Eurovision 2027 show supervisor Ilias Kokotos praises preparations in Burgas, while DARA hints at surprises for Bulgaria’s hosting debut.
Greek producer Ilias Kokotos, who will serve as show supervisor for Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria, has promised a “fantastic” contest alongside Eurovision winner DARA. He made the remarks at the So Alive Music Conference.
Kokotos served as spokesperson and project manager for the Bulgarian delegation at Eurovision 2026, which Bulgaria won. He is also a project manager at the well-known Dream Team. In recent years, he has produced Greek and Cypriot Eurovision entries, including “Liar” by Silia Kapsis, “Die Together” by Amanda Tenfjord, and “Last Dance” and “SUPERG!RL” by Stefania.
At the event, Kokotos spoke positively about the cooperation between Bulgarian national broadcaster BNT and the municipality of Burgas, which is set to host the contest. According to him, preparations are progressing very well, with each party focused on its responsibilities and on organizing a successful competition. He also highlighted the benefits Bulgaria could gain from hosting Eurovision 2027: “This is excellent publicity for Bulgaria and a tremendous opportunity for the country,” he said.
Kokotos reiterated that he expects the event to be “fantastic,” explaining that his goal is to help deliver a show that Bulgarians will be proud of.
DARA also revealed at the event that she is planning surprises for Eurovision 2027, but did not share further details about the show.
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:
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First Semi-Final: May 11th (Tuesday)
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Second Semi-Final: May 13th (Thursday)
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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.
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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.
