Latest news in Bulgaria? September 5th, 2026

Unification Day Long Weekend & Travel Rush Bulgaria is observing a three-day holiday weekend marking Unification Day (September 6). Massive outbound travel is causing heavy congestion on major routes heading south toward Greece, particularly along the Struma motorway and at the Kulata and Makaza border checkpoints. To manage holiday congestion, the Road Infrastructure Agency has banned heavy lorries (over 12 tons) on key motorways during peak hours and introduced reversible lane systems around Simitli. The Sofia Globe+ 22026 Presidential Election Developments Political campaigning and lineup announcements are accelerating ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. Former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov recently confirmed his candidacy, while Vice President Iliana Yotova selected the head of the Bulgarian News Agency as her official running mate. The Sofia Globe+ 1Foreign Policy & European Security Debates Comments by President Rumen Radev regarding European-Russian relations have generated national discussion, with Radev cautioning on European strategic autonomy and security architecture. Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry recently voiced full solidarity with Germany following hybrid sabotage attacks in Leipzig, and the Bulgarian Navy continues monitoring Black Sea maritime security following repeated drone encounters off the coast. The Sofia GlobeEconomic Indicators Eurostat reported a 5.6% year-on-year increase in Bulgaria’s retail trade volume, reflecting sustained domestic consumer activity heading into the final quarter of 2026. The Sofia GlobeArchaeological Discovery at Deultum Archaeologists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences announced the discovery of human remains dating to antiquity preserved inside a large storage jar (dolium) at the Roman colony site of Deultum near Debelt, providing rare evidence of emergency defenses during a historic siege. Archaeology Magazine