Martin Green, the EBU’s Eurovision Director, has shared his significant enthusiasm for Bulgaria hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027. His comments came during a visit to the country, highlighting the unique excitement of bringing the competition to a nation for the very first time. This marks a pivotal moment for both Bulgaria and the Eurovision Song Contest.
During his visit to Bulgaria on June 10, Martin Green CBE, the EBU’s Eurovision Director, conveyed his excitement about the upcoming contest in 2027. He emphasised the special nature of a country hosting the event for the first time.
Martin Green was interviewed on BNT’s morning show ‘The Day Begins’ where he shed more light on his impressions and thoughts on the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Bulgaria.
Martin Green (Eurovision Director/EBU) stated:
“It’s very exciting for us that Eurovision is coming to a country it hasn’t been to before”.
Martin Green (Eurovision Director/( EBU) adds:
There is something very special about working in a country and a city that is hosting for the first time. I think we will see a level of excitement that is rarely witnessed. We are also delighted that four cities want to host the event.
Ultimately, Bulgaria and BNT will make the final decision, as happens everywhere. But even the three cities that are not selected will benefit. There will be major public events and large screens because this is an event in which the whole of Bulgaria will take part.
Martin Green continues to add:
Do not forget that Eurovision is, first and foremost, a television show. Only a relatively small number of people will be fortunate enough to obtain tickets, but everything we do should serve those watching at home. to those watching the show on TV.
Unlike many television awards ceremonies that use a venue for only a few days, we need to occupy it for seven weeks. All the candidate cities have excellent proposals and understand that the entire city becomes part of the event. There will be additional activities and public screenings. In the end, one city will host, but the others will benefit as well, regardless of the outcome.
Martin Green went on to elaborate further on the planning of such a massive event:
Summer is primarily about preparation and planning, and that is crucial. If the planning is not done properly, everything that follows will suffer. It may seem quieter during the summer because much of the work takes place behind the scenes.
This includes design and planning, along with the selection of the host city. From late summer through to Christmas, we enter the development phase, preparing every aspect of the production and entering the new year with a clear vision of how the event will look. We can then start building the necessary infrastructure and preparing the host city.
These are the three key stages, and the most important one is what happens over the summer. It may appear calm on the surface, but that is when all the critical planning takes place.
Martin Green spoke about the enormous scale of hosting the Eurovisiion Song Contest and that final budget will depend on BNT and Bulgarian state:
Around 14,000 people are accredited for Eurovision, including performers, their teams and the organizing staff. That means a huge press center is required.
We also welcome around 100,000 people across the various events. In addition to two live semi-finals and a live final, there are two full rehearsal shows beforehand. The scale of the operation is immense. There are 27 cameras in the arena and television studios.
Whichever city is ultimately selected to host the contest successfully will quickly realize the sheer intensity of the undertaking. However, there are many experienced professionals involved. Bulgaria is known for having an excellent television industry, a strong film sector and highly capable production teams.
The key will be bringing together the expertise of those who operate at the highest international level with the talent that already exists in Bulgaria. They will work side by side.
Bulgaria is set to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, following DARA’s victory in the 2026 contest with her song ‘Bangaranga’. Green’s visit also included the official handover of the ‘Host Welcome Pack’ to Milena Milotinova, the Director General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), on June 9, officially commencing the preparations for Eurovision 2027.
The EBU Director praised Bulgaria’s rapid response and professional approach to the preparations, noting that the speed and efficiency had made a strong impression. This initial enthusiasm from the EBU underscores the high expectations for Bulgaria’s debut as a Eurovision host nation.
