The Black Sea resort city of Burgas has been selected to host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, the European Broadcasting Union and Bulgarian National Television announced Thursday. The seaside city beat out Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv in a selection process that was delayed several times. The grand final is scheduled for May 15, with semi-finals on May 11 and 13.
Bulgaria earned hosting rights after singer Dara won this year's contest in Vienna with the song "Bangaranga" — the country's first-ever Eurovision victory. Israel placed second and Romania third.
The 2027 edition introduces several rule changes: Canada will participate for the first time, the minimum contestant age rises from 16 to 18, and a winning country embroiled in armed conflict will no longer automatically host the following year.