The Bulgarian broadcaster BNT has confirmed that it intends to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 following DARAโs victory in Vienna.
Speaking at the winners press conference following the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final, Milena Milotinova, the Director General of BNT, commented:
โI am so proud. What DARA did was truly incredible. I want to say to you, โWelcome to Sofia next year!'โ
While it is incredibly early on in the preparations for the next contest, it is highly likely that Sofia will be the host city for the 2027 contest. The rules outlined by the European Broadcasting Union state that a city must meet the following requirements to be able to host:
- The venue must be available for a period of eight weeks at a minimum, seven weeks before the final and one week after the final
- A fully equipped event hall with appropriate capacity and infrastructure
- Good international connections
- Sufficient accommodation in the region
- Outline of the host cityโs organisational, security, and sustainable implementation capabilities
- The venue must have the capacity for at least 10,000 people
Only two indoor arenas exist in Bulgaria which have the capacity to hold at least 10,000 people. Arena Sofia in the Bulgarian capital which has capacity for up to 17,906 people and was the venue the last time Bulgaria hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. The other venue is the Arena Burgas, which opened in 2023, and can hold up to 15,000 people in a concert setting.
Bulgaria is the winner of the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. The song that Dara performed in Vienna was called โBangarangaโ. It was written and composed by Anne Judith Wik, Cristian Tarcea, Darina Yotovaย (Dara), Dimitris Kontopoulos.
The result brings Bulgaria its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. DARA is also the first artist since Salvador Sobral in 2017 to win both the public and jury votes. Prior to this, the countryโs best result was second place, achieved by Kristian Kostov in 2017. As Bulgaria emerged as a dark horse contender, rapidly climbing in the betting odds after the second rehearsal.
Source: BNT
Bulgaria debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2005. The country competed annually from 2005 to 2013, before withdrawing for two years due to financial issues. Since returning to the contest in 2016, Bulgaria qualified for the final in every contest they have competed in up until the 2022 contest. Bulgaria took its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, represented by DARA and โBangarangaโ scoring 516 points.
