With at least 36 countries due to send musicians to the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Bulgaria, the event next May looks set to be a lively one.
If you are a fan of the musical competition, of which the semi-finals and grand finals are always shown live on television, this may be a chance to head to Burgas where the final is set to be staged.
Burgas, a small city on the Black Sea (Burgas is also a province), beat the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to become the host next year – partly thanks to its maritime charm and a tradition of music festivals.
“Burgas is a dynamic and hospitable city on the Black Sea coast with a strong musical and cultural identity,” says ESC director Martin Green of the 2027 venue for the event.
Seaside resorts in the surrounding area, such as Nessebar, Pomorie, Sozopol and Slantshev Bryag make Burgas popular among tourists.
Mayor Dimitar Nikolov enthuses that the city of 190,000 is a romantic region of Bulgaria.
Green says the city’s local authority is already gearing up, with the ambition, infrastructure and passion to welcome the large Eurovision Song Contest family.
So, how does one get to Burgas?
Burgas Airport is the country’s second-busiest airport after Sofia Airport. There are numerous direct flights from other cities in Europe to Burgas and also to Varna further north. You can also fly through Vienna, Austria.
The Bulgarian airline – Bulgaria Air – is reportedly organising additional flights for the major live event in Burgas.
You may also be able to fly via Istanbul in neighbouring Turkiye, especially as Turkiye’s largest city is only 320km away, making it closer than the capital, Sofia, which is 360km to the west. (This actually would be the best route for Malaysians who wish to travel to Burgas as AirAsia and other international airlines fly direct to Istanbul from Kuala Lumpur.)
In further good news for fans, Burgas Airport is close to the city centre.
The venue for the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest is likely to be the Arena Burgas, which opened relatively recently in 2023. It can accommodate up to 15,000 spectators for concerts.
There is also a “Turquoise Carpet Event” expected to be held at the start of the ESC week in the large park along Burgas beach.
What do travellers do in Bulgaria?
Many travel fans see Burgas as an insider tip. In contrast to other regions on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, the town rapidly developed into an attractive tourist destination. But the tourist sector has been struggling lately – though once the role of host was confirmed, hotel prices soared.
Who is competing in the contest?
The EBU published its provisional list of participants in Geneva, Switzerland although it remains unclear whether Spain and Slovenia will take part in the world’s biggest live music event.
The organisation has granted the countries’ public broadcasters, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, an extension until December to make a decision.
Both countries boycotted the 2026 contest in Vienna in protest against the war in Gaza and Israel’s participation.
Ireland and the Netherlands have already announced that they will again boycott the competition in 2027 for the same reasons, having also stayed away this year.
Canada is set to make its debut in the competition next year, while North Macedonia will return after an absence of several years, according to the EBU.
“In a world that can feel increasingly divided, it brings audiences together through music, across borders, languages and cultures, and that matters now more than ever,” Green says.
The EBU also highlighted the contest’s role in launching music careers, saying the 35 songs from this year’s competition generated nearly 600 million streams across audio and video platforms between January and August.
The 2026 winning song, Bangaranga by Dara, topped the charts in 11 countries, reached the top five in another five and entered the top 10 in five more.
The director-general of host broadcaster BNT, Milena Milotinova, said in a statement: “Bulgaria is eagerly looking forward to welcoming the contestants and all the fans who will be coming specifically to watch the live performances. We are working for an incredible experience for viewers in front of the screens, the audience in the venue, and all guests in beautiful Burgas.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is not just a TV show, but a global event that, through music, inspires people to discover new places and forge new friendships. We believe that not only in Burgas, but also in every other corner of Bulgaria that our guests visit, they will find warmth, beauty, and a reason to return to Bulgaria again. We look forward to seeing you!”
New rules to know
Some ESC rules and regulations have been altered for the future.
Moving ahead, the ESC may be held only in countries with a stable security situation, in line with the EBU’s new regulations.
The winning country will automatically be ruled out as a host “if an armed conflict, a delicate geopolitical situation or any other circumstance significantly compromises the security or stability of the state in question or the immediate region”, a statement says.
If necessary, the EBU may commission an independent security assessment of the winner’s region. Should the winning member be deemed unsuitable to host the event, the EBU will designate an alternative host broadcaster.
Changes that were made due to war
The prospect that Israel could win the ESC prompted the overhaul of the rules. The country has traditionally been a strong contender and has won the contest four times to date and came second in Vienna.
Many observers wondered how a Eurovision Song Contest hosted by Israel could be a success given the current conflict.
Even in the run-up to Vienna, five countries boycotted the contest in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Further changes to rules affect musicians
The contest now stipulates that the minimum age for performers should be 18, up from the previous age of 16, to ensure very young people are no longer subjected to the pressures of the competition.
Nathalie Paque from Belgium was just 11 years old when she performed for France in 1989. Shortly afterwards, the EBU introduced the minimum age of 16.
When Nicole won the contest for Germany in 1982 with”Ein bisschen Frieden, she was 17 years old.
In a further change regarding singing, the EBU says that performances by the lead singer must be live and must not be supported by pre-recorded vocals.
“This clarification is intended to preserve the integrity of every performance and ensure that the audience hears the lead vocals performed live for every song,” the EBU says. – dpa
