Following Bulgaria's victory at Eurovision 2026, the country's broadcaster BNT initiated a host city selection process for the 2027 contest. Burgas and Sofia were the final candidates after Plovdiv and Varna were eliminated early on due to venue and infrastructure assessments.

Burgas Selected as Host City

On 13 August 2026, Burgas was confirmed as the official host city for Eurovision 2027. Arena Burgas, which opened in 2023 and can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators, will serve as the main venue. The event is slated for 11, 13, and 15 May 2027, with two semi-finals and a grand final.

Burgas' Strengths

  • Modern arena meeting EBU capacity standards
  • International airport and transport infrastructure
  • Extensive hotel accommodations in the city and nearby Black Sea region
  • Experience hosting large cultural events and international festivals

Sofia's Bid

Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, also presented a strong bid featuring Arena Sofia with nearly 18,000 seats and previous experience hosting Junior Eurovision 2015. The city highlighted its technical facilities, urban connectivity, and infrastructure including metro access and event spaces like Sofia Tech Park and National Palace of Culture. Despite initial accidental disclosure by BNT and the BBC, Sofia was ultimately not selected.

Selection Process and Criteria

The European Broadcasting Union's requirements guided the evaluation. Key criteria included venue capacity, technical specifications, accommodation availability, transport links, and organizational capabilities. BNT emphasized the impartiality and technical nature of the final decision.

"Thank you to Plovdiv and Varna for their passion for the Eurovision Song Contest and interest in hosting this event that unites millions of people around the world with the power of music," said Martin Green, ESC Director.

BNT Director General Milena Milotinova remarked, "This decision is based solely on the assessment of pre-established technical and infrastructure criteria, applied equally to all candidates."

Looking Ahead

Bulgaria will host its second Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, continuing to celebrate the country's growing involvement in the Eurovision community. Preparations will now focus on finalizing logistics and event production at Arena Burgas.