Burgas: The coastal city of Burgas will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year, it was announced at a joint press conference of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) here on Thursday, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). The two semifinals will take place on May 11 and 13. The final will be held on May 15.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, four Bulgarian cities expressed an interest in hosting Eurovision 2027 and submitted bids: Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv, and Sofia. The selection process began in June, after BNT held an information meeting with representatives of the four municipalities that had expressed interest in hosting the contest.
A committee comprising representatives of BNT and the European Broadcasting Union, as well as experts, reviewed the bids and assessed the technical specifications of the proposed venues, their compliance with EBU requirements, and the contest's production standards. During the evaluation process, Varna and Plovdiv were eliminated, leaving Burgas and Sofia in the running, according to the international evaluation committee.
At Thursday's press conference, BNT Director General Milena Milotinova said that, in addition to the two semifinals and the final in May 2027, there will be six pre-contest shows. Information about them will be announced in stages as details are finalized.
Speaking to BTA, Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov said Arena Burgas, the host venue, would undergo a complete transformation. Improvements will be made to the venue's acoustics and visitor comfort, while infrastructure upgrades will also be carried out across the city.
Milotinova highlighted that it is not unprecedented for a non-capital city to host the event, citing examples like Basel, Malmo, Liverpool, Rotterdam, and Turin. She emphasized the commitment to perform at a high level and ensure Burgas is remembered as a successful host of this global music event.
The international evaluation committee's comprehensive assessment found that Burgas met all necessary requirements. Milotinova expressed BNT's intention to involve all bidding cities in additional events due to their quality proposals and commitment.
Nikolov stressed Burgas's experience as a tourist destination, which will aid in hosting Eurovision successfully. He detailed plans for event locations, including the Sea Garden, and emphasized efforts to ensure connectivity through Burgas Airport.
Nikolov mentioned that Burgas Airport is expected to handle at least 21 flights per hour, accommodating about 18,000 passengers, with support from the national carrier and additional options through Istanbul and Varna Airports.