Date and public holiday status
Veliko Tarnovo City Day is celebrated every year on 22 March. It is a regional celebration centred on the city and its history. It is not a public holiday: it is a normal working day in Bulgaria.
In 2026, the celebration falls on Sunday, 22 March. In 2027, it falls on Monday, 22 March, and in 2028 on Wednesday, 22 March.
The history behind the celebration
The date corresponds to 9 March in the old-style calendar, the day of the Forty Holy Martyrs. The church now honours these saints on 9 March. They give their name to the Church of the Forty Holy Martyrs, built by Tsar Ivan Asen II after his victory at Klokotnitsa in 1230.
The same church later became the setting for the proclamation of Bulgaria’s independence in 1908. The city celebration itself was first held in 1879. It was discontinued after 1944 and revived in 1970.
Local ceremonies and folk traditions
The celebrations include a liturgy at the Church of the Forty Holy Martyrs. Afterwards, a procession passes through the streets carrying portraits of the city’s benefactors. The municipality also presents the Veliko Tarnovo award.
The Forty Holy Martyrs are also associated with Mladentsi, a folk observance marked by making 40 small loaves of bread and performing 40 good deeds. These customs are linked to wishes for health and good luck.