2026–27 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)
103rd season of top-tier football league in Bulgaria
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The 2026–27 First Professional Football League, also known as efbet League for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 103rd season of the top division of the Bulgarian football league system, the 79th since a league format was adopted for the national competition of A Group as a top tier of the pyramid, and also the 11th season of the First Professional Football League, which decides the Bulgarian champion. The season began on 17 July 2026 and will end on 29 May 2027.
 | |
| Season | 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 17 July 2026 – 29 May 2027 |
| Matches | 4 |
| Goals | 10 (2.5 per match) |
← 2025–26 2027–28 →
All statistics correct as of 07:59, 19 July 2026 (UTC). | |
Levski Sofia are the defending champions.
Teams
For the first time since 2021–22, 14 teams will compete in the league this year (reduced from 16). One team was promoted from the 2025–26 Second League, and another place is for the winner of the promotion/relegation play-off.
The only team to earn promotion from the Second League was Dunav Ruse, who mathematically secured the Second League championship after drawing against Fratria on 12 May.[2] Dunav returned to the top level after a 6-year absence.
In the promotion/relegation play-off, Septemvri Sofia won against Yantra, thus remaining in the First League.[3]
Additionally, this will be the first season since 2008–09 without Beroe, as they were relegated after 17 consecutive years in the top flight.[4]
| Promoted from 2025–26 Second League |
Relegated from 2025–26 First League |
|---|---|
| Dunav Ruse | Beroe Dobrudzha Montana |
Stadia and locations
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arda | Kardzhali | Arena Arda | 12,000 |
| Botev Plovdiv | Plovdiv | Stadion Hristo Botev | 18,777 |
| Botev Vratsa | Vratsa | Stadion Hristo Botev | 25,000 |
| Cherno More | Varna | Stadion Ticha | 8,250 |
| CSKA 1948 | Bistritsa | Stadion Bistritsa | 3,000 |
| CSKA Sofia | Sofia | Stadion Balgarska Armia Vasil Levski National Stadium |
18,540 43,230 |
| Dunav Ruse | Ruse | Gradski stadion | 13,000 |
| Levski Sofia | Sofia | Stadion Georgi Asparuhov | 17,688 |
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Plovdiv | Stadion Lokomotiv | 10,000 |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Sofia | Stadion Lokomotiv | 22,000 |
| Ludogorets | Razgrad | Huvepharma Arena | 10,500 |
| Septemvri Sofia | Sofia | Vasil Levski National Stadium | 43,230 |
| Slavia Sofia | Sofia | Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov | 25,000 |
| Spartak Varna | Varna | Stadion Spartak | 8,000 |
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Other(s) | ||||
| Arda |  Aleksandar Tunchev |
Anatoli Gospodinov |
Jako | efbet | List
|
| Botev Plovdiv | Stanislav Genchev |
Todor Nedelev |
Macron | WinBet | List
|
| Botev Vratsa | Todor Simov |
Daniel Genov |
Erima | WinBet | List
|
| Cherno More | Ilian Iliev |
Vasil Panayotov |
Macron | Armeets | List
|
| CSKA 1948 | Aleksandar Aleksandrov |
 Diego Medina |
Jako | efbet | List
|
| CSKA Sofia | Hristo Yanev |
 Bruno Jordão |
Macron | WinBet | List
|
| Dunav Ruse | Emanuel Lukanov |
Radoslav Apostolov |
Erima | WinBet | List
|
| Levski Sofia |  Julio Velázquez |
Kristian Dimitrov |
Adidas | PalmsBet | List
|
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv |  Dušan Kosič |
 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev |
Puma | Sesame | List
|
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Lyuboslav Penev |
Krasimir Stanoev |
Macron | MrBit | List
|
| Ludogorets |  Thomas Reis |
Anton Nedyalkov |
Jako | Inbet | List
|
| Septemvri Sofia | Simão Freitas |
Galin Ivanov |
Uhlsport | 8888.bg | List
|
| Slavia Sofia |  Ratko Dostanić |
Ivan Minchev |
Joma | bet365 | List
|
| Spartak Varna |  Gjoko Hadžievski |
Deyan Lozev |
Jako | efbet | List
|
Note: Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising. However, only one sponsorship is permitted per jersey for official tournaments organised by UEFA in addition to that of the kit manufacturer (exceptions are made for non-profit organisations). Clubs in the domestic league can have more than one sponsorship per jersey which can feature on the front of the shirt, incorporated with the main sponsor or in place of it; or on the back, either below the squad number or on the collar area. Shorts also have space available for advertisement.
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botev Plovdiv | Lachezar Baltanov |
End of interim period | 27 May 2026[5] | Pre-season | Stanislav Genchev |
27 May 2026[6] |
| Dunav Ruse | Georgi Chilikov |
Resigned | 20 May 2026[7] | Emanuel Lukanov |
1 June 2026[8] | |
| Lokomotiv Sofia | Aleksandar Georgiev (caretaker) |
End of interim period | 10 June 2026 | Lyuboslav Penev |
10 June 2026[9] | |
| Septemvri Sofia | Hristo Arangelov |
End of contract | 11 June 2026[10] | Simão Freitas |
15 June 2026[11] | |
| Ludogorets Razgrad |  Per-Mathias Høgmo |
Mutual agreement | 1 July 2026[12] | Thomas Reis |
12 July 2026[13] |
Regular season
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | Qualification for the Championship group |
| 2 | Levski Sofia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Ludogorets | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Spartak Varna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| 5 | CSKA 1948 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Qualification for the Conference League group |
| 6 | Septemvri Sofia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 7 | Botev Plovdiv | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | Botev Vratsa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | Cherno More | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Qualification for the Relegation group |
| 10 | CSKA Sofia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | Lokomotiv Sofia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | Slavia Sofia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 1 | |
| 13 | Dunav Ruse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 | |
| 14 | Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fairplay ranking; 9) Draw[14]
Positions by round
Number = One less match played per underline.
Results by round
Results are shown in order of play.
Rescheduled results are underlined, with their original round being shown as superscript.
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Results
Season statistics
Top goalscorers
- As of 23 July 2026[15]
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georg Stojanovski |
Spartak Varna | 1 |
 Joey Tshitoku | |||
 Mamadou Diallo |
CSKA 1948 | ||
| Frédéric Maciel | |||
| Kristian Dimitrov |
Levski Sofia | ||
 Akram Bouras | |||
| Denislav Minchev |
Dunav Ruse | ||
| Birsent Karagaren |
Arda | ||
 Sebastian Wade |
Septemvri | ||
| Ivaylo Chochev |
Ludogorets | ||
| Dimitar Kostadinov |
Lokomotiv Sofia | ||
| Martin Petkov |
Botev Vratsa | ||
| Carlos Meotti |
Botev Plovdiv | ||
| Vasil Panayotov |
Cherno More |
Hat-tricks
Clean sheets
- As of 23 July 2026[15]
Player
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hendrik Bonmann |
Ludogorets | 1 |
 Fyodor Lapoukhov |
CSKA Sofia | ||
| Ivan Andonov |
Slavia Sofia | ||
Team
- Most clean sheets: 1
- Ludogorets
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards:
- Most red cards:
Team
- Most yellow cards:
- Fewest yellow cards:
- Most red cards:
- Fewest red cards: