Eurovision 2027 to be held in Burgas, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian city of Burgas has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, it was revealed on Thursday. This honor follows Bulgaria's historic victory in Eurovision 2026, courtesy of Dara and their chart-topping song "Bangaranga." This marks Bulgaria's inaugural Eurovision win and also the first time the nation will host the prestigious event.

Burgas narrowly edged out the capital, Sofia, in the competition to become the host city. The contest's schedule was also revealed, with the first semifinal set for May 11, coinciding with Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terrorism victims. The evening broadcast will precede Israel's Independence Day. The second semifinal is slated for May 13, followed by the grand final on May 15.

Due to the timing, Israel is expected to participate in the second semifinal, as the rehearsal for the first semifinal would clash with Israel's Memorial Day eve. Israeli representative Noam Bettan, who finished second at the last contest with his track "Michelle," expressed gratitude for the unity felt after years without it. He issued a plea for continued unity, recognizing the year ahead and those to come.

The European Broadcasting Union also unveiled new rules amid protests over Israel's Eurovision participation and in light of Israel's consecutive second-place finishes. Under one stipulation, a winning nation facing a security menace or geopolitical strife may forfeit its automatic hosting rights for the subsequent year. This provision aims to deter countries like Israel and Ukraine.

Additionally, the new rules raise the minimum age for Eurovision contestants to 18, up from the previous age of 16.