BNT confirms Sofia and Burgas as the final contenders to host Eurovision 2027, with the winning city set to be announced later this month.
Now it’s official – the race to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Bulgaria has entered its final stage. It has now been officially confirmed that only two cities – Sofia and Burgas – remain in contention for the right to host Europe’s biggest music event. As anticipation continues to build, Bulgaria’s national broadcaster BNT is expected to announce which city has secured the coveted hosting rights toward the end of July. The decision is one of the most closely watched milestones in the preparations for next May’s Eurovision Song Contest in Bulgaria.
Sofia Remains the Frontrunner
Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, is currently considered the leading candidate to host Eurovision 2027, with persistent reports suggesting the city has already emerged as the favorite. During a recent BNT broadcast, viewers briefly noticed the on-screen caption: “Canada will make its Eurovision debut in Sofia.” The incident immediately sparked speculation among Eurovision fans – was it an accidental reveal of the host city, or simply an insignificant production error?
Beyond the rumors, Sofia’s bid faces a genuine bureaucratic challenge. Reports from Bulgaria suggest the city may encounter difficulties meeting Eurovision hosting requirements because of the name of its proposed venue, Arena 8888, which previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. In September 2024, the arena signed a sponsorship agreement with online betting platform 8888.bg, a partnership that could potentially conflict with EBU regulations.
However, Eurovision has previously been held in sponsor-branded venues, including Arena Inalpi in Turin 2022 and the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool 2023. Even if the betting sponsorship becomes an issue, the venue’s name would likely be changed temporarily for the duration of the contest, as has happened during previous editions in 2011, 2016, and 2018.
In addition to these concerns, Sofia has a significantly smaller accommodation capacity than many previous Eurovision host cities and considerably fewer available hotel rooms than Burgas. That shortage could drive accommodation prices higher for fans planning to travel to the contest, despite Bulgaria generally being viewed as an affordable destination.
Burgas Offers Strong Infrastructure for Visitors
Burgas, Bulgaria’s summer capital on the Black Sea coast, boasts an arena comparable in size to Sofia’s proposed venue while offering significantly greater accommodation capacity. A larger supply of hotels would likely translate into lower prices for visitors.
That advantage, however, appears to carry less weight with Bulgarian decision-makers, as the country’s strongest transport links and infrastructure are concentrated in the capital. Burgas has submitted what many consider an excellent hosting proposal, outperforming Sofia in several key areas, yet many observers believe the outcome may already be effectively decided in favor of the capital.
Final Decision Expected This Month
According to BNT, the final decision will be announced toward the end of July. Alongside the winning host city, the exact date of the Eurovision 2027 Grand Final is also expected to be revealed – although it has likely already been leaked as May 15th.
The host city selection process officially began in June after BNT held an information meeting with representatives from four municipalities that had expressed interest in staging the contest. As Bulgaria’s public service broadcaster and a full member of the EBU, BNT is leading preparations for Eurovision 2027 in close partnership with the European Broadcasting Union.
The national broadcaster also played a key role in securing Bulgaria’s return to Eurovision 2026 after a three-year absence. As Eurovision fans know, Bulgaria went on to claim a historic victory in Vienna, earning the right to host the 2027 edition of the contest.
Eurovision 2027 is expected to attract thousands of visitors, international media crews, and millions of television viewers from across Europe and beyond, providing Bulgaria with an exceptional opportunity for international exposure, tourism growth, and economic promotion.
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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Ofek Jerassi is an Israeli reporter, editor, content creator, and commentator, specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He has developed his extensive expertise since childhood, becoming a close follower of the contest. For the past three years, he has served as a writer and editor for EuroMix—Israel’s largest Eurovision website and one of the world’s leading platforms in the field, with over 1.5 million users annually.
Ofek covered Eurovision 2025 on-site in Basel from the press center in the host city, providing EuroMix readers with firsthand experiences, professional analysis, and exclusive reactions from the audience, artists, and experts. His in-depth knowledge and broad familiarity with the Eurovision world are evident in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
In his personal life, Ofek is a medic and avid traveler. He writes out of a genuine love for Eurovision, placing strong emphasis on credibility, professional commentary, and presenting a diverse range of opinions.
