Public Holidays in Bulgaria
Official public holidays
| Date | Holiday | In Bulgarian |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day | Нова година |
| 3 March | Liberation Day, the national holiday | Ден на Освобождението |
| Moveable | Orthodox Easter: Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday | Велики петък, Велика събота, Великден |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Ден на труда |
| 6 May | St George’s Day and the Day of the Bulgarian Army | Гергьовден |
| 24 May | The Day of Bulgarian culture, education and Slavonic literature | Ден на българската азбука, просвета и култура |
| 6 September | Unification Day, marking the union with Eastern Rumelia in 1885 | Ден на Съединението |
| 22 September | Independence Day, marking 1908 | Ден на независимостта |
| 24 December | Christmas Eve | Бъдни вечер |
| 25–26 December | Christmas | Рождество Христово |
Source: Wikipedia: Public holidays in Bulgaria1
Dates in 2026 and 2027
Orthodox Easter usually falls on a different date from Western Easter. These are the moveable dates and the extra days off.2,3
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodox Easter, Good Friday to Easter Monday | 10–13 April | 30 April – 3 May |
| Extra days off | 2 January; 25 May; 7 September; 28 December | 3 May for Labour Day; 27–28 December |
Source: timeanddate.com: Holidays in Bulgaria in 2026; timeanddate.com: Holidays in Bulgaria in 20272,3
Holiday dates can change if the government declares extra days off. Check before planning deadlines or travel around a holiday.2,3
Other observances
These days are widely marked but are normal working days.1,2
- 1 March: Baba Marta, when people give each other red and white martenitsi.
- 8 March: Mother’s Day.
- 1 November: Revival Day, a holiday for schools.
- 26 December: Father’s Day.
Source: Wikipedia: Public holidays in Bulgaria; timeanddate.com: Holidays in Bulgaria in 20261,2
Frequently Asked Questions
How many official public holidays are there in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has 14 official public holidays a year, counting each day of Orthodox Easter and Christmas separately. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next working day is usually a day off.
When is Orthodox Easter in Bulgaria in 2026 and 2027?
In Bulgaria, Orthodox Easter falls from 10 to 13 April in 2026 and from 30 April to 3 May in 2027, from Good Friday through Easter Monday.
Which Bulgarian observances are normal working days, and is 26 December a public holiday?
Baba Marta on 1 March, Mother’s Day on 8 March and Revival Day on 1 November are widely marked but are normal working days; 1 November is a holiday for schools. 26 December is Father’s Day and also an official Christmas public holiday in Bulgaria.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Public holidays in Bulgaria
- timeanddate.com: Holidays in Bulgaria in 2026
- timeanddate.com: Holidays in Bulgaria in 2027
Facts checked 13 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information.
