Bulgaria's culture ministry is preparing a programme of side events to show Bulgarian culture to a world audience at Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, culture minister Evtim Miloshev said. The ministry's 2027 budget has a separate line for it.
Miloshev gave details at a hearing of the parliamentary culture and media committee, where he answered a question from Aleksandra Valcheva of Progressive Bulgaria, BTA reported.
Bulgaria is hosting the contest because DARA won this year's edition in Austria with the song "Bangaranga". Millions of viewers around the world are expected to watch. The ministry says the strong international interest is a chance to show not only the country's music scene, but also its cultural heritage, traditions and modern art.
Work on the side events is already under way, and the ministry has received many project proposals, Miloshev said. A special commission will judge them on two points: whether the idea fits the Eurovision concept, and whether it helps Bulgaria present itself to an international audience. The minister said projects should be chosen openly and with care.
The ministry's partners are Burgas council, led by mayor Dimitar Nikolov, and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). An organising committee headed by deputy prime minister Ivo Hristov is coordinating all the preparations.
Deputy culture minister Marina Vasileva said the Eurovision 2027 events have been added to the national culture calendar as an extra category. The ministry's 2027 budget procedure is almost complete.
Small festivals of local and regional importance, along with projects to protect and promote living Bulgarian traditions, will continue to get money under a separate programme.