Bulgaria welcomes the 2026 Giro d’Italia: An opportunity for global tourism promotion and the development of cycling tourism

The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented the preparations for hosting the event in May

The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented to leading European media outlets Bulgaria’s preparations to host the first three stages of the Giro d’Italia 2026, scheduled to take place in early May of this year.

The meeting was attended by representatives of leading publications, including Corriere della Sera, Marca, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttobici, and Eurosport. The Ministers of Tourism and Youth and Sports, Irena Georgieva and Dimitar Iliev, presented the event’s organizational arrangements, inter-institutional coordination, and anticipated effects.

According to Minister Georgieva, hosting the prestigious cycling race constitutes an opportunity for Bulgaria to reach millions of potential tourists through international broadcasting. She said that the route for the Bulgarian stages will pass through several destinations, including Nessebar, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, and Sofia, thereby combining sea, cultural, and urban tourism. This will enable the presentation of the country’s natural and cultural heritage to a broad audience.

Minister Iliev emphasized the scale of the event and the importance of strict coordination among institutions, including municipalities, and stated that ensuring the safety and orderly conduct of the event is the highest priority. He said that the state and local authorities are coordinating to ensure the orderly conduct of the competition and expressed the expectation that the event will increase interest among young people in cycling and an active lifestyle.

As part of the preparations, the institutions are partnering with the airports in Sofia, Varna, and Burgas to facilitate the travel of participants and guests. The tourism sector is also prepared to accommodate the anticipated increase in interest.

According to Minister Georgieva, the effects of hosting will be long-term, including increasing Bulgaria’s recognition and advancing cycling tourism.

The two ministers expressed confidence that hosting the Giro d'Italia in Bulgaria will attract significant international and domestic interest and will establish the country as a destination for sports and event tourism.