BNT reveals a €20-30 million budget for Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria following DARA’s victory, as the host city race officially begins.

The historic victory of DARA with the song “Bangaranga” at Eurovision 2026 in Vienna brought immense pride to Bulgaria, and now the nation is preparing for the real challenge: hosting the competition on its soil next year. While some countries tend to fear the heavy expenses associated with hosting the contest, it seems that Bulgaria is embracing the opportunity with both hands.

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A Budget of €20 to €30 Million

In an interview with the morning show of the Bulgarian national broadcaster (BNT), the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Ivo Hristov, who heads the preparations for the event, revealed that the cost of organizing Eurovision 2027 is expected to range between €20 and €30 million. According to him, a dedicated budget line will be allocated to the competition, but the financial burden will not fall solely on the state treasury.

Hristov emphasized that the budget will also consist of participation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and national sponsors. “We expect a very strong return on investment,” Hristov said, noting that a significant surge in hotel bookings in the capital Sofia for next year is already being felt. According to him, the victory grants Bulgaria “exceptional opportunities to brand itself as a tourist destination, as a land of unique culture, spectacular nature, and a territory of significant talents.”

The Deputy Prime Minister did not forget to thank the teams that led the nation to the achievement: “We owe thanks to the management of BNT, to former Director General Emil Koshlukov and current Director General Milena Milotinova, who made the right decisions throughout the year to achieve this great Bulgarian victory. Above all, the gratitude goes to the talent of DARA, who, with her explosive energy, managed to sweep aside all the usual voting conditions of Eurovision, which, as we know, are often influenced by geopolitical considerations.”

Unprecedented Public Optimism

It seems the government’s enthusiasm is trickling down well to the citizens. A comprehensive poll conducted by the research institute Alpha Research presents an extraordinary picture of public support. Sociologists in the country report that such a strong positive charge is very rarely recorded in Bulgarian society. These are the main figures from the poll:

• 59% of Bulgarians believe the state and the national broadcaster BNT will successfully handle the organization of the contest.

• Another 36% expressed some doubts but still expect the event to be successful in the end.

• 72% of respondents believe hosting the competition will bring immense reputational benefits to the country.

• 63% foresee significant profits and growth in the tourism sector.

• Regarding the host city: 59% of the public chose the capital Sofia as their preferred destination. It is followed on the list by the coastal city of Burgas, and then Plovdiv and Varna.

   

Which City Will Host Eurovision 2027?

The big question that remains open is – where exactly will the contest take place? The national broadcaster BNT has not yet published the official bidding process, but as mentioned, the four major cities have already expressed strong interest.

While it currently appears that Sofia is the main favorite (as also reflected by the public’s desire in the poll) thanks to its logistical infrastructure and arenas that meet EBU standards, the frenzy surrounding it is already showing its signs: 99% of the available accommodations in the city on Booking.com for the projected Eurovision period are already sold out, and the remaining ones demand skyrocketing prices.

The early hysteria surrounding the hotels raises difficult questions. Although Sofia is infrastructurally prepared, it is far from being the most tourist-heavy city in Bulgaria, and it has fewer accommodations than the tourist coastal cities like Varna and Burgas, which host hundreds of thousands of tourists a year and can offer a much wider hotel supply.

Two more fascinating variables enter this battle that may shuffle the cards: first, the singer herself apparently prefers that the contest be held in Varna, her hometown. Second, the EBU has shown a tendency in recent years to move away from capitals in favor of secondary cities, as since 2018 the competition has been held in a capital city only twice (Lisbon, and Vienna for Eurovision 2026). It now remains to be seen which variables will be the most important for the organizers – it seems the choice will be much harder than thought at the beginning of the week.