Eurovision 2027 host city announced after Bulgaria’s historic win

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria in 2027, following DARA’s win with ‘Bangaranga’ at this year’s contest.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced alongside Bulgarian National Television (BNT) that the coastal city will host the show in 2027, after speculation it would be held in the country’s capital of Sofia.

The event will take place at Arena Burgas, Bulgaria’s newest venue for sports and entertainment, which was opened in 2023.

It will take place on Tuesday 11, Thursday 13 and Saturday 15 May, 2027. Preview shows will also be available for fans to buy tickets for, taking place between Monday 10 to Saturday 15 May.

The announcement came after the EBU updated its rules to say winning countries may be barred from hosting if they are deemed unsafe.

Where is Burgas?

Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth biggest city, just down the coast from popular party destination Sunny Beach.

It is known for its beaches and parks, as well as its culture and summertime events.

The city was selected from four options, with representatives of BNT and the EBU working with other international experts to evaluate the potential hosts.

They looked at proposed venues and production requirements, as well as local infrastructure such, accommodation and transport links, as well as whether the cities could host such a huge number of artists, production staff, media and fans.

Burgas and Sofia reached the final two during the selection process, after narrowing down bids that also came from Varna and Plovdiv. However, the three cities not chosen will still be involved with Eurovision Song Contest programming next year.

Burgas Airport is a short distance from the city centre, with a number of flight companies, including Ryanair, Wizz and TUI, providing travel from the UK.

Eurovision Song Contest statement

Martin Green CBE, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said: “We are delighted that Burgas will be the Host City for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027.

“Burgas brings something really special to the Eurovision Song Contest. It is a vibrant, welcoming city on the Black Sea with a strong musical and cultural identity, and it has the ambition, infrastructure and passion needed to welcome the Eurovision family.

“For the first Eurovision Song Contest ever to be held in Bulgaria, we want to create something that feels truly Bulgarian while also being unmistakably Eurovision – a celebration that brings people together through music.

“We thank all of the cities which showed such enthusiasm in their bids to host Bulgaria’s first ever Eurovision Song Contest.

“Together with BNT, the City of Burgas and our partners across Bulgaria, we are looking forward to creating an unforgettable Eurovision week in May and welcoming the world to Burgas.”

Is Bulgaria safe for LGBTQ+ visitors?

According to the UK Government’s travel advice, public attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community are less tolerant, especially outside of Sofia.

They also advise that there have been a handful of recorded incidents of hostility towards people perceived to be queer in Burgas, as well as Plovdiv.

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