Bulgaria narrows Eurovision 2027 host city to Sofia and Burgas

Bulgaria’s public broadcaster BNT confirmed that the 71st Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by one of two remaining cities – Sofia or Burgas – after Plovdiv and Varna were eliminated for not meeting technical and infrastructure criteria. The shortlist was evaluated on arena capacity, transport links, accommodation and organisational readiness. Sofia’s bid highlights the 12,373‑seat Arena 8888, extensive hotel stock and the country’s main international airport, while Burgas promotes its new seaside arena and tourist appeal on the Black Sea coast. The final decision is expected by the end of July, with BNT director Milena Milotina noting that the process “is based solely on the pre‑defined technical and infrastructural criteria applied equally to all candidates.” Eurovision director Martin Green thanked the eliminated cities, saying their strong competition “highlights the significant economic and social benefits of hosting the event.” Bulgaria earned the right to host after DARA’s victory in 2026, which is expected to bring a major boost in tourism and international exposure.

The contest, which draws millions of viewers worldwide, will therefore be decided between the capital’s metropolitan infrastructure and Burgas’s coastal venue, with the winner announced before 31 July.