Following Bulgaria’s historic victory at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with Dara and her song ‘Bangaranga’, the nation is now preparing to host the prestigious event in 2027. While Sofia is widely anticipated to be the primary host city, the coastal city of Burgas has officially thrown its hat into the ring, expressing a strong desire to welcome the competition.
Bulgaria triumphs at Eurovision 2026
Bulgaria celebrated a momentous occasion at the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, as talented artist Dara secured first place with her captivating song, ‘Bangaranga’. This victory marks a historic achievement for the country, earning it the right to host the subsequent edition of the competition in 2027.
Burgas stakes its claim for hosting rights
Despite the expectation that the capital, Sofia, will serve as the main host city, the Mayor of Burgas, Dimitar Nikolov, has publicly declared his city’s ambition to host Eurovision 2027. He suggested that ‘Arena Burgas’, a modern multi-functional indoor arena, could be a suitable venue, boasting a concert capacity of up to 15,000 people.
Mayor Nikolov conveyed his enthusiasm on social media, stating:
“I know Sofia will be a wonderful host, but I unequivocally state Burgas’s desire to host! We will give our all to make it perfect! And it will be!”
BNT confirms hosting intentions
Milena Milotinova, the Director General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), welcomed the European audience to Bulgaria for the upcoming contest and congratulated her team on their success. In an official statement, she affirmed BNT’s commitment, saying:
“We have a lot of work ahead of us. Starting tomorrow. The hosting next year is ours!”
EBU hosting requirements and precedents
According to the official rules of the Eurovision Song Contest, the hosting responsibilities are traditionally undertaken by the public broadcaster of the winning country, which in this case is BNT, a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
However, hosting is not an absolute obligation. Should the winning country be unable to organise the event, the EBU reserves the right to appoint an alternative host. A notable precedent occurred in 2023, when Ukraine, having won the contest, saw the hosting duties transferred to the United Kingdom.
The EBU outlines several key requirements for prospective host cities and broadcasters:
- Provision of a suitable venue, stage, technical infrastructure, ‘green room’, and robust security measures.
- Execution of an international television production, broadcasting three live shows: two semi-finals and the Grand Final in May.
- Conducting the production in both English and French.
- Adherence to political neutrality and ensuring equal treatment for all participating delegations.
The host country automatically secures a place in the Grand Final of the contest. The entire organisational process is meticulously overseen by the EBU’s Reference Group.
