Sofia unveils its official bidding plan to BNT for Eurovision 2027, detailing the Eurovision Village, Euroclub, and potential venue challenges.
Last week, Sofia, which is considered the frontrunner to host Eurovision 2027, officially submitted its bid to the Bulgarian national broadcaster (BNT) along with three other cities – Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv. On Monday, the Bulgarian capital – which is favored to win because of its proposed arena, Arena 8888 – revealed further details regarding the locations of the Eurovision Village, the Euroclub, the Opening Ceremony, and the Turquoise Carpet event.
Sofia’s Hosting Bid Revealed
The area surrounding the National Palace of Culture (NDK) will serve as the Eurovision Village. The Eurovision Village will host daily live performances by a variety of artists, meet-and-greets with country representatives, live broadcasts of the shows, food and merchandise stalls, and more. The Eurovision Village serves as the central hub for Eurovision celebrations during the contest week, connecting fans from around the world. The Opening Ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet events, which take place on the first day of Eurovision week, are also expected to be held within the same Eurovision Village complex.
The venue is subject to strict security guidelines from the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), which include, among other things, the option to set up fenced perimeters and security checkpoints.
One of the alternatives being considered for hosting the Eurovision opening week ceremony and the Turquoise Carpet is the square in front of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is considered one of Bulgaria’s most recognizable tourist landmarks.
The Euroclub venue is expected to be located at the “Toplocentrala” complex, which in recent years has become a regional center for contemporary art, focusing heavily on theater and music. The Euroclub serves as the official nightlife hub for Eurovision, hosting parties, performances, and events for artists, delegations, and fans throughout the contest week. Sofia’s plan is to allow the numerous fans to navigate easily between the various sites using an advanced metro system, public transportation, or on foot. The final decision regarding the city that will win the right to host Europe’s largest music event is expected to be announced towards late July.
The Race Has Begun
The CEO of the Bulgarian national broadcaster BNT, Milena Milotinova, wrote in a social media post:
“Four cities have submitted bids to host Eurovision in Bulgaria: Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, and Varna. BNT is not just looking for an arena where the largest music event will be held, but a partner city to accompany us all the way until May 2027. We have established a working group to review the proposals, which will begin its operations on Monday in accordance with the clear criteria and standards set by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). We will continue to update you on the progress of the process.”
The host city selection process officially opened last June, after the Bulgarian national broadcaster held a professional information meeting with representatives of the four local authorities that expressed interest in hosting the contest. As a public broadcaster and full member of the European Broadcasting Union, BNT plays a leading role in the preparation and organization of Eurovision 2027 in close partnership with the EBU. It is worth noting that the national broadcaster took an active part in securing Bulgaria’s participation in Eurovision 2026, returning to the contest after a three-year absence, and as everyone already knows – the country achieved a historic victory in Vienna, earning the prestigious right to host the upcoming edition.
Eurovision 2027 is expected to attract thousands of visitors, international media crews, and millions of television viewers from Europe and beyond, providing a golden opportunity for international visibility and unprecedented tourism and economic promotion for Bulgaria.
Sofia to Host Eurovision 2027?
Alongside the official announcement of the bid submissions, the name of the capital Sofia has generated significant buzz online in recent days. During a BNT broadcast titled “Eurovision 2027”, a caption suddenly appeared on screen stating: “Canada will make its debut in the upcoming contest in Sofia”. The incident immediately triggered a wave of speculation among fans – questioning whether this was an early leak of the host city or simply an insignificant production blunder.
Beyond these rumors, Sofia’s candidacy faces a genuine bureaucratic challenge: reports in Bulgaria raise concerns that the city might fail to meet the contest’s criteria due to the name of the arena included in its bid, Arena 8888 (which previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015). In September 2024, the arena’s management signed a sponsorship agreement with the online gambling platform 8888.bg, a partnership that could conflict with EBU regulations. However, contests have previously been held in venues named after corporate sponsors, such as “Inalpi Arena” in Turin 2022 and “M&S Bank” in Liverpool 2023. Even if issues arise regarding the gambling company, it is highly likely that the venue’s name will be temporarily changed for the duration of Eurovision, as occurred in the 2011, 2016, and 2018 editions. The final answer, as stated, will be revealed in the official announcement in the coming weeks.
On behalf of the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, a statement was released regarding the capital’s hosting bid:
“I have great respect for every city and my fellow mayors. I am convinced that each of the candidates will carry this responsibility with honor. Sofia is fully prepared to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, but more importantly – Bulgaria must present itself to the world in the best possible way, and we must all work together towards this goal, regardless of which city hosts the contest.”
Eurovision 2027 will take place for the first time in its history in Bulgaria, following the country’s victory in Eurovision 2026 with the song “Bangaranga” performed by the singer Dara.
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Tal Dahan – Journalist, radio broadcaster, and Eurovision content creator.
Tal Dahan is an Israeli journalist and editor specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest, working with the EuroMix editorial team for four years. Since 2022, she has provided regular on-site coverage of Eurovision from the host city, and from 2023 has also reported directly from the press room—offering the Israeli audience live updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth commentary.
Tal is a member of the Eurovision tribute and parody band “EuroFalsh,” a radio broadcaster, and a student of political science and communications.
She is considered one of Israel’s leading young Eurovision experts. In addition to covering the main contest, Tal has reported from Eurovision pre-parties and national selection events across Europe (in Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Madrid, and more), been interviewed by major media outlets in Israel and internationally, and presented Eurovision-themed podcasts and radio shows.
