Last updated on March 5, 2026
22 events and festivals in Bulgaria this February
In traditional Bulgarian culture, February is seen as a threshold – the moment when frozen winter still holds on, but spring has already started knocking.
Here, February is known as Malak Sechko (“Little Cutter”), a time connected with purification, protection, and transformation.
February is a month of opposites:
- winter turning toward spring
- sickness shifting to fertility
- danger slowly giving way to protection
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These resources will help you plan your trip to Bulgaria:
- Flights: I compare prices on Kiwi, Skyscanner, and Omio.
- Accommodation: I mostly book with Booking, Vrbo, and Agoda.
- Tours & activities: I plan with GetYourGuide and Viator.
- Transfers: If i need an airport pickups or a transfer, I’d go to GetTransfer.
- Car rental: I compare prices on LocalRent or GetRentACar
- Mobile internet: Use eSIMs like Saily.
- Travel insurance: I usually check HeyMondo (5% off) or SafetyWing.
February events in Bulgaria
- 06.02.2026 (Fri)
- Hristo Smirnenski Hut (Belovo Municipality, Pazardzhik region)
- Winter sports, mountain experiences, creative activities, and good vibes in the nature of Belmeken.
🍷 Municipal Wine Festival – Skalitsa
- 07.02.2026 (Sat)
- Skalitsa village, Tundzha municipality (Yambol region)
- A local wine celebration with rituals for abundance and a good harvest and competitions for homemade wines, rakia, cured meats, and cheeses.
👩🏻🍳 Festival of Homemade Sudzhuk (Bozhurovo Sudzhuk Fest)
- 07.02.2026 (Sat)
- Bozhurovo, Kubrat municipality (Razgrad region)
- A festival dedicated to homemade sudzhuk with local recipes, tastings, and a competition for the best sudzhuk. Motto: “Once you try it, you stop complaining.”
👹 Winter Carnival “Tsurki in Asenovo”
- 07.02.2026 (Sat)
- Asenovo village, Nikopol municipality (Pleven region)
- A traditional masquerade carnival with masked “Tsurki,” noisy rituals, and playful customs marking the start of Lent.
- 07.02.2026 (Sat)
- Ilindentsi village (Strumyani Municipality, Blagoevgrad region)
- Ancient Thracian ritual “Rosalii,” preserved for over 4,000 years, centered around wine, fire, and purification.
🍷 Balkan Mountain Gathering: “Warm Hearts with Wine and Love”
- 07.02.2026 (Sat)
- Near lift Sopot, Sopot (Plovdiv region)
- Celebration of Trifon Zarezan and St. Valentine’s with homemade wine contests, poetry, and folk fun.
🍷 Open Doors Day – “Danube Winemakers” Association
- 07-08.02.2026 (Sat-Sun)
- Boichinovtsi city (Montana region)
- Wineries from the Danube Plain open their doors for Trifon Zarezan, offering a look into local winemaking and vineyard traditions.
👹 National Masquerade Festival “Dzhamala”
- 07-08.02.2026 (Sat-Sun)
- Kyustendil
- Masquerade groups from all over Bulgaria gather alongside local craftsmen and artists, offering handmade masks, kukeri accessories, traditional items, and souvenirs.
🍷 Golden Grape Festival (Zlaten Grozd)
- 07-08.02.2026 (Sat-Sun)
- Melnik (Sandanski Municipality, Blagoevgrad region)
- A wine festival with master winemakers, tastings, traditional music, and dancing.
👩🏻🍳 Festival of Bacon and Mulled Rakia
- 07-08.02.2026 (Sat-Sun)
- Apriltsi (Lovech region)
- Tastings of local bacon and mulled rakia, culinary competitions, and live music.
🌍 Holiday & Spa International Tourism Fair
- 12-14.02.2026 (Thur-Sat)
- Sofia city
- An international tourism exhibition bringing together travel professionals, destinations, tour operators, and hospitality businesses from Bulgaria and abroad.
- 12-15.02.2026 (Thur-Sun)
- Velingrad (Pazardzhik region)
- Tupan (traditional drum) workshops for beginners and advanced players, celebrating Trifon Zarezan.
🌾 AGRA 2026 – International Agricultural Exhibition
- 17-21.02.2026 (Tue-Sat)
- Plovdiv city
- Major agricultural forum showcasing innovative solutions, modern machinery, quality products, and services.
- 17-21.02.2026 (Tue-Sat)
- Plovdiv city
- International exhibition for food and beverage production, packaging, machines, and technologies.
🍷 Culinary & Music Show “Naughty Wine”
- 21.02.2026 (Sat)
- Dragovishtitsa village (Kostinbrod Municipality, Kyustendil region)
- Homemade wines, local producers, guest winemakers, a culinary and music program featuring traditional Bulgarian dishes.
👩🏻🍳 Folklore Festival “Mulled Rakia and Sour Cabbage Soup”
- 21.02.2026 (Sat)
- Babovo village, Slivo Pole Municipality (Ruse region)
- Winter food celebration featuring sour cabbage soup, hot rakia, folklore music, dancing, and traditional costumes.
- 21.02.2026 (Sat)
- Kaynardzha village (Silistra region)
- Wine tastings, folklore performances, ethnographic displays, and guest participants from across the Dobruja region and beyond.
👩🏻🍳 “Winter Tran Dishes” Fest
- 22.02.2026 (Sun)
- Yarlovtsi village (Tran Municipality, Pernik region)
- Traditional dishes from the Tran region, live cooking demonstrations, local products, and presentations of seasonal customs, including Sirni Zagovezni traditions.
👹 Carnival Parade (Sirni Zagovezni)
- 22.02.2026 (Sun)
- Asenovgrad (Plovdiv region)
- Kukeri bells, masks, music, and carnival atmosphere marking Sirni Zagovezni.
👹 Kukeri Festival “Kostenets 2026”
- 22.02.2026 (Sun)
- Kostenets city (Sofia region)
- A Sirni Zagovezni celebration featuring over 800 participants from 10 kukeri groups across the country, including a traditional masquerade parade and music program.
👹 International Masquerade Festival “Kukerlandia”
- 26.02-01.03.2026 (Thur-Sun)
- Yambol city
- One of Bulgaria’s biggest Kukeri festivals with masked parades, concerts, exhibitions, and international groups.
⛷️ GAP FEST – Belmeken Road Gap
- 27.02-03.03.2026 (Fri-Tue)
- Hristo Smirnenski Hut (Belovo Municipality, Pazardzhik region)
- A winter sports festival with a specially built Fun Park near the hut, complemented by music, screenings, evening parties, and social events.
Traditional Bulgarian holidays in February
Because February is considered a “borderline” and even dangerous month, many of its holidays are focused on protection, health, and fertility for the coming year.
Here are the most important ones you’ll hear about or experience while traveling in Bulgaria:
- Sretenie Gospodne/Rooster’s Day (02.02) – Also known as Winter Virgin Mary or Petlyovden (Rooster’s day). This day marks the purification of the Mother of God 40 days after childbirth and carries strong protective symbolism. It’s also the day of the male child (therefore the roosters) and a rooster is sacrificed to protect the children from diseases.
- Winter Simeonovden (03.02) – A day dedicated to protection against wolves and other wild or “otherworldly” animals; very much in line with February’s reputation as a risky, liminal time.
- St. Haralampiy / Plague Day (10.02) – St. Haralampiy is believed to “hold the key to pain” and keep the plague chained. He is also the patron saint of beekeepers. Related rituals include maidens making bread and then taking it outside the villages to appease the evil.
- Vlasovden (11.02) – The holiday is linked to the ancient Slavic god Veles and honors the ox as a sacred animal and protector of domestic livestock. Rituals are performed to protect oxen from a disease called Vlas.
- Trifon Zarezan (14.02) – The holiday celebrates Trifon Zarezan, the patron saint of vine-growers and winemakers. It is marked by the ceremonial cutting of vines, wine blessings, and generous drinking.
- Meatfare Saturday (movable, this year on 14.02) – a day of remembrance for the dead. Traditionally, people bring boiled wheat, bread, wine, and sweets. This is the last day when meat is eaten before the Easter fasting period begins.
- Sirni Zagovezni (movable, this year on 22.02) – One of the most emotionally charged holidays of the year and a day when you can see people ask each other for forgiveness and gatherings with massive ritual fires. Related rituals: hamkane, oratnitsa/oileliya, buturnitsi/pernitsi.
Which one do you think is the weirdest? Let me know in the comments!
Stef’s local tips
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Stefani Gospodinova
Founder and Content Creator
Stefani is a travel blogger born and raised in Bulgaria, and the founder of Kiss My Backpack. Having explored the country since childhood, she shares practical tips, local insights, and her own photography to help visitors plan their trip.
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