In previous years , if a country placed in the top 10 countries in the final they automatically qualified to the final of the next contest . Had this rule remained for the 2008 contest , Bulgaria would have directly qualified for the final . However , a change in rules due to the large intake of countries participating in the contest meant that only five countries , the host country and the Big 4 countries , would automatically qualify to the final . As such , Bulgaria were forced to compete in one of the two semi-finals of the 2008 contest in Serbia
2008 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest