Burgas has moved into the operational phase of preparations to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, with the state allocating about 20 million euros for work this year and a test concert planned before the end of 2026.
The preparations were discussed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov, who heads the interdepartmental committee overseeing the contest, and Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov. Hristov said the city had demonstrated strong motivation and had already taken proactive steps toward organizing the event.
"This was a first working contact between us and the mayor of Burgas. Burgas showed strong motivation and proactive actions, which I was convinced of during the conversation," Hristov said.
The deputy prime minister said the government is committed to supporting the organization and rejected criticism over the decision to select Burgas as the host city. He argued that the contest should not be viewed as an event limited to the Black Sea city or its region, but as an opportunity to promote Bulgaria internationally.
"We do not divide the country into a capital and a province. In the era of modern communications and transport, the heart of Bulgaria beats where the events are, where the people are, where something is happening," Hristov said.
He described Burgas as one of the country's most dynamic cities and said its selection was justified by its ability to handle large-scale projects. Hristov also dismissed criticism of the choice, saying Burgas had "long proven that it has a working economic model and visible changes."
About 20 million euros have been earmarked in the current state budget for Eurovision preparations. Around 15 million euros will be used for the guarantee that must be provided before the organizational process begins, while the remaining funds will cover current preparations.
Additional state funding is expected to be included in the 2027 budget, although the final amount has not yet been determined and will depend on the financial framework to be adopted later this year.
According to Hristov, the money will cover a broad range of needs, including infrastructure, transportation, accommodation, logistics, technical preparations and efforts to promote Bulgaria as a tourist destination.
"We in the government see Eurovision as an opportunity to brand Bulgaria, as we offer everything, the entire range of tourist services. We offer delicious food, mountain resorts, the sea, historical tourism," he said.
Hristov added that Bulgaria has considerable tourism potential but remains less recognizable internationally than destinations such as Italy and Greece.
One of the most urgent tasks is the preparation of the venue. The aim is to have the hall sufficiently ready by the end of the year to allow a test concert to be held with experts from the European Broadcasting Union present.
The trial event will be used to assess the venue's internal logistics, acoustics and technical arrangements. Any weaknesses identified during the test would then have to be addressed before Eurovision itself.
"We want to finish the preparation of the hall together with BNT by the end of the year, so that we can hold a test concert in the presence of EBU experts and if there are any weaknesses in terms of internal logistics and acoustics, we have enough time to fix these details," Nikolov said.
The mayor stressed that the timetable is tight and that a series of administrative procedures still need to be completed. This includes compliance with public procurement requirements and the preparation of a detailed assessment of the funds needed for the event.
"We don't have any time, we are racing against time," Nikolov said, urging institutions to stop revisiting the decision on the host city and concentrate on the work ahead.
The arrival of equipment is another challenge. A significant part of the machinery and technical equipment is expected to come from China, and Nikolov warned that international delivery processes can be slow.
"This is extremely slow due to the complex global processes in the world. We must catch up with the times so as not to wait until the last minute for the delivery of containers with equipment and machinery to Burgas," he said.
At least five ministries are expected to be involved in the organization, making coordination between state institutions another major factor in keeping preparations on schedule. Security in Burgas and the surrounding region will also be strengthened during the contest to protect participants, visitors and local residents.
Nikolov said the scale of the event makes it a national project rather than a matter concerning only Burgas or the Southern Black Sea Coast.
"This is about our entire country. We have to present ourselves to the world in the best possible way," the mayor said. He added that many Eurovision visitors are likely to be coming to Bulgaria for the first time, making their experience particularly important for the country's tourism image.
"We have to make sure that when they come, they are left with such good impressions that they recommend us to their relatives and acquaintances. This is an extraordinary challenge," Nikolov said.
The preparations are taking place alongside continuing questions in Sofia over the selection process. Sofia Municipality has formally asked Bulgarian National Television Director General Milena Milotinova for detailed feedback on the capital's bid.
The municipality wants to receive the scores awarded to Sofia under each of the selection criteria, together with the reasons for those assessments. It has also asked for permission to make public those parts of its bid that are not covered by confidentiality agreements.
Sofia says the information is needed to assess its performance, identify areas for improvement and draw lessons for future attempts to host major international events. The municipality argues that the confidentiality rules surrounding the selection process currently prevent an independent assessment of why Burgas was chosen.
"Transparency does not hinder success. On the contrary, it creates trust," Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev said.
Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism Irina Dakova said the contest should not turn into a rivalry between Bulgarian cities, but should instead be treated as a national opportunity.
"We do not believe that Eurovision should become an intercity struggle, but a joint opportunity for Bulgaria," Dakova said.
Burgas was selected as host after Bulgaria's Eurovision victory this year, with the 2027 contest scheduled to take place in the city. The two semifinals are set for May 11 and 13, while the final will be held on May 15.
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