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Last year on 22 May, Ludogorets beat CSKA Sofia 1-0 to lift the Bulgarian Cup for the fourth time. If you're wondering why this matters a full year later, the answer is European qualification slots and the fact that Bulgarian football's dominance pattern is now so lopsided it's reshaping the domestic game.
Bulgaria's competition watchdog has opened proceedings against Kaufland and T-Market over allegations of unfair trading practices towards suppliers. In Shumen, a 13 km power line feeding the city's main pumping station has no documented owner, leaving maintenance in limbo. Meanwhile, droppings from roosting birds at the cooperative market are prompting health warnings. The city council has also moved to narrow Simeon Veliki Boulevard to make room for cycle lanes, drawing complaints from drivers.
The new venue launches near the student halls on 22 May with European tournament-grade equipment.
Bulgaria switched to the euro on 1 January 2026. We look at what has happened to everyday prices since, where the quiet mark-ups landed, and how British expats can push back when something looks wrong.
Today's Bulgarian calendar swings the other way: a drowned anarchist turned building contractor, three towns holding municipal days, and one of the most name-heavy days in the entire calendar. Here's what actually matters if you live here.
Building permits in Shumen oblast jumped 24% quarter-on-quarter, though flat counts fell. Free heart screenings land in the city on 28 May. Prime minister Rumen Radev appointed Sevgin Halmi deputy regional governor, while police detained a 24-year-old methamphetamine driver from Novi Pazar.
Two new reactors at Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant are projected by project representatives to generate €55 billion in economic value and contribute 0.8% to GDP annually once operational. The AP1000 units are expected to begin operations in 2037, pending European Commission approval. The economic projections have not been independently verified.
Today marks the birth of Dimităr Kirov, known as DiKiro, born 20 May 1935 in Istanbul. Most British expats wouldn't recognise the name, but you've almost certainly walked past his work without realising it.
A handful of local stories from Shumen this Monday: the municipal assembly voting on the water company's AGM proxies, taxi drivers seeking a tariff hike, a councillor alleging dodgy waste-collection practices, and schools swapping the bell for Dara's Eurovision-winning hit. Plus Shumen's 24 May programme lines up.
Around 150 magistrates have declared five or more apartments each, with total holdings exceeding 20,000 properties. A new analysis criticises Bulgaria's 'complete mess' of an asset disclosure system.
Bulgaria Air restarts its seasonal route on 5 June, offering evening departures four times a week before switching to daily flights by the end of the month. The service runs until September and targets both holidaymakers and business travellers heading to the coast.
A clutch of local updates: afternoon showers forecast for the rest of the week, planned electricity interruptions across Shumen and surrounding towns, a motorcyclists' campaign demanding the dismissal of Bulgaria's insurance and infrastructure watchdogs, a centenary sculpture donation, and the third round of nursery-school admissions.
All ministries have been ordered to slash spending by 10% from September while protecting salaries, as the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party admits borrowing is now unavoidable to plug a shortfall roughly equal to the country's entire fiscal reserve.
Ninety-two years ago today, a group of military officers and nationalist intellectuals overthrew the Bulgarian government, dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution, and banned every political party in the country. Here's what actually happened, and why one small town in the Rhodopes marks this date as its municipal day.
Deputy PM says any deal requires detailed valuation as sanctions pressure mounts on Lukoil's Bulgarian operations, one of Southeast Europe's largest fuel-processing sites.
Police in Shumen and the surrounding region have been busy. Five people detained with narcotics ranging from cannabis to cocaine, a man arrested for stalking his estranged wife, another for threatening a nurse, and a 12-year-old killed in a motorcycle collision near Provadia. Plus, the mayor opens his door to residents next week.
Handball runners-up, power cuts across the city, a temporary reshuffle at the council, and the week's job vacancies. Plus a sunny start to the week with moderating winds.
Born in 1872 in what would soon become Bulgarian territory, Yane Sandanski became the most contradictory figure in Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary history: socialist federalist, brilliant tactician, kidnapper of American missionaries, and eventual assassination victim at the hands of his own side.
DARA's historic Eurovision victory has triggered a national debate over who pays for next year's event, with former finance ministers warning of budget strain and cities jostling for the spotlight.
Four short dispatches from Shumen oblast: Malniya claim a close win in local football, Razgrad pupils take honours in a robotics competition, theatre awards go to 'Puknatini', and Kaolinovo marks the victims of the Revival Process. Separately, no obvious British-expat through-line, but typical for a regional round-up.
Sunbed and umbrella prices shift to euros as Bulgaria moves towards full eurozone entry, with operators capping costs at existing concession limits but exploring legal loopholes for additional charges.
Balkan music star Svetlana Ražnatović will perform at Arena 8888 on 7 November 2026, following two sold-out club shows in March. Tickets range from €30 to €80, though the event has not been confirmed through official channels.
The Black Sea city has officially declared a bid to host next year's contest after Bulgaria's historic win, setting up a potential competition with the capital.
The city council meets next week over a waste-collection breakdown, Bulgaria's annual inflation reaches 6.8%, and Shumen motorcyclists join a national protest over insurance costs.
On 17 May 1965, in a maternity ward in Sofia, Lilia Ignatova was born. By the time she was fifteen she was already winning European Championships. Today is also the day Batak remembers its darkest hour and Gabrovo celebrates being the longest town in Bulgaria.
Most British expats know the umbrella-assassination Markov. Today marks the death of a different one: the literary critic who spent sixteen years running the theory department at Sofia University and built the intellectual scaffolding for how Bulgaria reads its own National Revival.
Three short stories from the city today. Residents can drop off unwanted clothing and shoes at a collection drive near Arena Shumen this morning, while temporary traffic restrictions take effect this afternoon for the National Majorette Dance Festival, 'Madarski Konnik'. Meanwhile, the weather forecast sees sunshine in the east, but yellow warnings for rain and thunderstorms across western Bulgaria.
Makri, once marketed as an €8 million luxury development site, will be auctioned in November at a starting price comparable to a modest Bulgarian apartment after EU environmental rules blocked large-scale construction.
Bulgaria's annual inflation stands at 6.8% as April figures emerge, while police bust a contraband network near Pernik. Closer to home, Shumen's schools sent off 1,165 graduates, the city's ninth batch of refurbished bus stops is underway, and a national student writing competition opened at the university. Five short dispatches from across the region.
Public sector pay rises faster than private, while manufacturing sheds 14,600 jobs. New official figures show mixed fortunes across Bulgaria's labour market in the first quarter of 2026.
Bulgaria's postal operator will restart services to four Middle Eastern countries from 18 May following disruptions caused by the Israel-Iran conflict. Transport routes through the region are recovering gradually, but broader shipping risks remain.
Planned power cuts across the city and surrounding villages, clouds and showers arriving this afternoon, a restored fountain wins funding, and the deputy governor of Shumen region loses his job. Four items from the city over 24 hours.
Singer DARA secured Bulgaria's place in Saturday's Eurovision grand final in Vienna after opening the second semi-final with an energetic performance that impressed juries and viewers. The UK automatically advances as part of the 'Big Five'.
A round-up of recent stories from the city: junior firefighting teams secure podium places, primary-school artists win national recognition, a children's sports festival resumes after a long pause, and the council convenes an emergency session to tackle a mounting waste-collection crisis. From triumphs in the classroom and arena to a breakdown in basic services, it's been an eventful fortnight in Shumen.
Official figures show Bulgaria recorded one of the strongest monthly industrial production increases across the European Union in March 2026, driven by capital goods and consumer durables, as the country registered its first year-on-year growth in over a year.
Planned maintenance is cutting electricity to multiple towns and villages across the Shumen region today and tomorrow. Meanwhile, the mayor of Shumen received an award from Bulgaria's naval academy, and forecasters predict sunshine but unseasonably cool temperatures.
GDP rose by 2.9% year-on-year in the first three months of 2026, driven by strong household consumption and investment, according to preliminary National Statistical Institute estimates. The quarterly increase was 0.7%, though imports outpaced exports and the trade balance remained negative.
Three cultural items from Shumen this week. The city's Philharmonia is preparing a Side by Side concert featuring young prize-winners, police visited a kindergarten to teach children about road safety, and the 20th edition of the Magia na Tantsa dance festival opens for entries. Meanwhile, the national police reshuffle sees Iliya Ivanov return to Gabrovo as regional director, having left Shumen after only a few months.
Bulgarian authorities arrested 12 people and recovered more than a kilogram of pure fentanyl alongside cocaine, marijuana, and €385 in cash during a multi-location operation targeting drug distribution networks across the capital.
Brussels unveils reform to let passengers book multi-operator journeys through one platform, with automatic compensation for missed connections and mandated early ticket release. Proposals must clear lengthy negotiations before becoming law.
Police in the Shumen region detained a cocaine-positive driver following a crash in Veliki Preslav, arrested three people for domestic violence offences, and local bikers are preparing a Friday protest over soaring motorcycle insurance costs. Separately, the city's identity documents office will operate shortened hours for pest control.
Proposed legislation targeting retail pricing faces sharp criticism from business groups and economists who argue that the new rules will impose administrative costs on businesses, create market distortion, and fail to address the real drivers of inflation in Bulgaria.
Annual inflation jumped three percentage points in a single month, driven by sharp rises in diesel, petrol, and airfares linked to Middle East tensions. Food, clothing, and entertainment prices also climbed sharply in April 2026.
Three stories from Shumen and the region: the poverty line climbs, waste collection teeters on collapse as most trucks sit broken, and three city schoolgirls head to Italy to compete in a European computing olympiad.
Official price data shows a standard eight-item shopping basket costs just over €20 in Shumen and Razgrad but exceeds €38 in Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo. The government is preparing new enforcement powers to tackle regional price gaps and unfair trading practices.
Yellow weather alert issued for 20 areas as forecast predicts gusts, scattered thunderstorms, hail and a sharp temperature drop across northern, central and eastern regions on 13 May.
Former Deputy Finance Minister Lyudmila Elkova has warned that Bulgaria may breach the EU's 3% budget deficit threshold by the end of 2026, potentially triggering a formal excessive deficit procedure. She argues the country needs a three to five year fiscal strategy to restore balance, but says the political will to make difficult spending cuts remains uncertain.
Shumen faces a series of planned disruptions today as electricity maintenance affects multiple neighbourhoods and utilities, while a water outage hits Matnitsa. Food safety inspectors found no expired products at five school and university canteens, though some premises need maintenance work.
A 70-year-old man died and 16 people were hurt, including a child, after a bus and truck collided on the Hemus Highway just outside Sofia shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Eight ambulances attended the scene and a second serious crash near Vladaya injured five more people the same night.
Tourism officials gathered in Varna on 11 May to market Bulgaria as a secure, good-value alternative to pricier Mediterranean neighbours. Whether the pitch matches the reality remains to be tested.
Progressive Bulgaria has tabled a wide-reaching legislative package aimed at curbing speculation and unfair pricing in retail, including a novel daily reference price to be published by the Ministry of Economy. The proposals would also double competition fines and extend mandatory price reporting by large chains.
Weekly food market data shows green beans reached €4.25 per kilo as the season started (a typical seasonal spike expected to fall in coming weeks), while fresh potatoes fell 40% since mid-April. Regional price gaps persist, with shoppers in Plovdiv and Pazardzhik paying almost double what those in Shumen and Razgrad pay for the same basket.
Standard petrol climbed to €1.52 per litre in early May while diesel dropped to €1.78, according to Fuelo platform data, with freight operators keeping a close eye on transport costs.
Northeastern Bulgarian city announces programme featuring children's concerts, street basketball and folk performances. President Yotova to light ceremonial flame outside municipality building.
More than 200,000 spectators lined Sofia's streets as France's Paul Magnier won his second stage victory in three days, capping Bulgaria's debut as host of the world-renowned Italian cycling race.
Three stories from Bulgaria's sporting weekend. Shumen 61 lost the opening match of the men's handball championship final series to Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, while Botev Vratsa salvaged a late draw against Septemvri in the battle to avoid relegation from efbet Liga. In the Central OFG-Shumen football league, Chavdar 1926 were awarded a 9:0 service win after their opponents Mladost 2024 were reduced to fewer than seven players.
Bulgarian authorities seized 47 endangered birds with falsified documents at Ruse border crossing, including hornbills worth €25,000 per pair. Investigators suspect the haul is part of a wider trafficking network moving protected species from Turkey into Central Europe.
A guided pedestrian tour exploring Bulgarian literature, theatre and sculpture begins from Dobri Voynikov square, organised by the Municipal Enterprise for Tourism and led by a licensed guide as part of a cultural tourism push.
How Bulgaria joined the Axis, refused to fight the Russians, saved thousands of Jews within its borders while deporting thousands from occupied territories, and emerged from World War II with more land than it started with (a claim that remains subject to historical interpretation).
More than 300 works by the Surrealist master are now on display in Pernik, marking the largest Dalí show ever staged in Bulgaria. The exhibition runs until September.