By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, Aug 13 (Reuters) – The Black Sea city of Burgas in Bulgaria has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest in May next year, the show’s organisers said on Thursday.
Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in May in a final overshadowed by five countries boycotting the event over Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, claiming a dramatic victory despite another big public vote for Israel that again secured it second place.
The garish and usually good-natured competition involving pop acts from countries across Europe and beyond, heading into its 71st year in 2027, was plunged into crisis by the dispute over Gaza.
Arena Burgas, in Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city, will welcome thousands of fans from around the world for the live show, which will be watched by millions of people, the European Broadcasting Union said.
Burgas, known for its beaches and cultural life, was chosen over the capital Sofia because of its accommodation, venue capacity and overall vision to transform the city for the contest, the EBU said.
“Burgas brings something really special to the Eurovision Song Contest,” Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said in a statement.
“It is a vibrant, welcoming city on the Black Sea with a strong musical and cultural identity, and it has the ambition, infrastructure and passion needed to welcome the Eurovision family,”
The contest’s two semi-finals will take place on Tuesday May 11 and Thursday May 13 and the final on Saturday May 15 2027, the EBU said.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Friederike Heine and Keith Weir)
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