Bulgarian Christmas concert supports ill children

President Rumen Radev and his wife Desislava Radeva will attend the Bulgarian Christmas charity concert here on Thursday at 8:00 PM, the President’s Press Secretariat said. The performance will be held at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and will be broadcast live on NOVA Television, Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio.

The initiative is being held for the 23rd consecutive year under the auspices of the Bulgarian head of State. This year’s theme is in support of chronically and seriously ill children, according to the initiative’s website, CE Report quotes BTA.

Beloved Bulgarian performers and young musical talents will support the cause during the concert. With the participation of the Bulgarian National Radio Big Band, conducted by Georgi Miltiyadov, the stage of the National Theatre will feature the Radio Children Vocal Group of BNR, singers Veselin Marinov, Poli Genova, the band D2, Maria Ilieva, Elizabet, Vasil Petrov and the children’s vocal group Mickey Mouse, Radko Petkov, Stefan Ilchev, Nevena Peykova, the children’s vocal group Bon-Bon, among others.

The hosts of this year’s charity performance will be actors Daniel Varbanov and Aleksandra Lashkova, while the conductor and musical producer of the concert is Georgi Miltiyadov.

Viewers will be able to support the cause by sending a donation text message to 1117.

President Radev opened the 23rd edition of the Bulgarian Christmas charity initiative at a formal ceremony at Aleksandrovska University Hospital in Sofia on December 1.

Radev also presented the results of the 22nd edition of the initiative. In 2025, the Bulgarian Christmas initiative operated with a budget of BGN 3,750,000, supporting 550 children with a total of BGN 1,700,000 for diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and medication. High-tech medical equipment was provided to 26 healthcare facilities across the country. He stressed that the initiative supports the health system but cannot replace it where structural deficits exist.

As reported by CE Report, the President raised questions to the health authorities about why essential care for 550 children has to be secured through a donation campaign when the national health budget exceeds BGN 10 billion. He called for institutional solutions to ensure sustainability and timely support for all children in need.