In a highly anticipated announcement today, the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) has officially confirmed that Bulgaria will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. The move marks the country’s return to the competition after a three-year absence, just in time for the contest’s landmark 70th edition.

The decision is part of a renewed strategy by the national broadcaster to promote Bulgarian culture and artistic talent on a significant international platform. In the official statement, BNT Director-General Emil Koshlukov emphasized the cultural importance of the event. “Eurovision is a stage where cultures meet and stories are shared,” he stated. “BNT supports talented artists, and we are happy that we have once again managed to provide an opportunity for a Bulgarian performer to represent our country before a multi-million audience.”

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomed the news. Martin Green, the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, commented on the significance of Bulgaria’s return: “We are very excited to welcome BNT back to the Eurovision family after a three-year break. Its return is further proof that we remain united by music, and it speaks to the huge popularity of the contest.”

With the confirmation secured, attention will now turn to how the nation will select its entry for Vienna. According to BNT, the upcoming months will be dedicated to establishing the selection process for both the artist and the song. Further details on the format, whether it will be an internal selection or a national final, will be announced in due course.

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria, following the country’s victory in 2025 with the song “Wasted Love” performed by JJ. This will be the third time Vienna has hosted the event, following the contests in 1967 and 2015.

The key dates for Eurovision 2026 are as follows:

  • Semi-Final 1: Tuesday, 12 May
  • Semi-Final 2: Thursday, 14 May
  • Grand Final: Saturday, 16 May

Image source: By Michael Doherty – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118238913

Source: BNT