As First Reported by Walla: First Eurovision Semi-Final in Bulgaria to Be Held on Memorial Day

The European Broadcasting Union announced that the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Burgas, Bulgaria, will take place on Israel's Memorial Day, May 11, 2027. The second semi-final will be on May 13, and the final on May 15. Israel is expected to request to participate in the second semi-final. The union also updated the 2027 rules: a minimum age of 18 and a security clause for relocating the contest.

The European Broadcasting Union announced this morning that the first semi-final of the 71st Eurovision Song Contest, to be held in Bulgaria next year, will take place on May 11, 2027, which falls on Israel's Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers. The second semi-final will be held on May 13, and the final on May 15. It was also reported that the city of Burgas was chosen to host the contest, after beating Sofia. The decision on the date of the first semi-final poses a problem for Israel, which will need to ask the union to participate in the second semi-final, similar to previous cases in Eurovision 2011 and 2024. Meanwhile, the union published an update to the 2027 contest rules, including raising the minimum age for participants to 18, and a clause allowing the union to move the contest from a winning country in the event of a military conflict or sensitive security situation. The media has raised suspicions that the latter clause is intended to deal with the possibility that Israel will win, after finishing second twice in a row.