In brief
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, nearly 6.6 million Bulgarians voted in the capital for a presidential runoff. Incumbent President Iliana Iotova ran with running mate Kiril Valchev, while challenger Andrey Gurov was paired with Georgi Kandev. The election will decide the country’s leaders for the next term.
In the heart of Sofia, Bulgarians arrived at polling stations on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to decide the country’s next president and vice‑president. The run‑off marks the second round of a nationwide election that began on October 27, when the country failed to produce a majority winner.
Nearly 6.6 million eligible voters – the largest that the Bulgarian electoral roll has seen since the 1990s – were eligible to cast ballots on this decisive day. The figure underscores the importance of the election for the citizens of Bulgaria and the wider European region.
On the ballot, voters chose between two tickets. The incumbent delegation featured President Iliana Iotova, who had been in office since 2022, paired with Kiril Valchev, a former defence minister, as her vice‑presidential running mate. Opposing them was Andrey Gurov, a former mayor of Plovdiv who had campaigned on economic reform, and Georgi Kandev, a seasoned parliamentarian, as his vice‑presidential partner.
The government’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that polling stations across Sofia were opened before dawn and remained operational throughout the day, following guidelines issued by the election commission. The topography of the city’s streets was dotted with temporary voting booths, while security teams ensured orderly conduct.
Observers from the national electoral commission noted that the turnout was high, with more than 80% of polling places reporting a substantial flow of voters. The poll workers recorded the movements of thousands of citizens, ranging from business leaders and university students to elderly voters who had seen the nation through several political changes.
Bulgarian media outlets, including Xinhua, have reported that, as of the close of business, preliminary results indicated a close contest, with both tickets gaining substantial shares across the capital. However, full counting and verification were scheduled to be completed over the next few days.
The outcome of this runoff will determine not only the occupants of the presidential office but also the selection of the vice‑president, positions that together shape the executive branch of Bulgaria’s parliamentary system. For the voters, the process underscores the importance of their participation and the continuing evolution of Bulgarian democracy.
