Eurovision 2027 in Burgas: how restaurants can win big
In May 2027 Europe comes to Burgas. The Eurovision Song Contest 2027 takes place in Bulgaria for the first time, at Arena Burgas, with semi-finals on 11 and 13 May and the grand final on 15 May. For the city’s restaurants, cafés and bars this is the biggest week in years. Here is how to be ready for it.
until the first semi-final in Burgas, 11 May 2027
In short
- Eurovision 2027 is at Arena Burgas: semi-finals on 11 and 13 May, final on 15 May 2027.
- At the last edition in Basel about 90,000 visitors came, and international guests stayed four nights on average.
- Guests will speak English, German, Italian, Ukrainian and dozens of other languages: a menu they understand is a must.
- Queues are the most expensive problem in such a week: QR ordering at the table and online pickup orders shorten them.
- Start now: menu, photos and Google profile should be ready by March 2027.
Eurovision 2027 in Burgas: the facts
Bulgaria won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with Dara, and by tradition the winner hosts the next contest. On 13 August 2026 the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and BNT named Burgas the host city. In the final round Burgas beat Sofia, after Plovdiv and Varna had dropped out.
The stage will be Arena Burgas, the country’s newest sports and concert venue, opened in 2023, with room for up to 15,000 people at concerts. It will be the 71st edition of the contest.
Eurovision 2027
- First semi-finalArena Burgas
- 11.05
- Second semi-final
- 13.05
- Grand final71st edition
- 15.05
- seats at Arena Burgasfor concerts
- 15,000
What Eurovision means for restaurants
The contest is not one evening. Fans arrive days earlier, watch rehearsals and shows, walk the city and eat out three times a day. The latest numbers come from Basel: a study by HWZ and Ticketcorner put the added value of Eurovision 2025 at CHF 91.2 million from about 90,000 visitors.
International guests in Basel stayed four nights on average. Visitors from other European countries spent about CHF 1,332 per person, and food and drink in venues alone came to CHF 8.7 million. Burgas is smaller than Basel, so the competition for every free table will be even more visible.
Source: HWZ and Ticketcorner study on Eurovision 2025 (as reported by markt-kom). Figures are estimates based on a survey of 2,585 visitors.
Who the guests are and what they expect
Eurovision brings fans from all over Europe and beyond. Most speak English, but they read faster in their own language, compare prices in euro and want to know what is on the plate before they order. Many travel in groups and are in a hurry for the next show.
A menu they understandMust
Clear English names, a short description of every dish and prices in euro. Shopska salad stays shopska salad, with two lines of explanation.
Allergens without askingMust
A guest with an allergy does not want to explain it in a foreign language. The 14 allergens should be visible right in the menu.
Speed at peaksPeaks
Before and after the shows everybody wants to eat at the same time. Every minute at the till is a lost table.
Card paymentsImportant
Tourists pay by card and phone. Till and terminal need to hold up at peak times.
Found on GoogleVisibility
Fans search “restaurant near Arena Burgas” on their phones. Your profile decides whether they come to you.
Something localIdea
Guests want to taste Bulgaria. One clear offer of local dishes sells better than a long menu.
The plan: from now to May 2027
Eurovision week is not the moment to change systems. Everything guests will use should be tested months earlier. Here is a realistic schedule.
A menu every guest understands
A paper menu in one language is not enough. A digital menu behind a QR code opens on the guest’s phone without an app and shows the interface in their language. In Menuto the interface and allergens come in six languages (Bulgarian, English, German, Russian, Italian and Ukrainian), and dish descriptions are written in Bulgarian and English. A guest from Germany sees the menu in German and the dishes in English.
More on languages: multilingual menu for tourists and the complete QR menu guide.
The Eurovision menu
- Every dish has an English name and a one or two line description.
- Prices are in euro and match the till.
- Allergens are marked on every dish.
- There are photos of at least the best sellers.
- The QR code is on every table, at the entrance and in the window.
- There is a “taste Bulgaria” offer with 3 to 5 local dishes.
Total6 items
Shorter queues at peak times
The most expensive thing in such a week is not the product, it is time. If a guest waits ten minutes for a waiter to take the order, the table frees up later. So hand the order to the guest: they order through the QR code on the table, the order goes straight to the kitchen, and the waiter serves and clears.
- #01
QR ordering at the table
Guests order from their phone without waiting. Waiters have time for more tables.
- #02
Online pickup orders
Fans order on the way and only stop to collect. More in pickup orders.
- #03
Kitchen display
All orders in one place, with status and time. No lost tickets. See kitchen display.
- #04
Self-service kiosk
For fast food: guests order on a screen, you issue the fiscal receipt at the till. See self-service kiosk.
Getting found: Google and your website
Fans will search on their phones for “food near Arena Burgas” or “Bulgarian restaurant Burgas”. Google shows profiles with accurate hours, photos and a menu link. Update your profile by February and add special hours for 11–15 May. Step by step: Google Business Profile for restaurants.
Do
- Contest-week opening hours entered in Google in good time.
- A link to your menu and to online ordering in the profile.
- Photos of real dishes taken in daylight.
- Replies to reviews in English.
Avoid
- A PDF menu that loads slowly on mobile data.
- Menu prices that differ from the till.
- Using the Eurovision logo or name in advertising without checking the organisers’ rules.
- A new till or a new system during contest week.
Ready for Eurovision 2027?
Leave your details and we will show you how to prepare your menu, languages and ordering for contest week. No obligation.
- English menu and an interface in six languages
- QR ordering at the table and online pickup orders
- Kitchen display and pickup number screen for the peaks
Frequently asked questions
When is Eurovision 2027?
The semi-finals are on 11 and 13 May 2027 and the final is on 15 May 2027.
Where in Burgas will the contest take place?
At Arena Burgas, the sports and concert venue opened in 2023, with room for up to 15,000 people at concerts.
How many visitors should we expect?
There are no exact forecasts for Burgas yet. For comparison, a study by HWZ and Ticketcorner counted about 90,000 visitors at Eurovision 2025 in Basel.
When should I start preparing?
Now. Menu, languages and photos take weeks, and QR and online ordering should be tested before April 2027.
Can I use the Eurovision logo in my advertising?
The logo and name are protected trademarks of the organisers. Before using them in ads or product names, check the EBU and BNT rules.
Do I need a new till?
Not necessarily. Menu and ordering can run next to your till, and the fiscal receipt keeps coming from it. Do not change the till shortly before the contest.
This article is for information only and is not legal or tax advice.
Sources
- Eurovisionworld: Eurovision 2027 will be held in Burgas, final on 15 May
- PinkNews: Eurovision 2027 host city announced after Bulgaria’s historic win (13.08.2026)
- The Scotsman: Burgas confirmed as Eurovision 2027 host city
- markt-kom: Eurovision Song Contest 2025, 91.2 million francs added value (HWZ / Ticketcorner study)