Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo apply together for European Capital of Culture in 2032

Photo: veliko-tarnovo.bg

"The residents of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo deserve to be the winning candidate for the next European Capital of Culture in Bulgaria, in 2032," announced the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Daniel Panov. The idea for the joint candidacy was at the insistence of artists and intellectuals in Veliko Tarnovo.


The town has been working on the cause since last year, and at the end of February 2025, the Municipal Council unanimously supported the proposal for the town to join the race. 

"Our neighbors are well ahead in the preparations - they have already registered the necessary municipal foundation, the Municipality of Gabrovo has hired a team of three independent cultural experts, and their clients have been 11 of the last 13 cities that have won the title," added Panov.

Gabrovo
Both towns have already participated in the prestigious race once before - in 2014, but unsuccessfully. Now the chances are greater, as long as Gabrovo takes the outstretched hand. 

The possibility of two or even three cities being the European Capital of Culture is not unprecedented. This is the case with the current winners Chemnitz (Germany) and the twin cities on the border Gorizia (Italy) and Nova Gorica (Slovenia), which jointly hold the prize in 2025. 

Aprilov's High School in Gabrovo
In 2019, Plovdiv was the first European Capital of Culture in Bulgaria together with the Italian city of Matera. The decision on which city is designated as the European Capital of Culture is made 6 years before the year in which the city receives this privilege.



Edited by Joan Kolev
English version: R. Petkova
Photos: veliko-tarnovo.bg, gabrovo.bg


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sylvia Tomova – Leading Stara Zagora State Opera’s multinational ballet company

Sylvia Tomova, a star of the Bulgarian stage, received her training at the Vaganova State Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg. Her career has been closely linked to the National Opera and Ballet, where, as a prima ballerina, she has performed over 90..

published on 10/23/25 4:39 PM
Petar Boyadzhiev and Daniela Zekina

Canada-based Bulgarian artists Petar Boyadzhiev and Daniela Zekina will present joint exhibition in Chicago

Canada-based Bulgarian artists Petar Boyadzhiev and Daniela Zekina will present their joint exhibition “AlterEgo” in Chicago on November 1 . Their new paintings with graphics and paintings will be exhibited at the “Bagrena” Gallery at the Bulgarian..

published on 10/23/25 10:32 AM
Photo: Consulate General of Bulgaria in New York

Bulgarian-English co-production “Devil’s Play” wins award at Chelsea Film Festival in New York

The Bulgarian-English co-production “Devil’s Play” won the Best Cinematography Award at the prestigious Chelsea Film Festival in New York, announced the Consulate General of Bulgaria in New York on Facebook. The film was screened as part of the..

published on 10/21/25 11:24 AM