Burgas confirmed as host city for Eurovision 2027

Eurovision 2027 Burgas is officially happening, with the Bulgarian Black Sea city selected to host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest next May.

Burgas defeated the capital, Sofia, in the final stage of the host-city contest. The two cities had been shortlisted after bids from Plovdiv and Varna were eliminated during an earlier technical assessment.

The contest will take place at Arena Burgas, with the First Semi-Final scheduled for Tuesday 11 May, the Second Semi-Final on Thursday 13 May and the Grand Final on Saturday 15 May 2027.

It will be the first time Bulgaria has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.

Burgas wins the race against Sofia

Bulgarian public broadcaster BNT and the European Broadcasting Union assessed the competing bids before selecting Burgas.

The process originally involved four cities. Plovdiv and Varna were removed from consideration after the first stage, which examined each proposed venue’s technical specifications, production capabilities and compliance with Eurovision requirements.

That left Burgas and Sofia in the final round. Sofia offered the infrastructure and international connections of a European capital, as well as experience hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.

Burgas instead presented a coastal Eurovision built around one of Bulgaria’s newest major venues. Its international airport, transport network, accommodation and experience welcoming tourists and cultural events formed part of the city’s case.

The decision means Eurovision will avoid the country’s largest city in favour of a destination on the Black Sea coast. Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city and an established summer tourism centre, known for its beaches, waterfront Sea Garden and festival programme.

Arena Burgas will stage all three live shows

Arena Burgas will become the centre of the competition. Opened in 2023, the indoor venue can accommodate up to approximately 15,000 people in a concert configuration, although Eurovision’s final audience capacity will depend on the space required for its stage, cameras and production facilities.

The arena was the centrepiece of the city’s bid and is one of the Bulgarian venues considered capable of meeting the scale of the contest.

As usual, Eurovision week will feature two Semi-Finals followed by the Saturday-night Grand Final. The confirmed dates place the competition across 11, 13 and 15 May.

Detailed information about tickets, the Eurovision Village, EuroClub and other public events has not yet been announced. Those arrangements will be developed by BNT, the EBU and the host city as preparations continue.

DARA brought Eurovision to Bulgaria

Bulgaria earned hosting rights after DARA won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with Bangaranga.

Her victory was Bulgaria’s first since the country joined the competition in 2005. It also completed a dramatic return for BNT, which came back to Eurovision in 2026 following several years away from the event.

DARA won both jury and public support in Vienna, defeating 24 other performers in the Grand Final. Her result ensured that Bulgaria would be given the opportunity to stage the following contest under Eurovision’s usual winner-hosts-next-year tradition.

The singer’s victory began a nationwide host-city process soon after she returned home with the trophy. Burgas, Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna all submitted proposals before the field was reduced.

Burgas was not initially the inevitable choice. Sofia’s size, facilities and previous Eurovision experience made it a strong contender, while the coastal city built its campaign around Arena Burgas and the wider visitor experience it could offer.

Bulgaria prepares for its first contest

Eurovision 2027 Burgas will give Bulgaria its largest international television production to date and place the Black Sea city in front of viewers across Europe and beyond.

The choice will also create a very different setting from recent contests staged in capitals and larger inland cities. Burgas can shape the event around its seaside identity, with the potential for public celebrations to spread beyond the arena and into its parks and waterfront areas.

However, the host-city announcement is only the beginning of the planning process. Organisers must now develop the stage, transport arrangements, delegation facilities, security operation, fan spaces and extensive broadcast infrastructure required for three live international shows.

Participating broadcasters will confirm their plans separately ahead of the contest. The full line-up, ticket arrangements and visual identity for Burgas 2027 will be announced later.

What is now settled is the destination: Eurovision is heading to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, with Arena Burgas preparing to welcome the competition from 11 to 15 May 2027.