Bulgaria at Eurovision: from eleven failures to hosting
Bulgaria missed the final in its first eleven attempts. Then it finished second, and then it won.
The short answer
Bulgaria debuted at Eurovision in 2005 and failed to reach the final eleven times before Poli Genova finished fourth in 2016 and Kristian Kostov finished second in 2017; Bulgaria won for the first time in 2026 with Dara's "Bangaranga".
Bulgaria's Eurovision record divides cleanly into three eras, and the first one is long and unrewarding.
2005–2015: eleven attempts, no final
Bulgaria debuted in Kyiv in 2005 with Kaffe's "Lorraine" and did not qualify. Nor did the next ten entries, with a single exception in 2007 when Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankoulov reached the final with "Water" and finished fifth — still the country's only final appearance of the era. BNT withdrew entirely in 2014 and 2015, citing cost.
2016–2017: the turn
Poli Genova returned in 2016 with "If Love Was a Crime" and finished fourth, Bulgaria's best result to that point. The following year Kristian Kostov's "Beautiful Mess" finished second in Kyiv — the highest placing Bulgaria had ever achieved, and at seventeen he was the youngest performer in the field.
The shift was not luck. BNT had changed how it selected, moving from an open national final to internal selection with experienced production behind it.
2026: the win
Dara won the 2026 contest with "Bangaranga", Bulgaria's first victory in twenty appearances. Under EBU rules the winning country's broadcaster stages the following contest, which is why BNT is hosting the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.
The host city has not been announced. Sofia and Burgas are the two cities on BNT's shortlist, with a decision expected by the end of July 2026.
FAQ
When did Bulgaria first take part in Eurovision?
Bulgaria debuted in 2005 in Kyiv, with Kaffe and the song "Lorraine", which did not qualify from the semi-final.
What is Bulgaria's best result before winning?
Second place in 2017, with Kristian Kostov and "Beautiful Mess" — at the time the highest placement Bulgaria had ever achieved.
