The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body that sponsors Eurovision, announced that the 2027 competition will be held in Burgas, Bulgaria, after the Bulgarian contestant, Daria, won the 2026 contest in Vienna with the catchy tune, “Bangaranga.”
Burgas is a popular vacation party spot for young Israelis, and in 2012, five Israelis and a Bulgarian driver were killed in a terror attack there that left 35 injured.
The EBU also announced that the upcoming competition will take place from May 11-15. May 11, the date of the first semifinal, conflicts with Israel’s Memorial Day, so Israel is expected to request to compete in the second semifinal.
This conflict has occurred in the past, since Eurovision is held in early May, when Israel’s Memorial Day is usually celebrated.
Another rule change announced earlier this week seems to be aimed at Israel in particular. The competition organizers added a rule that a country dealing with “armed conflict” or a “sensitive geopolitical situation” cannot host the competition the next year.
War interrupts normal selection process
In the past, the country that won was automatically granted the right to host the next competition. However, Ukraine, which won in 2022 after it was at war with Russia, did not host 2023 due to the danger posed by Russian forces. The 2023 competition was held in Liverpool, England, after England came in second in 2022.
Israel has won Eurovision four times, most recently in 2018, and the following year, the competition was held in Tel Aviv. In the past two years, Israel has done well, finishing second both times, despite international pressure to ban Israel and the fact that five countries - Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain - chose to boycott. So, the rule change is seen as a way to make sure that even if Israel wins, the competition will not be held here.
“These changes are about giving everyone involved greater clarity, protecting artists and ensuring the contest continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while preserving the spirit and integrity that make the Eurovision Song Contest so special,” Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, said in a statement