Bulgaria allocates €1.2 million for independent cultural events around Eurovision 2027, extending celebrations beyond host city Burgas.
The Bulgarian celebration: The Bulgarian government is taking an unprecedented step to allow Eurovision-related events to take place across the entire country, rather than exclusively in the host city, as has traditionally been the case.
As preparations for Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria, gather momentum, the government is spearheading an unprecedented initiative. During a meeting of the Bulgarian Parliament’s Committee on Culture, Minister of Culture Evtim Miloshev announced that the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture had allocated €1.2 million for events accompanying the main Eurovision shows.
The initiative is particularly groundbreaking because it separates Eurovision-related cultural activities from the local municipality’s responsibilities, effectively allowing events to take place throughout the country, including in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, which lost their bids to host the contest.
According to the minister, the budget reserved at this stage is intended exclusively to finance satellite events surrounding the main competition. Although the final number of projects to receive funding has yet to be determined, each selected project or event will be eligible for financial support of up to €100,000. Miloshev clarified that the selection process would not be arbitrary but would instead be subject to strict oversight. “The events will be approved according to a specific procedure by a professional committee,” Miloshev stressed during the meeting, adding that “only those that are suitable for promoting Bulgarian culture and the country will be selected.” The ministry reports that interest among cultural organizations and creative professionals is already very high, with the first proposals for activities beginning to arrive.
The initiative marks an unusual development in the history of the competition. For the first time, a host country is establishing a separate, dedicated budget line within its Ministry of Culture, devoted entirely to grants for independent cultural projects and completely separate from the overall budget for the contest’s production and infrastructure.
How Does Bulgaria’s Model Compare With Previous Years?
Unlike previous editions, in which local authorities and the organizing teams managed the contest’s official and accompanying events as a single operation, Bulgaria has opted for a more transparent, decentralized approach that directly supports local creators. What makes the Bulgarian model distinctive is the clear separation between the general hosting budget, covering infrastructure, security and the arena, and a dedicated grant fund for independent events.
Eurovision 2025 (Basel, Switzerland): The host city’s budget stood at approximately 35 million Swiss francs (around €37.3 million). This substantial sum covered security infrastructure, the Eurovision Village and EuroClub venues, as well as street parties across the city.
Eurovision 2026 (Vienna, Austria): The City of Vienna set aside a budget of approximately €22.6 million, covering the establishment of official fan zones, cultural events at Rathausplatz, the city’s Town Hall Square, and all organisational infrastructure under the municipality’s responsibility.
Burgas, Host City of Eurovision 2027
Burgas won the bid to host next year’s contest, beating the proposal submitted by Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. This will be the first time Bulgaria hosts Eurovision, following the historic victory of singer DARA at Eurovision 2026 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)
The selected host arena can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators during music events. Following renovation work, the venue is expected to be adapted to Eurovision’s requirements and equipped to welcome large audiences.
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.
For Burgas, this will be the city’s first time hosting a Eurovision event. Sofia previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. The selected venue, Arena Burgas, has a capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators for music events. Unlike the previous edition, the host city is not the capital of the winning country.
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 2027: The 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Bulgaria, following the country’s historic win with the song “BAGARANGA” performed by DARA. This will be the first time the contest is hosted in Bulgaria.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-53-9514754
A writer and content creator with a strong specialization in the Eurovision scene, particularly across Eastern Europe and post-Soviet countries. His work highlights the artistry, storytelling, and cultural variety that define the contest, offering readers a deeper look into both established performers and emerging voices.
As a skilled translator and polyglot, he brings a unique linguistic and cultural understanding to his analysis and coverage..
