Eurovision 2027 to Be Held in Bulgarian Seaside City Burgas
The Eurovision Song Contest 2027 will take place in Burgas, a seaside resort city on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) announced on Thursday, as VRT NWS also reported. The 71st edition of the world’s largest live music event will be staged at Arena Burgas, with the Grand Final scheduled for Saturday 15 May 2027 and two Semi-Finals on Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 May.
A Historic First for Bulgaria
This will be the first Eurovision Song Contest ever hosted in Bulgaria, following singer Dara’s victory at the 2026 contest in Vienna with the song “Bangaranga” — the country’s first-ever Eurovision win since its debut in 2005. Bulgaria previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Sofia, but this marks the country’s first time staging the main competition.
Burgas was selected following a competitive bidding process involving four Bulgarian cities. Plovdiv and Varna were eliminated in the first stage, leaving Burgas and Sofia as the final two candidates before Burgas was ultimately chosen. An international working group evaluated the bids based on infrastructure, venue and technical requirements, organizational and financial capacity, safety and security, transport and mobility, accommodation, and city activation concepts, according to Eurovisionworld.
A City Ready for the Spotlight
Burgas, Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city, is known for its beaches, parks, cultural life and vibrant summer events. The city has built a strong reputation for hosting music, arts and international cultural festivals, and its location on the Black Sea will offer Eurovision fans a unique setting for the competition.
The venue, Arena Burgas, opened in 2023 and is one of Bulgaria’s newest and most modern indoor arenas, with a capacity of up to 15,000 spectators for concerts. It is one of only two venues in Bulgaria that meet the capacity requirements for hosting the contest.
“Burgas brings something really special to the Eurovision Song Contest,” said Martin Green CBE, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest. “It is a vibrant, welcoming city on the Black Sea with a strong musical and cultural identity, and it has the ambition, infrastructure and passion needed to welcome the Eurovision family.”
Official Reactions
Milena Milotinova, Director General of BNT, called the selection “the beginning of the next key stage in Bulgaria’s preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027,” adding that BNT, the EBU and Burgas now face “an intensive period of collaboration” to deliver a contest that meets the high expectations of millions of viewers worldwide.
Dimitar Nikolov, Mayor of Burgas, described the selection as “an exceptional honour” and emphasized that the entire region is behind the effort. “This is not about one city hosting Eurovision,” he said. “This is Bulgaria hosting Eurovision — an entire community, united and inspired.”
Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna will also be involved in the accompanying programme of Eurovision events, building on the enthusiasm they demonstrated throughout the bidding process.
New Rules and Participation
Just one day before the host city announcement, the EBU introduced new rules allowing a winning country to be deemed unsuitable as host in cases of armed conflict, geopolitical tensions, or other security issues that could threaten the event. The rule change follows controversy over Israel’s participation and also applies to situations like Ukraine, where the UK hosted in 2023 on behalf of the winning country, as VRT NWS reported.
Nineteen countries have so far expressed interest in participating in the 2027 contest, including debutant Canada and returning North Macedonia. However, Belgium’s participation remains uncertain, with VRT seeking changes within the EBU regarding Israel’s participation, as Metro UK reported. A decision on Belgian participation is expected in autumn.
Economic Expectations
Hosting Eurovision has historically brought significant economic benefits to host cities. Liverpool 2023 generated an estimated €66 million in economic impact, while Malmö 2024 saw €40 million and Basel 2025 delivered €58 million. Vienna 2026 attracted 88,000 additional visitors and sold 160,000 hotel rooms, generating approximately €57 million in economic impact.
Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov highlighted the promotional value of the event, noting that over 1,000 journalists from around the world will cover the contest from Bulgaria.
What to Watch For
Fans wishing to attend the contest must register as Eurofan members to access ticket sales. Six Preview Shows will take place between Monday 10 May and Saturday 15 May 2027. EBU Member Broadcasters have until mid-October 2026 to formally submit their applications to participate.
As preparations begin for what promises to be an unforgettable Eurovision week on the Black Sea, all eyes will be on Burgas to deliver a contest that celebrates both Bulgarian culture and the unifying power of music. As Martin Green put it: “Together with BNT, the City of Burgas and our partners across Bulgaria, we are looking forward to creating an unforgettable Eurovision week in May and welcoming the world to Burgas.”