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Speaking your language for 88 years

2024 marks the 88th anniversary of the Bulgarian National Radio’s foreign-language service to the world.

It all began on 16 February, 1936. One year after the Bulgarian radio was officially launched, what is now Radio Bulgaria went on the air. It was a Sunday when Radio Sofia’s full morning programme was launched, to reach Europe, North America and North Africa.

Now, 88 years later, Radio Bulgaria is still talking to the world about this country in English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Serbian, Greek, Albanian, Turkish and Bulgarian.

This special section on our website presents intriguing facts from the history of Radio Bulgaria, its golden voices, as well as reminiscences from the people who have worked at Radio Bulgaria through the years.


Radio Bulgaria: The mission goes on

88 years after the firstbroadcasts by the Bulgarian radio targeted at audiences abroad, and 87 years after the foreign language broadcasts became part of the BNR’s programming, Radio Bulgaria’s mission of building bridges between Bulgarians around..

published on 2/16/24 11:23 AM
The Radio Sofia building

When the BNR “spoke” Polish

Today, the Bulgarian National Radio’s foreign language service Radio Bulgaria “speaks” 11 languages. Through the years, languages have been added, others have been dropped – something that happened to the Polish-language programmes. They were aired by..

published on 2/16/24 7:10 AM
Chavdar Arnaudov

Chavdar Arnaudov: At Radio Bulgaria I had the good fortune of working with the top translators to and from French

The original version of Radio Bulgaria appeared one year and one month after the creation of the Bulgarian Radio, then called Radio Sofia. Since the very beginning, Radio Bulgaria offered a different view of the country, an important role in which..

published on 1/25/24 8:10 AM

"We appreciate and need you" – Radio Bulgaria receives warm support from Bulgarians around the world

After hard work comes the time to celebrate! For those working at the Bulgarian National Radio, this is January 25 - a day of reckoning, professional satisfaction and ...awards. At an official ceremony tomorrow evening, we will find out who will receive..

published on 1/24/24 9:58 AM

The QSL cards of Radio Bulgaria

In radio amateur circles it is popular to send and receive the so-called QSL-cards – written confirmation of radio communication. The name derives name from the Q-code as "QSL?" means "Do you confirm reception?" and "QSL" means "I..

published on 1/9/24 2:53 PM
Anna Futskova

Our colleague Anna Futskova has passed away

The team of Radio Bulgaria is sad to announce that our beloved colleague Anna Futskova has left us today at the age of 52. Annie lost her battle with cancer. She gave her heart and soul to Radio Bulgaria, where she worked for more than 20 years until..

published on 12/14/23 5:48 PM

The Romanian-language section of Radio Bulgaria turns one year

October 20th marks the first anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian language ‎service of Radio Bulgaria . It was officially opened on October 20, 2022 at a ‎ceremony at the Bulgarian National Radio in the presence of the ambassadors of ‎Romania,..

published on 10/20/23 11:17 AM
Boyko Vassilev with Kostandina  Bello at the BNR

Kostandina from Radio Bulgaria’s Albanian language service featured in documentary about Bulgarians in Albania

Kostandina Raki Bello from Radio Bulgaria’s Albanian language service is a lead character in the film by journalist from public service TV BNT Boyko Vassilev, entitled “ Bratonchedi. Voices from Albania”, with a focus on the word bratonchedi ,..

published on 7/31/23 8:46 AM

If you don't know, let us recall…

Did you know that the words "Here's Radio Sofia!" were transmitted on shortwaves five years before the world heard of VOA and a year after the BBC overseas broadcasts began? This happened in 1936. Petar Uvaliev was one of the first..

published on 7/5/23 3:20 PM
Lubomir Lazarov

Lubomir Lazarov: At Radio Bulgaria the standard has always been and continues very high

Almost 20 years ago, when electronic media were barely taking their first steps on the web, a team of young and enthusiastic people created one of the most widely read websites – the website of Radio Bulgaria. Its editor-in-chief was journalist..

published on 5/7/23 6:15 AM