Public Holidays in Bulgaria 2027: Dates and Employer Guide

August 25, 2026 • 13 min read •

By Kate Vodopian

Public Holidays in Bulgaria 2027: Dates and Employer Guide

Quick answer: For employees who normally work Monday to Friday, Bulgaria’s 2027 public holiday calendar creates 12 weekday or substitute non-working days.

The longest breaks are:

• Friday, April 30 to Tuesday, May 4 for Orthodox Easter and Labour Day;
• Friday, December 24 to Tuesday, December 28 for Christmas.

Three dates need particular attention:

• Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1, so Tuesday, May 4 becomes a substitute non-working day.
• Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25, so Monday, December 27 becomes a substitute non-working day.
• The second day of Christmas falls on Sunday, December 26, so Tuesday, December 28 becomes a substitute non-working day.

National Awakeners’ Day on Monday, November 1 is a non-working day only for educational establishments.

Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.

Public holidays in Bulgaria are easier to manage than in countries with many regional calendars.

Most official holidays apply across the whole country.

However, employers still need to watch:

• weekend substitute days;
• Orthodox Easter dates;
• local municipal holidays;
• shift patterns;
• and the difference between an official holiday and a substitute non-working day.

That final point matters because the pay rules are not always the same.

How Public Holidays Work in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s official holidays are set by Article 154 of the Labour Code.

Most of the dates are fixed.

Orthodox Easter changes each year.

When an official holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next one or two working days normally become non-working days.

The Easter holidays are an exception.

The four-day Easter period already includes:

• Good Friday;
• Holy Saturday;
• Easter Sunday;
• and Easter Monday.

Easter dates do not create an additional substitute day simply because they fall on a weekend.

However, if another official holiday falls during Easter, its own weekend rule can still apply.

That is exactly what happens with Labour Day in 2027.

Bulgaria Public Holidays in 2027

Verification status: The dates below are based on the Bulgarian Labour Code and the weekend substitution rules in force when this guide was reviewed.

The Council of Ministers can still declare additional one-off non-working days for important events. Any later decision should be added to the company calendar.

Two official holidays fall on Saturday, May 1:

• Holy Saturday;
• Labour Day.

This does not create two separate days off on May 1.

However, Labour Day is covered by the normal weekend substitution rule. This creates the additional non-working day on Tuesday, May 4.

Substitute Non-Working Days in 2027

The following dates are particularly important for work calendars and payroll.

These substitute dates are non-working days.

However, they are not the original official holiday dates.

That distinction can affect how work on those days is paid.

Why Tuesday, May 4 Is a Non-Working Day

Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on May 2, 2027.

The statutory Easter holiday therefore runs from:

• Friday, April 30;
• to Monday, May 3.

Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1, during the Easter period.

Easter holidays do not receive additional weekend compensation.

Labour Day does.

Because Monday, May 3 is already an Easter holiday, the next working day is Tuesday, May 4.

Under the current Labour Code rule, Tuesday, May 4 is therefore a substitute non-working day for Labour Day.

For most Monday-to-Friday employees, this creates a five-day break from Friday, April 30 to Tuesday, May 4.

Public Holiday Periods That May Affect Staffing

Several holiday patterns are likely to create higher leave demand in 2027.

Employees who take annual leave on Wednesday, May 5 and Friday, May 7 could create a continuous break from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 9.

That uses only two days of annual leave.

Small businesses should review staffing levels early for this period.

National Awakeners’ Day Is Not a General Day Off

National Awakeners’ Day falls on Monday, November 1, 2027.

It is an official commemorative holiday.

However, the Labour Code makes it a non-working day only for educational establishments.

This can include:

• schools;
• universities;
• nurseries and other educational institutions;
• teaching staff;
• and non-teaching staff working in those establishments.

For most other private businesses, Monday, November 1 is a normal working day.

Do not add it to every employee calendar automatically.

Does Bulgaria Have Regional Public Holidays?

Bulgaria does not use autonomous regional holiday calendars in the same way as Spain or some federal countries.

The main official holiday calendar applies nationally.

However, local differences can still arise.

A municipal council may declare a local festive and non-working day for a particular area.

Under current guidance from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, such a decision can apply to employees whose agreed place of work is within that area, including employees in the private sector.

This means an employer with workplaces in different municipalities may need more than one holiday calendar.

A municipal non-working day is not automatically the same as an official holiday under Article 154 of the Labour Code.

The pay rules for working on that day may therefore differ.

Working on an Official Holiday in Bulgaria

Some businesses need employees to work on public holidays.

This is common in:

• healthcare;
• hospitality;
• transport;
• retail;
• manufacturing;
• security;
• utilities;
• and continuous shift operations.

Under Article 264 of the Labour Code, work performed on an official holiday must be paid at no less than double the employee’s normal remuneration.

This rule applies whether or not the work is classed as overtime.

Depending on the employee’s schedule and method of recording working time, additional overtime rules may also apply.

Employers should check:

• the employee’s normal work schedule;
• whether daily or summarised working-time calculation is used;
• whether the work is scheduled or overtime;
• the employment contract;
• and any collective bargaining agreement.

Shift Workers and Public Holidays

A public holiday is not automatically a day off for every shift worker.

An employee may still be scheduled to work if the business operates continuously.

When the employee works on the actual official holiday date, the minimum double-pay rule still applies.

For example, an employee working a scheduled shift on:

• Saturday, May 1;
• Sunday, May 2;
• Saturday, December 25;
• or Sunday, December 26

must receive the public holiday pay required by law.

The fact that the date is part of the employee’s normal shift pattern does not remove the holiday-pay entitlement.

Work on a Substitute Non-Working Day

Tuesday, May 4 and Monday–Tuesday, December 27–28 are substitute non-working days.

They are not the original official holiday dates.

This means the automatic minimum double-pay rule for official holidays does not necessarily apply to work on those substitute dates.

Where the work qualifies as overtime on a rest day, a different overtime premium may apply.

Under Article 262 of the Labour Code, overtime performed on a rest day is paid with an increase of at least 75%.

The correct treatment depends on:

• the employee’s schedule;
• whether the day is a normal working day for that employee;
• and whether the work is overtime.

Employers should not treat the official holiday and its substitute day as identical for payroll purposes.

Public Holidays and Annual Leave

Bulgarian employees are entitled to a minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave.

Public holidays and annual leave should be recorded separately.

For an employee who normally works Monday to Friday, a public holiday or substitute non-working day should not normally be deducted from the annual leave allowance.

For example, an employee taking leave around Easter should not need annual leave for:

• Friday, April 30;
• Monday, May 3;
• or Tuesday, May 4.

They would need annual leave for a normal working day such as Wednesday, May 5.

Shift workers need separate treatment because their working days are set by their schedule rather than by a standard Monday-to-Friday calendar.

Employees Who Observe Other Religions

Bulgarian law also provides a route for employees who follow a religion other than Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

The employer must allow the employee, by their choice, to use:

• part of their paid annual leave;
• or unpaid leave

for the religious holidays of their faith.

The number of days cannot exceed the number provided for the Eastern Orthodox religious holidays under Article 154.

The relevant religious dates are set through the applicable official process.

Employers should plan these requests respectfully and consistently.

Can the Government Add More Non-Working Days?

Yes.

The Council of Ministers can declare additional one-off non-working days to mark important:

• historical events;
• political events;
• cultural events;
• or other significant occasions.

This means the statutory calendar should be checked again before the start of 2027.

Any later government decision should be added to the company holiday calendar.

A Simple Way to Manage Bulgarian Public Holidays

Keep a clear record of:

• each employee’s normal work schedule;
• national official holidays;
• substitute non-working days;
• local municipal holidays;
• educational employees who receive November 1;
• and employees working on shift patterns.

TimeOff.Management lets you create different public holiday calendars and assign them to the right employees.

You can keep:

• standard national holidays;
• local holidays;
• substitute days;
• and specialist employee calendars

separate.

Managers can then see public holidays alongside annual leave, sickness and other absences in one shared calendar.

Start a 30-day free trial — no card needed.

Practical Checklist for Employers

• Add all 2027 holiday dates early. Do not wait until employees start requesting leave.
• Include Tuesday, May 4. It is the substitute non-working day for Labour Day.
• Include December 27 and 28. They are the substitute Christmas non-working days.
• Keep November 1 separate. It applies as a non-working day only to educational establishments.
• Check local municipal decisions. A workplace may have an additional local non-working day.
• Use the employee’s actual schedule. Shift workers may have different working and substitute days.
• Separate holiday dates from substitute days. The payroll treatment can differ.
• Apply the correct holiday pay. Work on an official holiday must be paid at least double.
• Plan for early May. Two annual leave days can create a ten-day employee absence.
• Review later government decisions. The Council of Ministers can declare additional one-off non-working days.

Key Points for Employers

• Bulgaria’s main public holiday calendar applies nationally.
• Orthodox Easter runs from April 30 to May 3 in 2027.
• Labour Day falls on Holy Saturday.
• Tuesday, May 4 is the substitute non-working day for Labour Day.
• Christmas Eve falls on Friday, December 24.
• December 27 and 28 are substitute non-working days for the weekend Christmas holidays.
• National Awakeners’ Day is a day off only for educational establishments.
• Work on an official holiday must be paid at least double.
• Substitute non-working days do not automatically use the same double-pay rule.
• Local municipal holidays can affect employees working in a particular area.
• Shift calendars should be managed separately from standard Monday-to-Friday calendars.

FAQ

How Many Public Holidays Are There in Bulgaria in 2027?

The Labour Code lists fixed national holidays and four Orthodox Easter holidays.

In 2027, these create 13 nationwide official holiday calendar dates because Holy Saturday and Labour Day fall on the same date.

For most employees who work Monday to Friday, the calendar creates 12 weekday or substitute non-working days.

National Awakeners’ Day provides an additional non-working day only for educational establishments.

When Is Orthodox Easter in Bulgaria in 2027?

Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, May 2, 2027.

The official Easter holiday period is:

• Good Friday — April 30;
• Holy Saturday — May 1;
• Easter Sunday — May 2;
• Easter Monday — May 3.

Is Tuesday, May 4, 2027 a Non-Working Day?

Yes, for employees following a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule.

Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1.

Because Monday, May 3 is already an Easter holiday, the next working day is Tuesday, May 4.

It therefore becomes the substitute non-working day for Labour Day.

Is May 4 an Official Holiday?

No.

May 4 is a substitute non-working day linked to Labour Day.

The official holiday itself is Saturday, May 1.

This distinction matters when calculating pay for employees who work.

Do Employees Receive Double Pay for Working on May 4?

Not automatically.

The minimum double-pay rule applies to work on the actual official holiday.

Work on May 4 is treated under the rules that apply to substitute non-working days, rest days and overtime.

Where it is overtime on a rest day, an increase of at least 75% may apply.

Is November 1 a Public Holiday for Every Employee?

No.

National Awakeners’ Day is a non-working day only for educational establishments.

For most other businesses, Monday, November 1, 2027 is a normal working day.

Are December 27 and 28 Non-Working Days in 2027?

Yes, for standard Monday-to-Friday employees.

Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25.

The second day of Christmas falls on Sunday, December 26.

Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28 therefore become substitute non-working days.

Do Employees Get Double Pay for Working on a Public Holiday?

At minimum, yes.

Work on an official public holiday must be paid at no less than double the employee’s normal remuneration.

Further overtime rules may apply depending on the working-time arrangement.

Do Public Holidays Reduce Annual Leave?

For standard Monday-to-Friday employees, public holidays and substitute non-working days should not normally be deducted from annual leave.

Annual leave is counted in working days.

Shift workers should be handled according to their individual work schedule.

Can a Municipality Add a Local Holiday?

A municipal council can declare a local festive and non-working day for a defined area.

Employers should check whether the decision applies to the employee’s contractual place of work.

Can the Bulgarian Government Add Another Holiday During 2027?

The Council of Ministers can declare an additional one-off non-working day for a significant event.

Employers should review the official calendar again before finalising their 2027 work schedules.

Further Reading

• Council of Ministers — Bulgarian official holidays
• Bulgarian Labour Code — Article 154 and public holiday rules
• Bulgarian Labour Code — Articles 262 and 264 on increased pay
• Ministry of Labour and Social Policy — Paid annual leave
• General Labour Inspectorate — official holiday and substitute-day guidance