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Weekly digest

Eurovision 2027 week in review: 21-27 September 2026

The open-air stage in Burgas Sea Garden, the clifftop park along the city's coastline.

This week brought significant developments for Eurovision 2027 in Burgas, with more countries confirming their participation, debates continuing around boycotts, and positive news for future travel to the host city. Visitors planning their trip will find clarity on the growing list of nations expected to compete.

National Selection Progress

The national selection process for Germany’s entry into Eurovision 2027 saw a key milestone this week. Submissions for “Das Deutsche Finale 2027” officially closed on 21 September, according to Eurovoix. This marks an important step for Germany in choosing its representative for the contest in Burgas.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands confirmed its return to the Eurovision Song Contest for 2027 after boycotting the 2026 event. Eurovoix reported on 24 September that Dutch public broadcasters NPO, NOS, and AVROTROS will collaborate on the selection process, ensuring a joint effort for their entry. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomed the Netherlands’ return with a statement, as noted by Eurovoix and eurovision.com. This decision by the Netherlands follows discussions surrounding boycotts, particularly concerning Israel’s participation, as reported by outlets like jpost.com and The Times of Israel.

An illustration showing various national flags around the Arena Burgas, symbolising confirmed participants and ongoing discussions. An illustration showing various national flags around the Arena Burgas, symbolising confirmed participants and ongoing discussions.

Participant Confirmations and Debates

Several countries officially confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2027 this week, while others continued to debate their involvement.

On 21 September, eurovisionfun.com reported rumours of Azerbaijan’s confirmed participation. Cyprus officially joined the lineup for Burgas, with CyBC confirming its participation on 25 September, according to Eurovoix. Georgia also confirmed its spot in the contest, as announced by GPB on 25 September, Eurovoix noted. These confirmations add to the growing list of nations expected to compete in Eurovision 2027.

Belgium’s Dutch-language broadcaster VRT confirmed its participation on 24 September, Eurovoix reported. However, this confirmation was met with a significant development: two VRT unions announced plans to strike on the days of the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, according to Eurovoix on 25 September. This situation could potentially affect the broadcaster’s coverage or support for its entry, though the impact on the contest itself for international visitors is yet to be seen.

The debate over boycotts remained a prominent topic. Lithuania stated on 22 September that it would not join any boycott over Israel’s participation, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı and LRT. Conversely, the Chair of Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, José Pablo López, proposed to the Board of Directors that Spain should not return to Eurovision in 2027. Eurovoix published this news on 23 September, noting that the EBU subsequently issued a statement in response to RTVE’s recommendation. Multiple sources, including ESCToday.com and Euronews.com, covered the Spanish broadcaster’s stance, indicating ongoing discussions within Spain regarding their future involvement. Future Eurovision 2027 tickets availability will depend on confirmed shows and participant numbers.

Further concerns regarding Israel’s participation were raised by Norway’s broadcaster NRK, as reported by That Eurovision Site on 25 September. Meanwhile, Slovenia’s RTVSLO is scheduled to meet with the EBU to discuss its future participation, according to That Eurovision Site on 25 September, indicating their decision is still pending.

Venue and Travel News

Progress on the host venue, Arena Burgas, was also highlighted this week. Stage design for Arena Burgas has officially begun, according to eurovisionfun.com on 21 September. This is a crucial step in preparing the venue for the expected May 2027 shows.

In positive news for travel, Sofia–Burgas flights are confirmed to operate throughout the winter season, as reported by eurovisionfun.com on 26 September. This is an important detail for those planning their journey, potentially offering more consistent travel options outside of peak summer. Visitors can find more information about getting here on our site.

What this means for your trip

The increasing number of confirmed participating countries like Belgium, Cyprus, and Georgia is a positive sign for the scale and diversity of Eurovision 2027. The return of the Netherlands, a major player, further strengthens the contest. While discussions around boycotts from countries like Spain and concerns from Norway continue, these are part of the political landscape leading up to the event and do not yet directly affect the host city preparations. The initiation of stage design for Arena Burgas and the confirmation of year-round Sofia-Burgas flights are excellent news, ensuring tangible progress on the venue and improved accessibility for visitors travelling to Burgas. We will continue to monitor all developments closely in our news section.

Sources

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