Poli Genova will represent Bulgaria at this year’s edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Stockholm between May 10 and 14.

Her selection was announced last week by the public broadcaster, the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), which is responsible for determining the Bulgarian participant.

This will be Poli's second appearance at Eurovision after she represented the country at the 2011 edition in Germany where she did not qualify for the finals.

She successfully hosted the 2015 Junior Eurovision Song Contest which was held at the Arena Armeec hall in Sofia in November last year.

With her excellent performance as a host, Poli gained wide popularity among Eurovision fans and won the Eurostar award of oikotimes.com.

Bulgaria will return to the song contest this year after its last appearance in 2013.

A total of 43 countries will participate in 2016, which equals the record number of contestants in the 2008 and 2011 editions.

For the first time since 1975 a new voting system will be introduced, with each country now to award two set of points - one from its professional jury and one from televoting.

The 61st edition will be hosted by the Swedish capital after Mans Zelmerlow won with "Heroes" in 2015. The Ericsson Globe will be the venue of the contest, which is expected to attract a TV audience of 200 million people.

Due to financial difficulties, BNT did not hold a national selection of the artist and song representing Bulgaria as it had done in previous years.

The Bulgarian entry is currently being prepared by established Bulgarian and international experts and will be revealed by March 14 at the latest.

According to the draw held in January, Poli will perform in the second semifinal on May 12.

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