Burgas has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, bringing Europe’s biggest live music competition to Bulgaria for the first time and giving the Black Sea city a major international tourism opportunity.
The European Broadcasting Union and Bulgarian National Television confirmed that Burgas won a competitive selection process involving Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv. Burgas and Sofia reached the final stage, but organizers ultimately chose the coastal city for its combination of venue capabilities, hotel capacity, transportation, international connectivity and municipal support.
The two semi-finals will take place on May 11 and May 13, with the grand final scheduled for May 15. Six additional preview shows will also be staged during Eurovision week.
Bulgaria earned hosting rights after DARA won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” securing the country’s first victory in the contest.
Why Burgas Beat Bulgaria’s Capital
The decision surprised some Eurovision fans because Sofia had widely been expected to host after DARA’s win.
Instead, organizers chose Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city and one of the country’s most important Black Sea destinations. The contest will be staged at Arena Burgas, a sports and entertainment venue opened in 2023.
The EBU said Burgas demonstrated the technical capacity and infrastructure needed to accommodate thousands of artists, delegations, production workers, journalists and fans.
The city also offers something Sofia cannot: a seaside setting.
Burgas is known for its beaches, parks and summer cultural events, while its location provides access to Bulgaria’s wider southern Black Sea coast. Eurovision arrives before the peak summer season, potentially giving hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses an unusually strong May.
Organizers plan to extend the event throughout the city with Eurovision Village, EuroClub, an opening ceremony and other public activities. Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv are also expected to participate in the wider national program.
Eurovision Could Deliver a Major Tourism Boost
Recent host cities show why winning Eurovision matters well beyond television exposure.
Liverpool generated an estimated €66 million economic boost from hosting in 2023. Malmö recorded around €40 million in 2024, while Basel generated €58 million locally in 2025 and an estimated €272 million for Switzerland overall.
Vienna is already reporting strong returns from Eurovision 2026, including approximately 88,000 additional visitors, 160,000 hotel room nights and an estimated €57 million economic impact.
Burgas will now hope to capture a similar effect while using the contest to introduce the city to travelers who may previously have associated Bulgaria primarily with Sofia or traditional Black Sea resort towns.
Eurovision director Martin Green said organizers want the first Bulgarian edition to feel distinctly local while remaining unmistakably Eurovision.
The contest will also take place under revised rules. Eurovision organizers have introduced restrictions preventing winning countries from hosting when armed conflict, geopolitical instability or other security concerns threaten the event. The minimum age for performers has also been raised from 16 to 18.
For Burgas, however, the immediate challenge is preparing for one of the largest international events in its history.
If recent host cities are any guide, the biggest prize may not be the music itself. Eurovision could give Burgas a tourism marketing campaign worth far more than the week-long event.
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