Български
European Week of Winter Sport
European week of winter sports successfully concluded
09.02.2026
In the period 1-8 February 2026, Bulgaria hosted the second edition of the European week of winter sports, which was successfully delivered as part of a Europe-wide international initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The campaign promoted physical activity and winter sports, with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and inclusive access to movement for everyone. As part of the initiative, free events were held in Sofia, Borovets, Smolyan, Gotse Delchev, and Razlog, engaging more than 1000 children, young people, adults, and entire families.
Events delivered during the European week of winter sports 2026:
2nd of February 2026
• Winter kindergarten Olympics – age-appropriate winter games tailored to the needs of young children, with the participation of children with and without special educational needs (Sofia, Kindergarten No. 59 “Elhitsa”).
3rd of February 2026
• Winter conditioning training session – a sports training session aimed at maintaining physical fitness and activity during the winter months (Sofia, organizer: Lokomotiv Sofia – basketball).
4th of February 2026
• Winter sports festival – an outdoor event for beginners featuring ski and snowboard lessons, snow games, equipment introduction, and safety briefings (Borovets, organizer: National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”, snow sports department).
7th of February 2026.
• Vitosha ski & daski – skiing activities and winter fun for mountain enthusiasts (Sofia, Aleko hut, organizer: Sofia mountaineering club);
• Winter games for all – inclusive winter games promoting equal access to movement and sport (Smolyan, Smolyan lakes hut, organizer: “FUTURE for the SPECIAL” association);
• Winter basketball challenge – outdoor sports activities aimed at children and young people (Gotse Delchev, town stadium, organizer: “Yavorov” basketball club).
• Short track – speed is fun – short track speed skating demonstrations and activities for children and young people (Sofia, Winter palace of sport, organizer: “Ice Stars” skating club).
• Let’s play hockey – introduction to the basics of ice hockey combined with active play (Sofia, Winter palace of sport, organizer: “Levski” ice hockey club).
8th of February 2026
• Avalanche safety training zone – practical training in avalanche safety, risk assessment, and rescue actions through teamwork (Sofia, Aleko hut, organizer: Bulgarian extreme & freeride ski association – BEFSA);
• Vetrovala ski open day – free one-hour ski lessons and guidance on improving skiing technique (Sofia, Vetrovala aki zone, organizer: “Zi sport”);
• Family snow day 2026 – a winter family festival featuring competitions, games, and activities with prizes (Sofia, Ofelii ski slope, organizer: Sofia – European capital of sport foundation);
• Winter park challenge – outdoor movement, games, and fun for children and young people (Gotse Delchev, town park, organizer: “Yavorov” basketball club);
• Winter orienteering – move, think, discover – a dynamic orienteering adventure for children and adults (Razlog, “Septemvri” stadium, organizer: “Pirin academy” sports club).
All events within the initiative were free of charge and open to the public, encouraging an active lifestyle and a love for winter sports.
“European week of winter sport” is an initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, aiming to promote participation in sport and physical activity while raising awareness of climate change and encouraging sustainability through the establishment of a dedicated European week for winter sports. The second edition of the European Week of Winter Sports took place from 1 to 8 February 2026 in 38 countries across Europe and beyond. The overall coordinator of the initiative is L’Orma (Italy), the national coordinator for Bulgaria is Bulgarian sport development association, and the official partner for Bulgaria is the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”.
Bulgarian partners of the initiative: Kindergarten No. 59 “Elhitsa”, Lokomotiv Sofia – basketball, National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” (Snow sports department), Sofia mountaineering club, “FUTURE for the SPECIAL” association, “Yavorov” basketball club, “Ice stars” skating club, “Levski” ice hockey club, Bulgarian extreme & freeride ski association (BEFSA), “Zi Sport”, Sofia – European capital of sport foundation, “Pirin academy” sports club.
2nd of February 2026
• Winter kindergarten Olympics – age-appropriate winter games tailored to the needs of young children, with the participation of children with and without special educational needs (Sofia, Kindergarten No. 59 “Elhitsa”).
3rd of February 2026
• Winter conditioning training session – a sports training session aimed at maintaining physical fitness and activity during the winter months (Sofia, organizer: Lokomotiv Sofia – basketball).
4th of February 2026
• Winter sports festival – an outdoor event for beginners featuring ski and snowboard lessons, snow games, equipment introduction, and safety briefings (Borovets, organizer: National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”, snow sports department).
7th of February 2026.
• Vitosha ski & daski – skiing activities and winter fun for mountain enthusiasts (Sofia, Aleko hut, organizer: Sofia mountaineering club);
• Winter games for all – inclusive winter games promoting equal access to movement and sport (Smolyan, Smolyan lakes hut, organizer: “FUTURE for the SPECIAL” association);
• Winter basketball challenge – outdoor sports activities aimed at children and young people (Gotse Delchev, town stadium, organizer: “Yavorov” basketball club).
• Short track – speed is fun – short track speed skating demonstrations and activities for children and young people (Sofia, Winter palace of sport, organizer: “Ice Stars” skating club).
• Let’s play hockey – introduction to the basics of ice hockey combined with active play (Sofia, Winter palace of sport, organizer: “Levski” ice hockey club).
8th of February 2026
• Avalanche safety training zone – practical training in avalanche safety, risk assessment, and rescue actions through teamwork (Sofia, Aleko hut, organizer: Bulgarian extreme & freeride ski association – BEFSA);
• Vetrovala ski open day – free one-hour ski lessons and guidance on improving skiing technique (Sofia, Vetrovala aki zone, organizer: “Zi sport”);
• Family snow day 2026 – a winter family festival featuring competitions, games, and activities with prizes (Sofia, Ofelii ski slope, organizer: Sofia – European capital of sport foundation);
• Winter park challenge – outdoor movement, games, and fun for children and young people (Gotse Delchev, town park, organizer: “Yavorov” basketball club);
• Winter orienteering – move, think, discover – a dynamic orienteering adventure for children and adults (Razlog, “Septemvri” stadium, organizer: “Pirin academy” sports club).
All events within the initiative were free of charge and open to the public, encouraging an active lifestyle and a love for winter sports.
“European week of winter sport” is an initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, aiming to promote participation in sport and physical activity while raising awareness of climate change and encouraging sustainability through the establishment of a dedicated European week for winter sports. The second edition of the European Week of Winter Sports took place from 1 to 8 February 2026 in 38 countries across Europe and beyond. The overall coordinator of the initiative is L’Orma (Italy), the national coordinator for Bulgaria is Bulgarian sport development association, and the official partner for Bulgaria is the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski”.
Bulgarian partners of the initiative: Kindergarten No. 59 “Elhitsa”, Lokomotiv Sofia – basketball, National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” (Snow sports department), Sofia mountaineering club, “FUTURE for the SPECIAL” association, “Yavorov” basketball club, “Ice stars” skating club, “Levski” ice hockey club, Bulgarian extreme & freeride ski association (BEFSA), “Zi Sport”, Sofia – European capital of sport foundation, “Pirin academy” sports club.
