What’s on in Bulgaria

Burgas Christmas Handmade Bazaar

4 Dec 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 · Burgas

A December market of handmade gifts, traditional crafts and festive decorations in central Burgas.

Sts Cyril and Methodius Square, Burgas

The Nutcracker, Opera Plovdiv ballet

4 Dec 2026 – 5 Dec 2026 · Plovdiv

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet, with a Saturday morning show for families, to start the Christmas season.

Boris Hristov House of Culture, Plovdiv

Nikulden Ritual Feast, Burgas City Holiday

6 Dec 2026 · Burgas

On St Nicholas Day, Burgas's patron feast, the museum lays out a traditional Nikulden table in the city centre.

The garden by the Clock, central Burgas

Varna Christmas Tree Lighting and Concert

6 Dec 2026 · Varna

Varna switches on its Christmas tree and festive lights with a children's concert on Nezavisimost Square.

Nezavisimost Square, Varna

Christmas Golden Gala Concert with the Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra

17 Dec 2026 · Stara Zagora

Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra plays a festive Christmas gala on the Stara Zagora opera stage.

State Opera Stara Zagora, 30 Mitropolit Metodiy Kusev Blvd, Stara Zagora

Christmas Eve and Christmas (Budni Vecher and Koleda)

24 Dec 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 · Across Bulgaria

Three public holidays: a meatless Christmas Eve feast with an odd number of dishes, then two days of Christmas.

New Year Concert: Stefan Ilchev and Friends

30 Dec 2026 · Plovdiv

Opera Plovdiv's New Year concert, a festive evening to close 2026.

Boris Hristov House of Culture, Plovdiv

Together on New Year’s Eve, Varna

31 Dec 2026 · Varna

A five-hour open-air New Year's concert in central Varna with Bulgarian and international acts.

Nezavisimost Square, Varna

Starchevata New Year Kukeri Festival

1 Jan 2027 · Razlog

Razlog greets the New Year with Starchevata: kukeri in furs, masks and bells parade and dance on the main square.

Central square, Razlog (about 6 km from Bansko)

Jordan’s Day (Yordanovden / Epiphany)

6 Jan 2027 · Across Bulgaria

Priests throw a cross into icy rivers and lakes, and young men dive in to retrieve it.

Epiphany Cross in the Sea, Burgas

6 Jan 2027 · Burgas

A cross is thrown from the Burgas pier into the Black Sea and swimmers race to retrieve it.

Epiphany Cross Ritual on the Yantra

6 Jan 2027 · Veliko Tarnovo

On Epiphany, a priest throws a cross into the icy Yantra and young men dive in to retrieve it.

Vladishki Bridge, Yantra River, Veliko Tarnovo

Epiphany Cross in the Sea, Sozopol

6 Jan 2027 · Sozopol

Bulgaria's Epiphany tradition: a blessed cross is thrown into the sea and swimmers race to bring it back.

Epiphany Cross in the Sea, Varna

6 Jan 2027 · Varna

On Epiphany a priest throws a cross into the Black Sea and young men swim out to rescue it.

Epiphany Cross Ritual on the Danube

6 Jan 2027 · Ruse

A procession from Holy Trinity Cathedral to the Danube, where the cross is thrown into the river for the Epiphany blessing.

Danube riverbank, Ruse (procession from Holy Trinity Cathedral)

Ruse Liberation Day

20 Feb 2027 · Ruse

Ruse marks its 1878 liberation with a memorial service, a ceremony at the Pantheon and a historical reenactment.

Pantheon of the National Revival, Ruse

Baba Marta Day – martenitsa season

1 Mar 2027 · Across Bulgaria

Bulgarians swap red-and-white martenitsi on 1 March to welcome spring and wish each other health.

Liberation Day (National Day of Bulgaria)

3 Mar 2027 · Across Bulgaria

Bulgaria's national day marks liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878, with flags and ceremonies.

Sound and Light Show on Liberation Day

3 Mar 2027 · Veliko Tarnovo

On Bulgaria's National Day, Tsarevets lights up in the free Sound and Light show telling the story of the medieval capital.

Tsarevets Fortress, viewed from Tsar Asen I Square, Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo Day

22 Mar 2027 · Veliko Tarnovo

The old capital's city holiday honours Tsar Ivan Asen II's 1230 victory, with a liturgy, ceremonies and evening events.

Holy Forty Martyrs Church and city centre, Veliko Tarnovo

Orthodox Easter (Velikden)

30 Apr 2027 – 3 May 2027 · Across Bulgaria

Bulgaria's biggest religious holiday: Easter Sunday is 2 May 2027, with public holidays from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Ruse City Day (St George’s Day)

6 May 2027 · Ruse

Ruse celebrates its city day on St George's Day with exhibitions, museum open days and an evening concert on the square.

Square in front of Ruse Municipality, Ruse

Day of Bulgarian Education, Culture and the Slavonic Alphabet

24 May 2027 · Across Bulgaria

A public holiday honouring Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Cyrillic alphabet, with school parades and flowers.

Kazanlak Rose Festival 2027

4 Jun 2027 – 6 Jun 2027 · Kazanlak

The 124th Rose Festival, with the Rose Queen's crowning, a rose-picking ritual and a huge street parade.

Kazanlak town centre and the surrounding rose fields

International Folklore Festival Varna

29 Jul 2027 – 3 Aug 2027 · Varna

Folk dance and music ensembles from around the world perform in Varna during this CIOFF festival.

Various venues, Varna

Varna City Day (Feast of the Assumption)

15 Aug 2027 · Varna

Varna celebrates its patron feast with a cathedral liturgy, an icon procession, concerts and evening fireworks.

Various venues, Varna

Sofia Day – the capital’s city holiday

17 Sep 2027 · Sofia

Sofia celebrates its patron saints Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love with ceremonies, concerts and city events.

St. Sofia Church and central Sofia

Independence Day in Veliko Tarnovo

22 Sep 2027 · Veliko Tarnovo

Bulgaria's independence was declared in Veliko Tarnovo, and the city marks 22 September with ceremonies and a free light show.

Tsar Asen I Square and Tsarevets, Veliko Tarnovo

Bansko Day (Liberation Anniversary)

5 Oct 2027 · Bansko

Bansko's town holiday marks its 1912 liberation with a liturgy, a flag ceremony and a historical reenactment.

Holy Trinity Church and Georgi Izmirliev Square, Bansko