The Ministry of Tourism is announcing a photo contest titled “Moments from Bulgaria”

The Ministry of Tourism is organizing a photo contest titled “Moments from Bulgaria” to showcase favorite places, landscapes, traditions, and experiences from our country.

The winning photographs will be used to decorate the institution's facade windows and for national tourism advertising. Their creators will be invited to a special ceremony at the Ministry of Tourism and will receive honorary awards and certificates.

The goal of the contest is to showcase the beauty, diversity, and spirit of Bulgaria through both popular tourist attractions and destinations, as well as lesser-known corners of the country.

Each participant may submit up to 5 photographs in the following categories:

“People and Traditions” – customs, folklore, crafts, and authentic experiences;
“Places and Heritage” – cultural and historical sites, architecture, cities, villages, and iconic tourist destinations;
“Nature and Inspiration”—mountains, the sea, lakes, rivers, natural landmarks, and landscapes

Some of the photos will be used on the Ministry of Tourism's social media and communication channels. When published, their authors will be cited and acknowledged whenever possible.

Conditions for Participation

Judging will be based on the following criteria:

Aesthetics and composition – up to 30 points;
Tourist appeal – up to 35 points;
Authenticity and emotional impact – up to 20 points;
Appropriate format and resolution for subsequent use and printing—up to 15 points.

The maximum score for a single photograph is 100 points.

Photos must meet the following requirements:

They must not have been created or edited using artificial intelligence tools
They must be in JPEG format with a length of at least 6,000 pixels
They must not have been previously published in other promotional materials

Photos should be sent to the following email address: photos@tourism.government.bg

Participants must include the following information with their photos:

first and last name;
location where the photos were taken;
contact phone number;
personal social media profile they would like to be tagged in when the photos are published;
an attached consent form stating that the participant holds the copyright to the submitted photographs and grants the Ministry of Tourism the right to use them for the purposes of national tourism advertising.

When submitting photographs containing recognizable faces (in close-up or with clearly distinguishable features), the participant must also include a signed consent form authorizing the use of the image from each person depicted (or from a parent or guardian for minors).

The consent forms are attached.

Photos may be submitted through September 30, 2026. They will be evaluated by a jury comprising representatives of the journalism community covering tourism, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, including a professional photographer and videographer.

The “Moments from Bulgaria” photo contest gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to showcasing the authentic face of our country.