Burgas has received 11 letters congratulating the city on being picked to host Eurovision 2027, the city council says. Most of them came from partners of the Aleph Centre for Jewish-Bulgarian Cooperation.

The letters came from Jewish community groups and from cultural and education organisations in Bulgaria, Israel, Italy and other countries. Many of the writers work on the centre's international projects, including the literary and film contest "Whoever Saves One Life Saves an Entire World".

Dr Stefania Manca is research director at the Institute for Educational Technology under Italy's National Research Council. In her letter she recalls visiting Burgas with Italian students and how warmly they were welcomed. "This is not just the choice of a host city, but the choice of a message — a message of an open Europe, of respect for diversity," she writes.

Keren Atias Peretz, a music producer and director of the city's youth ensemble "Koll Ort", wrote from Nahariya. She wants young people from the Israeli city and from Burgas to work together during the contest. For her, music is a mission that teaches young people friendship, mutual respect and confidence. "Music is a universal language, and Eurovision is a bridge that brings cultures together while letting them celebrate their own identity," she says.

Also from Nahariya is a letter from the Sciences and Arts ORT school, addressed to mayor Dimitar Nikolov, the city council and the contest organisers. It says differences today are often used to divide people, but music remains a language that reminds people of their shared humanity.

Historian, teacher and poet Csaba Zsebők, a member of the jury for the "Whoever Saves One Life Saves an Entire World" contest, writes about what struck him in Burgas and recalls taking part in a meeting of Bulgarian and Hungarian poets in the city. Dominique Carillo, an Aleph partner and a teacher involved in the international contest, writes that Burgas could become "a home of unity, friendship and peace".

The letter writers say hosting Eurovision is a big honour for Burgas and for Bulgaria. Millions of viewers will see the city's culture, hospitality, tolerance and diversity, they write. The city council says the contest gives the city, the region and the country a chance to show their culture, history, traditions and hospitality to an international audience.

Bulgarian National Television and the European Broadcasting Union officially chose Burgas as host. The contest will be held in May 2027 at Arena Burgas: the two semi-finals are on 11 and 13 May, and the final is on 15 May. Preparations are already under way. The city council, BNT and the European Broadcasting Union are working on the organisation, the venue, logistics and coordination between the bodies involved.