shBulgaria is set to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, and Milena Milotinova, Director General of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), is already underscoring the immense significance of the event. She has publicly stated that hosting Eurovision 2027 is far more than just organising a television show; it is a vital national cause that will promote Bulgaria to the entire world.
Following Dara’s triumph at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Bulgaria earned the right to host the prestigious competition in 2027. As preparations begin, Milena Milotinova, the Director General of BNT, is highlighting the profound national importance of this endeavour.
Milotinova emphasises that the organisation of Eurovision 2027 transcends merely a television production; it is a comprehensive national project designed to showcase Bulgaria to an international audience. She believes it will attract tourists and investors, generating international attention that will benefit the country for months and years after the contest.
The search for the host city is currently in its decisive final stages. Sofia and Burgas have been officially shortlisted to host the 71st edition of the contest, following the elimination of Varna and Plovdiv from the running. The final decision on which Bulgarian city will stage the event is eagerly anticipated and is expected to be announced by the end of July.
Milena Milotinova, who was elected Director General of BNT in February 2026, has stressed that selecting the host city is only the initial step in a lengthy and demanding process. She anticipates almost ten months of daily collaboration between BNT, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and the chosen host city to ensure a successful event.
Milena Milotinova graced BNT’s morning news show ‘The Day Begins’ where she shed more light about BNT’s Eurovision 2027 preparations and the impact that hosting the competition will have on brand Bulgaria, the country’s tourism and how BNT is aiming and aspiring to make the ESC a nationwide event.
Milena Milotinova (BNT General Director) says:
The goal and aspiration of BNT is not just to make an event in one city, but to make it a national event, just as our hosting of Eurovision is a national cause. Which will present Bulgaria to the world in the best possible way. Because keep in mind that dozens of countries are broadcasting the song contest. This is a huge opportunity for our country to show its national identity as well.
Milena commented that that the partnership between the Eurovision host city and BNT will consist of a long jorney that will require a concise work relationship and planning on a daily basis leading up to the ESC 2027 Grand Final:
We expect a close partnership with BNT from the host city, we expect it to walk the path with us from winning the competition between cities to the very final of the Eurovision Song Contest. This is a very long path, almost 10 months of daily work. The cities must be prepared that it is not about working from time to time and working during the semi-finals and the final, it is not just about the last two months, where the many events are actually concentrated, but about working from the announcement of the winning city to the final itself after it.
Milena goes on to comment that hosting the Eurovision Song Contest is not limited to three live shows:
The cities must be prepared that it is not a matter of working from time to time and working during the semi-finals and the final. After the preparation, the competition includes nine show programs at the end, including six dress rehearsals for which tickets are sold, and three television broadcasts in dozens of countries around the world.
Milena shed more light on the Eurovision 2027 Host City race and its procedure and how the complex evaluation process is being carried by BNT in close coordination with the EBU:
We follow the criteria set by the EBU – the organization that has been organizing the contest for 70 years. The committee that evaluates the proposals is made up of Bulgarian and EBU experts, including foreign experts who have vast experience in preparing these contests.Congratulations to the other two cities – Plovdiv and Varna, who are not continuing, but gave very good proposals. The motivation they showed for participating and hosting the contest made us think about how to include them in the additional events surrounding Eurovision.
Milena also commented that hosting the Eurovision Song Contest will not only boost the host city but the entire country:
The added value is enormous. The competition involves a huge gathering of people. The importance for the economy is great – for tourism, for the hotel base, for logistics. Bulgaria is focusing the attention of the whole world on itself. This is one of the biggest events next year.
BNT’s General Director emphasized that the state reacted immediately after Bulgaria’s victory. A special budget was provided and a coordination center was created with the participation of a number of ministries:
The national authorities reacted swiftly and in the first days after Bulgaria won Eurovision, they declared their support for the host television – the Bulgarian National Television. They also allocated a special budget for the holding of Eurovision and actually created a coordination center with many ministries participating in it, to assist with security, logistics, infrastructure activities, etc.
Currently BNT’s Eurovision Committee and the EBU are evaluating and checking out the hosting bids from Sofia and Burgas. One of the two cities will have the grand honour of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2027. The EBU and BNT are expected to announce the name of the 2027 Eurovision host city by late July.
