Are you living in Bulgaria or going on holiday there? Here’s a list of the public holidays in Bulgaria you need to know in 2026, plus 2027 and 2028 tables to help with longer-term planning.
Bulgaria’s Labour Code and government holiday page list the country’s official public holidays, including New Year’s Day, Liberation Day, the Easter holiday period, Labour Day, St. George’s Day, 24 May, Unification Day, Independence Day, and the Christmas holidays. In 2026, Bulgaria also has a one-off extra non-working day on 2 January linked to the country’s euro changeover.
Whether you live in Bulgaria or are just visiting, it is worth checking these dates in advance. On some of these days, offices, banks, schools, and smaller businesses may be closed or operate on reduced hours. One important detail is that 1 November is not a general public holiday in Bulgaria. It is a day off only for educational establishments.
Public holidays in Bulgaria in 2026
The table below follows Bulgaria’s official holiday rules, the government’s public-holiday list, and the 2026 calendar as currently published.
| Date | Day of week | Holiday name | Local holiday name | Is it a day off work? |
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Нова година | Yes |
| 2 January 2026 | Friday | Additional non-working day | допълнителен неработен ден | Yes |
| 3 March 2026 | Tuesday | Liberation Day | Ден на Освобождението на България от османско иго | Yes |
| 10 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Разпети петък | Yes |
| 11 April 2026 | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Велика събота | Yes |
| 12 April 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Великден | Yes |
| 13 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Светли понеделник / Велики понеделник | Yes |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност | Yes |
| 6 May 2026 | Wednesday | St. George’s Day | Гергьовден, Ден на храбростта и Българската армия | Yes |
| 24 May 2026 | Sunday | Saints Cyril and Methodius Day | Ден на светите братя Кирил и Методий, на българската азбука, просвета и култура и на славянската книжовност | Yes |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Day off for 24 May holiday | почивен ден за 24 май | Yes |
| 6 September 2026 | Sunday | Unification Day | Ден на Съединението | Yes |
| 7 September 2026 | Monday | Day off for Unification Day | почивен ден за Деня на Съединението | Yes |
| 22 September 2026 | Tuesday | Independence Day | Ден на независимостта на България | Yes |
| 24 December 2026 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Бъдни вечер | Yes |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Рождество Христово | Yes |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Second Day of Christmas | Рождество Христово / втори ден на Коледа | Yes |
| 28 December 2026 | Monday | Christmas holiday | почивен ден за Коледа | Yes |
How many public holidays are observed in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria’s core public-holiday list is set by law, and the government also states that if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the first business day, or first two business days, after it become non-working days. That is why some years include extra Monday or Tuesday days off.
For 2026, that means the calendar includes the usual public holidays, plus substitute non-working days after 24 May, 6 September, and 26 December, as well as the one-off non-working day on 2 January 2026.
The most popular holidays in Bulgaria
A few public holidays are especially prominent in Bulgarian public life. Liberation Day on 3 March is the country’s national holiday, while St. George’s Day on 6 May is also the Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
The Easter holiday period is also important, because Bulgaria treats Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday as public holidays. The Christmas block is another key holiday period, with public holidays on 24, 25, and 26 December.
What the public holidays and days off are in Bulgaria
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day falls on 1 January and opens the public-holiday year in Bulgaria. In 2026, it is followed by a special extra non-working day on 2 January.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day is observed on 3 March and is Bulgaria’s national holiday. It commemorates the country’s liberation from Ottoman rule.
Good Friday
Good Friday is part of Bulgaria’s official Easter holiday period. In 2026, it falls on 10 April.
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is also a public holiday in Bulgaria. In 2026, it falls on 11 April.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is one of the statutory public holidays in Bulgaria. In 2026, it falls on 12 April.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday closes the official Easter holiday block. In 2026, it falls on 13 April.
Labour Day
Labour Day is observed on 1 May. When it falls on a weekend, a following business day becomes non-working.
St. George’s Day
St. George’s Day on 6 May is both a public holiday and the Day of Valour and of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
Saints Cyril and Methodius Day
The 24 May holiday celebrates the Bulgarian alphabet, education, culture, and Slavic literature. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so Monday 25 May is also non-working.
Unification Day
Unification Day is observed on 6 September. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so Monday 7 September is also non-working.
Independence Day
Independence Day is celebrated on 22 September and is one of Bulgaria’s fixed-date public holidays.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve on 24 December is a statutory public holiday in Bulgaria.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day falls on 25 December and is a nationwide day off.
Second Day of Christmas
26 December is also a public holiday. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, which is why Monday 28 December becomes an additional non-working day.
Public holidays in Bulgaria in 2027
The 2027 table below follows Bulgaria’s current holiday rules and currently published holiday calendars. Since weekend substitutions apply automatically by law, 2027 includes extra days off after the Christmas weekend.
| Date | Day of week | Holiday name | Local holiday name | Is it a day off work? |
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Нова година | Yes |
| 3 March 2027 | Wednesday | Liberation Day | Ден на Освобождението на България от османско иго | Yes |
| 30 April 2027 | Friday | Good Friday | Разпети петък | Yes |
| 1 May 2027 | Saturday | Holy Saturday / Labour Day | Велика събота / Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност | Yes |
| 2 May 2027 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Великден | Yes |
| 3 May 2027 | Monday | Easter Monday | Светли понеделник / Велики понеделник | Yes |
| 4 May 2027 | Tuesday | Day off for Labour Day | почивен ден за 1 май | Yes |
| 6 May 2027 | Thursday | St. George’s Day | Гергьовден, Ден на храбростта и Българската армия | Yes |
| 24 May 2027 | Monday | Saints Cyril and Methodius Day | Ден на светите братя Кирил и Методий, на българската азбука, просвета и култура и на славянската книжовност | Yes |
| 6 September 2027 | Monday | Unification Day | Ден на Съединението | Yes |
| 22 September 2027 | Wednesday | Independence Day | Ден на независимостта на България | Yes |
| 24 December 2027 | Friday | Christmas Eve | Бъдни вечер | Yes |
| 25 December 2027 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Рождество Христово | Yes |
| 26 December 2027 | Sunday | Second Day of Christmas | Рождество Христово / втори ден на Коледа | Yes |
| 27 December 2027 | Monday | Christmas holiday | почивен ден за Коледа | Yes |
| 28 December 2027 | Tuesday | Christmas holiday | почивен ден за Коледа | Yes |
Public holidays in Bulgaria in 2028
The 2028 dates below are based on Bulgaria’s current holiday rules and currently published calendar listings. Because some 2028 substitute days are still presented as estimates by calendar publishers, these dates are best treated as planning dates based on the current law.
| Date | Day of week | Holiday name | Local holiday name | Is it a day off work? |
| 1 January 2028 | Saturday | New Year’s Day | Нова година | Yes |
| 3 January 2028 | Monday | Day off for New Year’s Day | почивен ден за Нова година | Yes |
| 3 March 2028 | Friday | Liberation Day | Ден на Освобождението на България от османско иго | Yes |
| 14 April 2028 | Friday | Good Friday | Разпети петък | Yes |
| 15 April 2028 | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Велика събота | Yes |
| 16 April 2028 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Великден | Yes |
| 17 April 2028 | Monday | Easter Monday | Светли понеделник / Велики понеделник | Yes |
| 1 May 2028 | Monday | Labour Day | Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност | Yes |
| 6 May 2028 | Saturday | St. George’s Day | Гергьовден, Ден на храбростта и Българската армия | Yes |
| 8 May 2028 | Monday | Day off for St. George’s Day | почивен ден за Гергьовден | Yes |
| 24 May 2028 | Wednesday | Saints Cyril and Methodius Day | Ден на светите братя Кирил и Методий, на българската азбука, просвета и култура и на славянската книжовност | Yes |
| 6 September 2028 | Wednesday | Unification Day | Ден на Съединението | Yes |
| 22 September 2028 | Friday | Independence Day | Ден на независимостта на България | Yes |
| 24 December 2028 | Sunday | Christmas Eve | Бъдни вечер | Yes |
| 25 December 2028 | Monday | Christmas Day | Рождество Христово | Yes |
| 26 December 2028 | Tuesday | Second Day of Christmas | Рождество Христово / втори ден на Коледа | Yes |
| 27 December 2028 | Wednesday | Christmas holiday | почивен ден за Коледа | Yes |
Conclusion
Bulgaria’s 2026 holiday calendar is especially useful because it includes several extra non-working days created by weekend substitutions, plus the special 2 January holiday. With the 2027 and 2028 tables included as well, it is much easier to plan work, travel, and time off ahead of time.
Last Updated on 04/05/2026