EBU Executive Supervisor Martin Green met with BNT and Bulgarian government officials to launch preparations for Eurovision 2027.
Following the historic victory of Dara with the hit song “Bangaranga” at the 2026 contest in Vienna, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is hitting the ground running ahead of the next edition to be held in Bulgaria. This week, the Executive Supervisor of the contest, Martin Green, arrived for an official visit to the country, meeting with senior government officials and the local national broadcaster, BNT, to share fascinating details about what lies ahead in the coming year.
In an interview with the morning show of the Bulgarian national broadcaster, Green did not hide his enthusiasm about the fact that the competition is heading to a brand-new destination.
“It is very exciting for us that Eurovision is coming to a country it has never been to before,” Green stated. “There is something very special about working in a country and a city that are hosting for the very first time. I think we will see a level of euphoria and excitement that is rarely witnessed.“
Green revealed that the host city selection race in Bulgaria has already begun, noting that there are already prominent contenders on the table: “We absolutely love the fact that four cities want to host the event. Ultimately, Bulgaria and the national broadcaster BNT will make the final decision, as is the case everywhere. But even the three cities that are not chosen will benefit from this—there will be major public events and giant screens, because this is an event in which all of Bulgaria is going to take part.”
The Official “Welcome Pack” Handed Over
Green’s visit also included meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Ivo Hristov, and the Director General of BNT, Milena Milotinova. During the meeting, the Bulgarian national broadcaster was presented with the official EBU “Welcome Pack”, which contains all the logistics guidelines and requirements for hosting.
What particularly surprised the EBU leadership was the blistering pace at which the Bulgarians began working. Green offered them rare praise:
“Bulgaria has impressed us with an exceptionally fast response and a super-professional approach to the preparations. We have never seen a similar case in the history of the contest! This gives us every reason to expect a successful organization and an unforgettable cultural event.“
Deputy Prime Minister Hristov took the opportunity to thank Dara once again for the victory, emphasizing that hosting is “an extraordinary opportunity to showcase Bulgarian culture and our creative potential to the world, alongside the long-term economic and reputational benefits it will bring to the country.”
Milotinova accepted the guidelines package and added: “We are thrilled to host the next Eurovision and are grateful for the support. I believe that with combined forces, we will ensure that Bulgaria will be an excellent host.”
Eurovision by the Numbers: The Scale of the Production
To illustrate the magnitude of the challenge facing the host city, Green provided a glimpse into the massive numbers behind a Eurovision production:
-
7 Consecutive Weeks: “Unlike many award ceremonies that use an arena for just a few days, we need to occupy it for seven full weeks,” Green explained.
-
14,000 Accredited Personnel: The production, delegations, performers, and media personnel require the construction of a massive press center.
-
100,000 Visitors: This is the expected scale of the crowd anticipated to visit the various Eurovision events in the host city.
-
27 Specialized Cameras: Operating simultaneously in the arena to deliver the live broadcast.
“Do not forget that Eurovision is first and foremost a television show,” Green concluded. “Only a relatively small number of people will be lucky enough to secure tickets, but everything we do must serve those who watch the show on television at home.”
The Three Critical Phases of Preparation
Green outlined the three critical stages of the upcoming preparations:
-
The Summer Season: The quiet planning phase. “It might look calm on the surface because most of the work is done behind the scenes. If the summer planning is not done correctly, everything that follows will suffer.” The host city will also be selected during this phase.
-
Late Summer to Christmas: The development phase, during which every aspect of the production is prepared to enter the new year with a clear vision of how the event will look.
-
Beginning of the New Year: The start of physical construction of the infrastructure inside the arena and preparing the host city ahead of May.
“The key will be combining our international expertise with the immense talent that already exists in Bulgaria, which is known for an excellent television and film industry. We will work side by side,” the Eurovision Executive Supervisor promised.
As the Bulgarians work around the clock alongside senior EBU officials to mount a historic production, international fans can follow the tense race between the cities, eagerly await the official host city announcement, and begin planning their trips to the Balkans for next spring.
Bulgaria in Eurovision 2026
“Bangaranga” is the song performed by the singer DARA, which represented Bulgaria in Vienna, Austria. DARA won the contest and got 516 points in the final. The song was written and composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Cristian Tarcea. While this is the performer’s first Eurovision entry, it marks the 15th song in the contest for composer Dimitris Kontopoulos. The song is performed entirely in English.
Eurovision 2026: This was Bulgaria’s 15th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Bulgaria joined the competition in 2005 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2026 when the singer Dara finished in first place with the song “Bangaranga”.
Email: [email protected]
Roie is a journalist, content creator, and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. His extensive knowledge and in-depth familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
