian Domestic Airplay:
  26. ^ DARA – Rodena Takava (Official Making). Virginia Records. 24 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ "Обявиха номинациите за наградите на "БГ радио" (снимки)". life.dir.bg (in Bulgarian). 11 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  28. ^ "ВИЖ победителите от Годишни Музикални Награди 2018 на БГ Радио". signal.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 June 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  29. ^ "Annual Music Awards 2022 of BG RADIO in Plovdiv – nominations". visitplovdiv.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  30. ^ "Annual BG Radio Music Awards Presented in Sofia". bta.bg. Bulgarian News Agency. 26 May 2025. Archived from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  31. ^ "The 2026 Marcel Bezençon Award Winners". Eurovision.com. EBU. 16 May 2026. Archived from the original on 16 May 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026.