Bulgaria’s tourism minister Ilin Dimitrov says Eurovision 2027 preparations in Burgas remain on track despite security rumours surrounding the Black Sea.
Recent rumours suggested that military tensions and drone attacks in the Black Sea could force the 71st Eurovision Song Contest to move to another location. Reports floated several scenarios, ranging from moving the event from Burgas to the capital, Sofia, to transferring it to another country. Official statements from key figures involved in the production have already sought to put those concerns to rest. Now, Bulgaria’s tourism minister has responded, saying: “Eurovision hasn’t even asked us about our security situation.”
Tourism minister reassures: Impact on tourism is negligible
According to Bulgarian Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov, Bulgaria has received no security-related enquiries or requests from the Eurovision production team. He said the main problem was “our own self-doubt.”
Dimitrov stated that maritime incidents involving ships in the Black Sea had not affected holiday bookings in Bulgaria at all. The ministry is monitoring the situation around the clock and working with local travel agencies responsible for more than 80% of inbound tourism to Bulgaria. According to Dimitrov, Tihomir Patarinski, head of the tourism office at the German Embassy, said bookings from the German market were actually increasing, with further growth expected during the peak season in December and January.
Dimitrov also sent a strong message from tourism professionals: We should be careful about the messages we send publicly regarding the country’s security. The reasoning is that, if a problem is created where none exists, no one can fix it afterwards. Bulgaria is a safe and peaceful destination, that wants to send positive messages.
The EBU, Municipality, and Broadcaster Reassure Fans
In an official statement published in the Bulgarian newspaper Bulgaria Dnes, the European Broadcasting Union addressed the regional security situation directly:
“Our thoughts are with the teams and families affected by the recent attacks in the Black Sea. The safety of everyone involved in the competition is our top priority. BNT and the EBU are closely monitoring the situation together with the Municipality of Burgas and local authorities. Preparations for Eurovision 2027 continue as planned.”
Mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov was equally quick to reassure the public, stating:
“Everything is fine, we have no concerns at all.”
This official confirmation validates earlier reporting by Eurovisionfun, which disclosed on October 11th that rumors regarding a venue relocation were unfounded. With official statements now backing up those reports, fans worldwide can rest assured that Burgas remains the official host city for Eurovision 2027.
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.
