At the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) held in Prague, Bulgaria’s national broadcaster BNT received effusive praise for its triumphant showing at the Eurovision Song Contest and for securing the right to host the contest in 2027. Delegates and senior EBU figures lauded both the scale of the victory and the speed with which BNT has already begun preparations for the hosting task.
Last week the EBU’s 96th General Assembly was held in Prague, Czechia where the key official of the EBU’s members and associates met up to network.
Eurovision Director Martin Green highlighted the historic nature of Bulgaria’s win, noting that the Bulgarian entry prevailed by the largest margin between first and second place in the contest’s standings. Green underscored the rare achievement that the entry managed to capture the hearts of both professional juries and the televoting public, calling it the first performance in a decade to do so.
Martin Green ( Eurovision Director) says:
I would like to congratulate the BNT team on winning by the largest margin of victory in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. And also the first song of 2017 to clearly win both the jury and the audience,” Green said, injecting a lighter moment into his remarks by urging delegates to adopt the newly coined rallying word “bangaranga” in their meetings. He added that when EBU officials first met with BNT, they were struck by the broadcaster’s and the Bulgarian government’s enthusiasm for hosting, and confirmed that the EBU will work closely with BNT throughout the year as the host-city selection process moves forward.
Noel Curran, Director General of the European Broadcasting Uniob (EBU), echoed the warm congratulations and emphasized the exceptional public response in Bulgaria.
Noel Curran ( EBU Director General) says:
Congratulations, BNT and Bulgaria! We look forward to working with you, we have already had a wonderful collaboration. It will be something really special. The response in Bulgaria has been incredible. I watched the footage – it is truly incredible. It was a real joy to watch. It was really a big thing for Bulgaria. The government immediately expressed its support and we will support you too.
BNT’s Director General Milena Milotinova thanked the EBU leadership for their support and reiterated the broadcaster’s commitment to delivering a top-tier Eurovision in 2027.
Milena Milotinova (BNT General Director) says:
Thank you very much for your warm words about Bulgaria’s victory at Eurovision. I think we did our best and I think we will do our best as hosts of the next Eurovision Song Contest 2027. Thank you for your help so far, because we work hand in hand with the European Broadcasting Union and Eurovision. I believe we will have a great contest in 2027. Thank you very much,”
Milotinova reflected confidence and gratitude as BNT embarks on the complex preparations ahead.
Delegates at the Prague assembly praised not only the artistic and popular success of the Bulgarian entry but also the logistical readiness BNT has shown in the early stages of planning. With host-city selection underway, the broadcaster faces the dual challenge of leveraging the momentum of a landmark win while meeting the demanding organizational, technical and financial requirements of staging Eurovision. EBU officials have committed to providing guidance and support through that process.
The tone at the General Assembly was celebratory but practical: recognition of a standout competitive performance was coupled with an emphasis on cooperation, partnership and the heavy lift of delivering a global live event. If the early signs are any indication, BNT’s victory has energized both national pride and international collaboration, setting the stage for what EBU leaders hope will be a memorable Eurovision Song Contest in 2027.
