
- 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
2020
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
January 25–27: Surva Festival, Pernik (Bulgarian masquerade games)
February 1: Day of Remembrance and Respect to Victims of the Communist Regime
March 3: Liberation (from Ottoman rule) Day
April 17–20: Orthodox Easter Weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday; closures)
May 1: Labor Day (closures)
May 6: St. George's Day (Gergiovden, closures)
May 14–18: Balkan Folklore Festival, Veliko Tarnovo
May 24: Sts. Cyril and Methodius Day (celebrating Bulgarian culture and the Cyrillic alphabet; closures)
May 21–June 28 (likely): Sofia Music Weeks
June 5–7: Rose Festival, Kazanlak
June 10—20: International Chamber Music Festival, Plovdiv
Late June–early November: Varna Summer International Music Festival (classical music)
July 26–30 (likely): International Folklore Festival Varna
July 31–August 3: The Unbeaten Path Festival, Kovachevitsa
August 5–9 (likely): Burgas Street Food & Art Festival
August 8–12: Bansko Jazz Festival
August 15: Varna Day
August 24–28 (likely): International Folklore Festival, Burgas (dancing and music)
August 27–September 5 (likely): Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol
September (Fridays and Saturdays): Puppet Theater Festival, Sofia
September 2–7 (likely): Euro Folk Black Sea Fest, Tsarevo
September 3–8 (likely): Ethno Rhythms International Folklore Dance and Music Festival, Golden Sands
September 6: Unification Day (closures, celebrations in Plovdiv)
September 12–November 22 (likely): Balabanov's House Music Days, Plovdiv
September 18–20 (likely): Bulgarian Plum Festival, Troyan
September 18–October 17 (likely): One Dance Week, Plovdiv (contemporary dance)
September 22: Independence Day
September 23: Independence Day observance (closures)
November 1: Revival Leaders' Day (observances)
December 24–25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (closures)
December 26: Second Day of Christmas (closures)
December 31: New Year's Eve (festivities, especially in Sofia)