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.
