Bulgarian coastal city Burgas to host Eurovision 2027

Bulgaria's Black Sea city, Burgas, has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2027, the European Broadcasting Union and Bulgarian National Television announced on Thursday. This marks the first time a Balkan nation will host the contest, which is set to take place at Arena Burgas, a venue capable of accommodating up to 15,000 spectators.

The semi-finals are scheduled for May 11 and May 13, with the final on May 15. Arena Burgas, located in Burgas, the second-largest city on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, boasts a seating capacity of 5,500 and serves as a significant commercial port and gateway to popular seaside resorts. Burgas edged out Sofia to secure the hosting rights after a complex evaluation process that met all EBU requirements.

Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to showcase Burgas, the region, and Bulgaria's beauty. The contest is expected to benefit the tourism sector, which contributes around 8 percent of the country's GDP. Eurovision has become a global pop platform, previously launching icons like ABBA, Celine Dion, Cliff Richard, and Olivia Newton-John.

Despite the excitement, Bulgaria's Eurovision victory follows a 40-year absence from the contest, with the nation missing the last three editions due to financial constraints.