Philipp Kirill claims credit for Bulgaria's Eurovision 2026 win, DARA pushes back

Russian singer‑songwriter Philipp Kirill posted on Instagram asserting that he was the decisive factor behind Bulgaria’s Eurovision 2026 victory, writing “I won this contest”. He said he had introduced an investor to the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and helped secure the country’s participation.

Eurovision winner DARA responded, thanking her creative team and noting that the hit song “Bangaranga” was written in 2023 during the Sofia Songwriting Camp. She emphasized that the success resulted from the collective work of composers, producers and other professionals, not Kirill’s alleged involvement. Media commentators linked Kirill’s claims to a pattern of Russian propaganda aimed at sowing division.

The dispute highlights differing narratives over the contributors to Bulgaria’s first Eurovision triumph and has sparked discussion on the influence of external figures in cultural events.