The city of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) has officially announced its candidacy for the title of European Capital of Sport 2028, reinforcing its commitment to promoting sport, healthy lifestyles and social inclusion through physical activity.

The announcement was made by Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, who highlighted that the candidacy represents much more than the pursuit of a prestigious European title.

“For us, this candidacy is not simply a competition for a title. It is an opportunity to make Plovdiv a more active, healthier and more attractive city,” said Mayor Dimitrov.

The official bid has been prepared by the Municipality of Plovdiv in cooperation with BG Be Active Association and has been developed in accordance with the twelve evaluation criteria established by ACES. These criteria cover key areas including sports infrastructure, sports clubs, public health, accessibility, inclusion, governance, education and sport tourism.

Over recent years, Plovdiv has made significant investments in modernising its major sports facilities, creating new neighbourhood sports spaces and attracting an increasing number of European sporting events. These initiatives reflect the city’s long-term vision of placing sport at the heart of urban development and improving the quality of life of its citizens.

As part of the evaluation process, an ACES Evaluation Committee will visit Plovdiv from 15 to 18 October 2026 to assess the city’s sports policies, infrastructure and strategic vision through meetings with local authorities, sports organisations and community stakeholders.

Following the evaluation visit, the ACES Europe Executive Committee is expected to announce its final decision in November 2026.

The European Capital of Sport title recognises cities that demonstrate excellence in using sport as a tool for improving citizens’ health, social cohesion, economic development and quality of life, while promoting the values of inclusion, accessibility and active participation championed by ACES.