Burgas Selected to Host Eurovision Song Contest 2027

Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas has been chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, bringing the world’s largest live music event to Bulgaria for the first time. The semi-finals will take place on 11 and 13 May, followed by the Grand Final on 15 May 2027.

Burgas will welcome Europe and the world in May 2027 after being officially selected as the host city of the 71st Eurovision Song Contest. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) announced the decision on 13 August 2026, confirming that the competition will be staged at Arena Burgas.

The event will mark a historic first for Bulgaria. The country earned the right to host Eurovision following DARA’s victory with “Bangaranga” at the 2026 contest in Vienna.

Burgas wins the host city competition

Burgas was selected following a competitive process involving four Bulgarian cities. Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna also submitted bids to host Eurovision 2027.

According to the organisers, an international working group consisting of representatives of BNT and the EBU, together with experts experienced in organising previous Eurovision Song Contests, evaluated the proposals. The process included visits to the proposed venues, meetings with the respective municipalities and a detailed assessment of the cities’ ability to stage an event of Eurovision’s scale.

Burgas ultimately presented the strongest overall proposal. Among the factors behind the decision were the city’s venue and technical capabilities, accommodation capacity, transport links and international accessibility, as well as the commitment demonstrated by the municipality.

Another important element was Burgas’ vision of turning the entire city into part of the Eurovision experience rather than limiting the event to the arena.

Arena Burgas to stage the three live shows

The main Eurovision shows will take place at Arena Burgas, the city’s modern sports and entertainment venue, which opened in 2023.

The first semi-final will be held on Tuesday, 11 May, followed by the second semi-final on Thursday, 13 May. The Grand Final will take place on Saturday, 15 May 2027.

In addition to the three televised live shows, fans will be able to attend six preview shows between 10 and 15 May, including rehearsals connected with the semi-finals and Grand Final.

Millions of viewers around the world are expected to follow the competition, while thousands of Eurovision fans, delegations, journalists and members of the music industry are expected to travel to Bulgaria for the event.

Eurovision by the Black Sea

Burgas will offer Eurovision a setting very different from many recent host cities. Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city sits directly on the Black Sea and combines beaches, the extensive Sea Garden, cultural venues and a long tradition of summer festivals and outdoor events.

Eurovision week is expected to extend well beyond Arena Burgas. A programme of concerts, cultural events and entertainment will be organised throughout the city, with details about the Eurovision Village, EuroClub and other official activities to be announced in the coming months.

The seaside location is expected to become one of the distinctive features of the 2027 contest, giving international visitors an opportunity to combine Eurovision with an introduction to Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.

Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green described Burgas as a vibrant and welcoming Black Sea city with a strong musical and cultural identity. According to Green, the city has the infrastructure, ambition and enthusiasm necessary to welcome the Eurovision community.

Organisers have also emphasised their intention to give the 2027 edition a recognisably Bulgarian character, while retaining the international identity of Eurovision.

More than just Burgas

Although Burgas won the host city competition, Eurovision 2027 is planned as a nationwide event.

BNT has indicated that Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna will also participate in the accompanying Eurovision programme. All three cities presented bids during the selection process, and organisers intend to build on their proposals and enthusiasm by involving them in events surrounding the contest.

Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov similarly stressed that the hosting of Eurovision should be viewed as an event for the whole country and region, involving municipalities, cultural organisations, universities, schools, artists, volunteers and local businesses.

The ambition is therefore not simply to bring Eurovision to Burgas, but to use the contest as an international showcase for Bulgaria.

A major opportunity for Bulgarian tourism

Hosting Eurovision represents one of the largest international entertainment events ever organised in Bulgaria. Apart from the television audience, the contest traditionally attracts large numbers of visitors to its host city during the weeks surrounding the live shows.

For Burgas and the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, the timing could be particularly significant. Taking place in the middle of May, Eurovision will arrive shortly before the traditional start of Bulgaria’s summer tourism season.

Visitors will also have easy access to some of the country’s best-known seaside destinations, including Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Pomorie and Sozopol, making the event an opportunity to introduce an international audience to a much wider part of the Bulgarian coast.

Tickets and further details

Ticket sales have not yet started. Eurovision organisers have announced that fans interested in purchasing tickets should register with Eurofan, Eurovision’s official free fan club, which will provide access to the ticket sale once it opens.

Further information about tickets, the Eurovision Village, EuroClub, accompanying events and the wider cultural programme will be announced as preparations progress.

For now, the most important details are confirmed: Eurovision is coming to Bulgaria for the first time, Burgas will be its host city, Arena Burgas will provide the main stage, and the winner of the 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be crowned on 15 May 2027.

For Burgas, the event will be an unprecedented opportunity to present itself to a global audience. For Bulgaria, Eurovision 2027 will be much more than a week of music — it will be one of the country’s biggest international showcases in recent history.