January
Bridge plan
Bulgaria’s calendar
More time
for what matters.
All public holidays, days off and the best long-weekend opportunities in one place.
The year at a glance
Bulgaria public holiday calendar 2026
Public holiday Suggested leave day School closure Leave + school closure Day from previous / next year Easter — 12 April Weekend
February
March
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April
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May
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June
July
August
September
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October
November
December
Bridge plan
2026 calendar
Official holidays of the Republic of Bulgaria
The year’s official holidays, with their history and meaning.
Thursday
New Year’s Day
The holiday marks the start of the new calendar year. In Bulgaria it is associated with family gatherings, New Year wishes and the traditional survakane ritual for health and prosperity.
Tuesday
Liberation Day
The Treaty of San Stefano was signed on 3 March 1878, ending the Russo-Turkish War and beginning the restoration of Bulgarian statehood. The date is Bulgaria’s national holiday.
Sunday
Easter Sunday
The Easter holidays include Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. They commemorate Christ’s Passion and Resurrection as a symbol of hope and new life.
Friday
Labour Day
Labour Day grew out of the nineteenth-century international workers’ movement and the campaign for better working conditions. In Bulgaria it honours labour and workers’ social rights.
Wednesday
St George’s Day
St George’s Day honours Saint George and is one of Bulgaria’s best-loved spring celebrations. It is also the Day of Bravery and the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
Sunday
Bulgarian Education and Culture Day
The day honours Saints Cyril and Methodius, their disciples and the development of Bulgarian letters. School processions make 24 May a major celebration of knowledge, language and culture.
Sunday
Unification Day
On 6 September 1885, the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia united after events in Plovdiv. The Unification symbolises national unity and independent Bulgarian resolve.
Tuesday
Independence Day
Bulgaria’s independence was proclaimed in Veliko Tarnovo on 22 September 1908, ending its vassal relationship with the Ottoman Empire and affirming its sovereignty.
Sunday
National Awakeners’ Day
National Awakeners’ Day honours writers, educators, clergy and revolutionaries who preserved Bulgarian identity. It is a non-attendance day for all educational institutions.
For educational institutionsThursday
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a family celebration. Bulgarian tradition calls for an odd number of meat-free dishes and a ritual loaf shared by the whole family.
Friday
Christmas
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and includes two consecutive public holidays. It carries a message of hope, peace and compassion.
Official holidays are defined by Article 154 of Bulgaria’s Labour Code. National Awakeners’ Day is a non-attendance day for educational institutions.
2026 in numbers
How much time do we have off?
A clear view of weekends, official non-working days and paid leave under a standard five-day working week in Bulgaria.
weekends
Every Saturday and Sunday in 2026.
104 daysSaturday + Sunday
official non-working days
Weekdays off due to public holidays.
Excluding weekendswith a 5-day week
paid leave days
The statutory minimum paid annual leave after a full year of employment.
For personal planningannual leave
total days off
When using all 20 paid annual-leave days.
Maximum for the yearwith a 5-day week
The calculation is: 104 weekend days + 13 public-holiday weekdays + 20 paid leave days = 137 days off work in 2026. In other words, in Bulgaria in 2026 we will be off for 37,5% of the year under a standard five-day working week.