The government has approved an extra transfer of more than €4.8m to the Burgas council budget to prepare and stage Eurovision 2027, the cabinet's press office said.

The money will pay for the contest to go ahead on the agreed timetable, the press office said. It covers the test event and further technical work on the Arena Burgas hall.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) chose Burgas to host the 71st Eurovision Song Contest. It will take place in May 2027.

The press office said an event of this size needs a lot of organisational, logistical and technical preparation. International experience shows a partnership between the host country's public broadcaster, the host city and the government, with the cabinet providing co-ordination between institutions, financial support, security and public order.

The cabinet said the contest is a platform for public diplomacy and for building Bulgaria's standing as a partner in Europe's cultural and media space. It called hosting the contest a strategic investment with a high return.

Culture minister Evtim Miloshev told parliament's culture committee on 8 October that the ministry is preparing a programme of events to run alongside the contest. Its aim is to promote Bulgarian culture in Europe and around the world.