Milena Milotinova, the Director General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), has been honoured by Austrian broadcaster ORF. She received a symbolic plaque recognising BNT’s commitment to the Eurovision Song Contest. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) also extended high praise to the Bulgarian national broadcaster.
The Director General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Milena Milotinova, recently received a distinguished honour from the Austrian public broadcaster, ORF. The symbolic plaque was presented by Ingrid Thurnher, Director General of ORF, and serves to acknowledge BNT’s dedication to the Eurovision Song Contest.
The commemorative plaque itself is a unique piece, crafted from the winning confetti shower that celebrated the Eurovision 2026 champion. This gesture symbolises the tradition of passing on the contest’s spirit and responsibility to future host broadcasters, highlighting the continuity and shared passion within the Eurovision family.
In addition to the recognition from ORF, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has also expressed high praise for BNT. Martin Green, Eurovision Director General, encouraged both BNT and ORF to continue sharing their expertise, organisational experience, and best practices as preparations for future editions of the contest progress.
Milena Milotinova was elected Director General of BNT in February 2026. Under her leadership, Bulgaria recently achieved a historic success at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which was hosted by Austria. This victory has placed a special responsibility on BNT, as Bulgaria will be at the centre of preparations for hosting Eurovision in 2027.
BNT’s official press release reads:
The Director General of the Bulgarian National Television, Milena Milotinova, received a symbolic plaque from Ingrid Turnher, Director General of the Austrian Public Television ORF, during the 96th General Assembly of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), which took place in Prague. The plaque is made from the victory shower of confetti at the final of Eurovision 2026, hosted by Austria. The symbolic gift carries the message of continuity between public media in the implementation of the song contest.
