Eurovision 2026 Winner DARA Won With Song Allegedly Co-Written by Kremlin-Linked Hitmaker

Editor’s Note: Following publication of this article, social media users noted that the “Z” imagery referenced in a previously mentioned Instagram post likely related to the stage production of Zorro, in which DARA had participated. References to the post have since been removed from the article. DARA did not comment.

Bulgarian singer DARA won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 with Bangaranga, a track co-written by Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos, who previously worked on several Russian Eurovision entries alongside Russian singer Philipp Kirkorov, a public supporter of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

According to Eurovision’s official credits, Kontopoulos was among the writers of Bangaranga, Bulgaria’s winning entry at Eurovision 2026.

Kontopoulos previously co-wrote Russia’s Eurovision songs You Are the Only One for Sergey Lazarev in 2016 and Scream in 2019. He also worked on Russia’s 2014 Eurovision entry Shine for the Tolmachevy Sisters. Many of those projects were developed together with Kirkorov, who played a major role in Russia’s Eurovision campaigns for years.

According to information circulating online after the Eurovision final, Kontopoulos also appeared to maintain ties with the Russian entertainment industry after 2022. Social media users pointed to an Instagram story reportedly posted by the composer from Moscow’s Live Arena on October 19, 2025, during a concert involving Sergey Lazarev and Kirkorov.

Additional videos circulated online after the final showing Kirkorov discussing Bulgaria’s Eurovision performance and claiming that his team had participated in preparing DARA’s stage production.

Neither DARA nor Bulgaria’s public broadcaster BNT publicly commented on Kirkorov’s statements regarding alleged involvement in the production of the Eurovision performance.

The composer has long been associated with the Eurovision songwriting group unofficially referred to by fans as the “Dream Team,” which created entries for Russia and several other countries during the 2010s.

Kontopoulos also previously worked with Ukrainian-born singer Ani Lorak, who continued her career in Russia after 2014. Between 2008 and 2009, Lorak recorded material for her album Solntse at Kontopoulos’ VOX Recording Studios in Athens, where the composer served as songwriter and producer, while Kirkorov acted as executive producer.

Social media users also highlighted photographs and videos posted on Kontopoulos’ Instagram account showing appearances in Moscow and on Red Square after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

According to Eurovision organizers, DARA received 516 points in the final, including 312 points from viewers, securing Bulgaria’s first Eurovision victory in the country’s history.

Earlier, British lawmakers criticized Eurovision director Martin Green after he said Russia could theoretically return to the contest if a Russian broadcaster demonstrated independence from the Kremlin, despite the ongoing war against Ukraine.

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