Eurovision 2027 host city: Burgas or Sofia

Shortly after Dara's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Bulgarian broadcaster BNT started the application process for host cities for next year's contest.

Four cities applied:

• Burgas
• Plovdiv
• Sofia
• Varna

Following the first stage of the Host City selection process, Plovdiv and Varna have been eliminated from the race to host Eurovision 2027.

The assessment covered the technical specifications of the proposed venues, compliance with the European Broadcasting Union’s requirements and the production standards of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Two cities are competing to host Eurovision 2027:

Burgas

Burgas entered the race shortly after Bulgaria’s victory, with Mayor Dimitar Nikolov declaring the city’s determination to host Eurovision 2027.

The Black Sea city proposes Arena Burgas (Арена Бургас) as the main venue.

Opened in 2023, the arena can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators for concerts, making it one of only two venues in Bulgaria that meet the capacity requirements for hosting the contest.

Burgas is highlighting its international airport, transport infrastructure and extensive accommodation options in the city and the surrounding Black Sea region.

As Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city and one of the country’s main tourist destinations, Burgas offers experience in hosting large cultural events and international festivals.

Sofia

Sofia presented its bid in July, highlighting the capital’s capacity, infrastructure and experience in hosting major international events.

The city proposes Arena Sofia (Арена София) as the main venue. The arena can accommodate almost 18,000 spectators for concerts and previously hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015.

Sofia Tech Park would provide additional facilities for delegations and accredited media, while the Eurovision Village and Turquoise Carpet ceremony are planned to take place around the National Palace of Culture.

Toplocentrala and the nearby South Park would form part of a wider festival area, with Toplocentrala serving as the centre of the city’s nightlife programme during the event.

Sofia is also highlighting its international airport, extensive public transport and metro network, urban connectivity and experience from events including Junior Eurovision 2015 and Bulgaria’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Interested cities and municipalities must meet the criteria set by the EBU, which include a fully-equipped event hall with appropriate capacity and infrastructure, good international connections, sufficient accommodation in the region, as well as organizational, security and sustainable implementation competence of the host city.

Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, expressed gratitude to the two cities we've lost from the selection process:

– Thank you to Plovdiv and Varna for their passion for the Eurovision Song Contest and interest in hosting this event that unites millions of people around the world with the power of music. Such intense competition between cities underscores the significant economic and social benefits of hosting. Both bids demonstrated just how widespread the support for next year’s event is across Bulgaria and we hope both cities will be part of the nationwide celebrations next May.

BNT Director General Milena Milotinova adds:

– We would like to emphasize that this decision is based solely on the assessment of the pre-established technical and infrastructure criteria, which were applied equally to all candidates. It does not call into question the undeniable strengths of your cities or their well-established traditions in music, culture, and international festivals. This also creates opportunities for their participation in the programme of accompanying events.

When will Eurovision 2027 be held?

Eurovision 2027 will be held in Bulgaria in May. The dates have not been announced yet.

The Eurovision week will have three shows: Semi-final 1 on Tuesday, Semi-final 2 on Thursday and the Grand Final on Saturday.

The possible dates for Eurovision 2027 are:

The most possible dates for Eurovision 2027 are  11 - 13 - 15 May  and  18 - 20 - 22 May 

It's still a guess. The dates have not been announced or confirmed.

What will happen next?

The final decision on the Eurovision 2027 host city will be made by Balgarska Natsionalna Televizia (BNT) and the EBU (European Broadcasting Union). Further discussions will now take place with officials from both Burgas and Sofia.

The two cities will be scored on a set of criteria. Most importantly, the venue, which should accommodate at least 10,000 spectators and be available for six to eight weeks for preparations. The city should also have hotel accommodation for thousands of delegates, journalists, and spectators. A press center for 1,500 journalists at, or close to, the main venue is also mandatory.

The final announcement on the host city is expected in the end of July 2026.