Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Bulgaria

Folk dancers, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Folk-dancing festivals abound in Bulgaria.
  • Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates at the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, visit Events in Bulgaria and/or the country's official tourism site.
  • This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout Bulgaria. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
  • See upcoming holidays and festivals across Europe

2023

January 2:  New Year's Day observed (closures)

January 27–29:  Surva Festival, Pernik (Bulgarian masquerade games)

March 3:  Liberation (from Ottoman rule) Day

April 8:  St. Lazarus Day (teen girls in traditional costume roam their towns singing folk songs)

April 14–17:  Orthodox Easter Weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday; closures)

May 1:  Labor Day (closures)

May 6:  St. George's Day (Gergiovden, closures)

May 11–15:  Balkan Folklore Festival, Veliko Tarnovo

May 12–June 4:  One Dance Week, Plovdiv (contemporary dance)

May 23–June 30:  Sofia Music Weeks

May 24:  Sts. Cyril and Methodius Day (celebrating Bulgarian culture and the Cyrillic alphabet; closures)

June 2–4:  Rose Festival, Kazanlak (parade, music)

June 3:  Nestinari, Balgari (fire-walking rituals)

June 23–25:  Bulgarian Cherry Festival, Kyustendil (procession, fireworks)

Mid-June–mid-September (likely):  Varna Summer International Music Festival (classical music)

July 4–9:  "Golden Days" International Folklore Festival, Varna

July 14–16:  Rozhen National Folklore Fair (held only every four years; next in 2027)

August 4–6:  Off the Beaten Path Festival, Kovachevitsa (chamber music); events held in Gotse Delchev on August 3 and Plovdiv on August 9

August 4–6:  International Bagpipe Contest, Gela

August 15:  Varna Day

August 27–September 3 (likely):  Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol

August 30–September 3:  Euro Folk Black Sea Fest, Tsarevo

August 31–September 5:  Ethno Rhythms International Folklore Dance and Music Festival, Golden Sands resort (near Varna)

September 6:  Unification Day (closures, celebrations in Plovdiv)

September–November:  Balabanov's House Music Days concert series, Plovdiv

September 22:  Independence Day

September 22–24:  Bulgarian Plum Festival, Troyan

November 1:  Revival Leaders' Day (observances)

December 24–25:  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (closures)

December 26:  Second Day of Christmas (closures)

December 27–28:  Two extra Christmas-holiday days off

December 31:  New Year's Eve (festivities, especially in Sofia)