Deputy Prime Minister Hristov and Mayor Nikolov discussed the city's preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov visited Burgas and held a meeting with Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, dedicated to the city's preparations for hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. The discussion covered the necessary administrative procedures, coordination between institutions, venue preparation, security, logistics, and Bulgaria's presentation to the international audience."An exciting time lies ahead of us. We have a completely seamless working dialogue with the Municipality of Burgas. We will provide everything necessary to make things happen as they should," stated Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov.He emphasized that the state views hosting the contest not only as a major cultural event but also as an opportunity to present Bulgaria in a new way to millions of viewers worldwide. According to him, our country has an extremely diverse tourism offering – from seaside and mountain tourism to a rich cultural-historical heritage and high-quality cuisine – but is still not recognizable enough on the international tourism market."We perceive Eurovision as an opportunity to promote Bulgaria. We offer the full range of tourist services – delicious food, mountains, ski resorts, the sea, historical tourism. This is an opportunity to show all of this to the world," the Deputy Prime Minister added.

Ivo Hristov described Burgas as one of the most ambitious cities in the country and stated that its selection as host is a logical result of its development over recent years. He emphasized that his role is to coordinate and support cooperation among all institutions involved in organizing the contest."My role is to assist the process – to ensure that everything both the Municipality and BNT (Bulgarian National Television) need is provided, so they can organize the event," Hristov added. He assured that the state would also provide assistance regarding security, so that the contest's guests feel safe and protected during their stay in Bulgaria.Mayor Dimitar Nikolov emphasized the need for swift and precise preparation, as the deadlines leading up to the contest are tight."Let's put an end to the discussion regarding the choice of city and stop looking back. We have no time to lose. Many administrative procedures still need to be coordinated, including strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act," the mayor stated. He explained that a detailed assessment of all necessary activities is currently underway, with strict inter-institutional coordination and deadline compliance being the top priorities.One of the main goals is to complete the venue preparations by the end of the year, in cooperation with Bulgarian National Television, so that a test concert can be held with the participation of experts from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This will allow sufficient time to identify and resolve any potential weaknesses before the actual event.The mayor described the Deputy Prime Minister's role as extremely important for the successful coordination of the process. Numerous state institutions and ministries will be involved in preparing for the contest, which requires rapid communication and effective interaction among them."We are pleased that right from our first conversation we received this understanding and positive attitude, because this concerns the entire country, not just a single region – we must present ourselves to the world in the best possible way," Nikolov said.

According to him, a significant number of the international guests will be visiting Bulgaria for the very first time. Therefore, hosting the event should be leveraged not only to stage the contest successfully but also to leave a lasting, positive impression of the country."We need to ensure that when they leave, they will recommend us to their family and friends. This is an incredible challenge," the mayor emphasized.Dimitar Nikolov urged that the preparations for Eurovision become a shared national cause, bringing together both state institutions and political forces."Let Eurovision be the issue where we all shake hands and unite. This unity is vital—we have had enough divisions," the mayor stated, pointing out that the Burgas Municipal Council is completely unanimous regarding all initiatives tied to hosting the event.The meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov and Mayor Dimitar Nikolov marks a key step in Burgas's preparation for one of the largest international events ever hosted in Bulgaria. The ultimate goal is to organize the contest to the highest professional standards while maximizing its potential as a powerful international showcase for both Burgas and Bulgaria.