Funding crisis: Sofia Pride is struggling to survive

Friday, Jun 12, 2026

Mediapool

Sofia Pride faces survival threats due to budget cuts and uncertain international funding amid rising political polarization.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Organizers of Sofia Pride, Bulgaria’s largest LGBTQ+ event, are discussing survival ahead of its anniversary due to a nearly twofold budget cut and increasingly uncertain international funding. A future where the capital’s event proceeds without stages, concerts, or platforms seems likely. Similar difficulties are not unique to Bulgaria; pride organizations in various European countries are also forced to reduce costs and adapt to an increasingly polarized political climate. The first Bulgarian Pride took place in 2008.

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