BREAKING: Burgas overtakes Sofia in the betting odds websites, becoming the leader in the race to host Eurovision 2027 in May
The past week has been full of dramatic developments surrounding the selection of the host city for Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria. As we have reported extensively this week, it all started with the delay of the host city announcement. After that, we tracked Burgas’s growing strength in the betting odds, rumors of an internal conflict over the host city surfaced, denials were issued by BTN, and now Burgas has finally done it and overtaken Sofia. This means that a city that started with almost zero chances climbed to about 30 percent this week, and is now leading the race with a massive chance of winning. As of now, Burgas has surged to a 68 percent chance of winning the hosting rights and continues to rise at this very moment.
Rumors of Internal Conflict and Official Denials in the Host City Race
Reports suggest conflicting interests regarding the Eurovision 2027 host city. The Director General of the Bulgarian TV network reportedly favors Sofia, while the government and the EBU prefer Burgas for political and promotional reasons. Both cities face different logistical challenges. However, the Bulgarian TV network has officially denied these rumors of an internal conflict, confirming that the selection process is still ongoing. An official announcement regarding the host city is expected next week.
The Surge to the Top
The current shake-up comes after a series of events that left fans in suspense. Until recently, Sofia was considered the leading and safe candidate to host the contest, but the delays in the official announcement created uncertainty that was directly reflected in the betting odds. Burgas capitalized on the momentum, closed the gap with the capital, and is now positioned as the favorite candidate to host the competition. After remaining stable around 47 percent throughout the day, Burgas rapidly surged in the last few hours to take a clear lead across the betting sites.
Burgas overtaking Sofia marks a significant shift, but the final decision still lies with the Bulgarian broadcaster (BNT) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The official announcement will ultimately determine where the contest will take place. Until that happens, the tight battle between the two cities continues to dominate the host city race.
Sofia vs Burgas: The Hosting Contenders
Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is currently the primary candidate to host Eurovision, with strong rumors suggesting it has already secured the bid. During a broadcast on the Bulgarian national broadcaster, a caption unexpectedly appeared reading: “Canada will make its debut in the upcoming contest in Sofia.” The incident immediately sparked curiosity among Eurovision fans, raising questions as to whether it was an early leak of the host city or merely a production error.
Beyond these rumors, the candidacy of Sofia faces a tangible bureaucratic hurdle. Reports in Bulgaria raise concerns that the city might fail to meet contest requirements due to the name of its proposed venue, “Arena 8888” (which previously hosted Junior Eurovision 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, previous contests have been held in venues named after sponsors, such as “Pala Alpitour” (Inalpi Arena) in Turin 2022 and “M&S Bank Arena” in Liverpool 2023. Even if issues arise regarding the gambling company, the venue’s name would likely be changed temporarily for the Eurovision period, as occurred in 2011, 2016, and 2018.
In addition to these challenges, Sofia faces a notable shortage of accommodations compared to previous host cities and its fellow contender. This scarcity could drive up prices for traveling fans seeking to attend the contest.
Burgas
Burgas, the bustling summer capital on the shores of the Black Sea, presents a hosting package that is very hard to ignore. First, the city boasts an advanced arena similar in size to the one in Sofia, though slightly smaller. Beyond that, the huge advantage of Burgas lies in its tourism infrastructure. It has an immense abundance of accommodations and hotels, and such a large supply guarantees much more affordable and accessible prices for the thousands of fans and delegations who will flock to the contest.
But the true advantage of Burgas, and what is likely shuffling the cards for the decision-makers, is the atmosphere. Eurovision is ultimately a massive festival of music, culture, and joy. Burgas comes alive at night, offering a rich nightlife scene and the energies of a young and vibrant city. In contrast, the capital Sofia is perceived as a much older, heavier, and even boring city compared to the dizzying pace offered by the coastal city.
Although it initially seemed that Sofia’s inherent advantage as a capital city, with its developed governmental infrastructure, would close the story in advance, the proposal from Burgas is simply better in the parameters that truly matter. The combination of a proper arena, cheap accommodation solutions, and a young party atmosphere that perfectly matches the DNA of Eurovision, is the winning formula. This is exactly why, according to our estimates at EuroMix, Burgas will do the unbelievable and snatch the hosting rights from Sofia at the very last minute.
A Crucial Decision Ahead: When Will the Host City Be Revealed?
The host city selection process officially opened last June after the Bulgarian national broadcaster held a briefing with representatives from the four local municipalities that expressed interest in hosting the contest: Burgas, Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna. Just over two weeks ago, it was officially confirmed that Sofia and Burgas are the final two cities competing for the hosting rights.
As a public broadcaster and full member of the European Broadcasting Union, BNT plays a leading role in organizing Eurovision 2027 in close partnership with the EBU. The Bulgarian national broadcaster actively secured Bulgaria’s participation in Eurovision 2026 following a three-year absence, leading to a historic victory in Vienna that earned the country the honor of hosting the upcoming edition.
Eurovision 2027 is expected to draw thousands of visitors, international media crews, and millions of television viewers across Europe and beyond, offering a significant opportunity for international visibility and tourism growth for Bulgaria.
“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 2027: This will be Bulgaria’s 16th 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]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Writer and content creator at EuroMix, providing cultural insights into the world of Eurovision. Talor is a second-generation Eurovision enthusiast who grew up attending family viewing parties. The 1999 Eurovision, at just five years old, was the event that shaped his love for the contest. He holds a BA degree in Culture – Creation and Production, and his articles combine academic knowledge with a passion for pop and trash, appreciating humor and clever references in the competition’s songs. He specializes in cultural and social analysis, offering in-depth commentary.
Outside the Eurovision world, Talor works as an independent content and media manager.
