Vice‑Prime Minister Ivo Hristov named to lead Bulgaria's Eurovision 2027 preparations

Bulgaria’s government has moved from celebrating DARA’s Eurovision win to setting up the state machinery needed to host next year’s contest. Prime Minister Rumen Radev has named Vice Prime Minister Ivo Hristov to lead an interdepartmental committee that will oversee preparations for Eurovision 2027, according to ESCToday. The move came days after DARA gave Bulgaria its first Eurovision victory with “Bangaranga” in Vienna on May 16. It also followed an initial round of meetings between broadcaster BNT and the Culture Ministry on how to stage the event. ### Why is Ivo Hristov being put in charge now? May 22 was the date ESCToday reported that Radev had created the interdepartmental organising committee and put Hristov at its head. ESCToday said the committee would include representatives from relevant ministries and would handle the extensive preparation required to host the contest for the first time in Bulgaria. (esctoday.com) Radev has already framed Eurovision 2027 as a state-level project. In comments reported by ESCToday after meeting DARA at the Council of Ministers, he said, “Today we take the first step towards organizing Eurovision 2027 in Bulgaria,” linking the singer’s victory directly to the government’s planning process. ### What exactly does the committee have to organize? (esctoday.com) ESCToday reported that Radev described the task as one requiring significant financial resources and extensive coordination. The committee is expected to bring together ministries and agencies needed for venue planning, security, transport, funding and production support around the contest. Bulgaria’s broadcaster and culture officials had already started operational work before Hristov’s appointment was reported. (esctoday.com) ESCToday said BNT Director General Milena Milotinova and Culture Minister Evtim Miloshev held a first meeting on Eurovision 2027 hosting on May 18, focusing on the scale of the job after DARA’s victory. ### How did Bulgaria get here so quickly? (esctoday.com) May 16 was the night DARA won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” according to ESCToday and Eurovoix. The win was described by both outlets as Bulgaria’s first victory in the contest, immediately making the country the presumptive host for 2027 if broadcaster BNT confirmed it would stage the event. BNT moved quickly to do that. (esctoday.com) Eurovoix reported on May 17 that Milotinova said at the winners’ press conference that the broadcaster intended to host Eurovision 2027, while ESCToday separately reported nationwide celebrations and a hero’s welcome for DARA in Sofia. ### Which Bulgarian cities are likely to compete to host? Sofia has already publicly entered the conversation. (esctoday.com) Eurovoix reported on May 17 that Mayor Vasil Terziev said the capital would bid to host Eurovision 2027 and pointed to Arena 8888 Sofia as a potential venue. Other cities are also positioning themselves. ESCToday reported that four Bulgarian cities were vying to host the competition, and Eurovoix has separately reported interest from Varna, DARA’s hometown. (eurovoix.com) ### What happens next in the Eurovision 2027 process? Within the next two weeks, the formal host-city race is expected to begin. Eurovoix reported on May 23 that Bulgaria’s host-city bidding process would commence within that period, moving the project from government setup to competition between candidate cities. (eurovoix.com) The next named participants are already in place. Hristov is leading the government committee, BNT under Milena Milotinova has confirmed its intention to host, and cities including Sofia are preparing bids as Bulgaria works toward selecting a venue for Eurovision 2027. (esctoday.com 1) (esctoday.com 2) (eurovoix.com)