Bulgaria confirmed a 20 million euro budget for Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, as Deputy Prime Minister and BNT push host city preparations
Preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 are moving forward as the Bulgarian government officially confirmed the allocation of €20 million in public funding to host the event in the coastal city of Burgas next year. Following leaks from Bulgaria’s draft state budget in early July, Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov, who chairs the interagency committee organizing the event, officially confirmed the news after visiting the city with Mayor Dimitar Nikolov to review the initial stage of preparations.
Breakdown of the Initial Budget
The initial allocation of €20 million will be divided into two main categories:
-
€15 Million: Designated as the required financial guarantee to secure the organization of the contest.
-
€5 Million: Allocated immediately for urgent organizational needs and to launch public procurement procedures.
An additional budget will be included in Bulgaria’s state budget for 2027 and approved later this year. Hristov clarified that government support will extend beyond television production, covering deep investments in urban infrastructure, transport, accommodation solutions, and international tourism campaigns.
A Catalyst for Growth and International Branding
The Bulgarian government views the contest as a prime opportunity to upgrade the country’s standing as a tourist destination. “We in the government see Eurovision as an opportunity to brand Bulgaria, because we have everything to offer – the full range of tourism services. We offer delicious food, mountains, ski resorts, the sea and cultural and historical tourism, but we are still not as recognizable in the tourism market as Italy and Greece.” The government hopes hundreds of thousands of visitors will leave with a positive impression and encourage others to visit the country.
Why Burgas Instead of Capital Sofia?
The selection of Burgas sparked criticism among those who favored the capital city of Sofia, but Hristov dismissed the claims outright: “I do not accept the criticism regarding the choice of Burgas, as the city has long proven that it has a functioning economic model and that the changes are visible. In Sofia, we have had a management crisis in recent years, so the choice of Burgas is quite logical.”
He added that Director General of national broadcaster BNT Milena Milotinova is leading the technical side of the host city selection process, emphasizing top-tier safety and security infrastructure for all delegations and fans.
Security and Visitor Infrastructure as Top Priorities
For Eurovision fans, it is reassuring that Bulgarian authorities are placing high priority on safety and visitor infrastructure. Hristov stated that the state will take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Eurovision tourists, artists, and delegations. While describing Burgas as a safe city, he acknowledged that the expected influx of international visitors will require additional planning and appropriate security measures.
Host City Selection and Dates
On August 12th, it was revealed that Burgas won the bid to host the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, overtaking Sofia’s proposal. This will mark the first time Bulgaria hosts Eurovision, following the historic victory of DARA at Eurovision 2026, which took place in Vienna, Austria, last May.
Alongside the announcement of the host city, the dates for the contest were also revealed:
-
First Semi-Final: May 11th (Tuesday)
-
Second Semi-Final: May 13th (Thursday)
-
Grand Final: May 15th (Saturday)
For Burgas, this will be the first time hosting a Eurovision event, whereas Sofia previously hosted Junior Eurovision in 2015. The designated venue, “Arena Burgas”, can accommodate around 15,000 spectators during music shows. Unlike last year, the host city is not the capital of the winning country – a trend seen in contests between 2019 and 2025.
Burgas is the fourth-largest city in the country, with a population of approximately 189,086 as of December 2025.
According to a poll conducted on the EuroMix website, 67.62% of respondents selected Sofia as the most suitable city to host the competition. However, it appears that the European Broadcasting Union and BNT did not agree with the EuroMix audience’s choice, believing instead that Burgas possesses the appropriate infrastructure to host the contest.
Eurovision 2027: The 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, following the country’s first historic win with the song “Bangaranga” performed by DARA. This will be the first time the contest is hosted in Bulgaria.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
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.
