Swimmers in Varna began the year with a dip in the winter sea

In Varna, enthusiasts celebrated the start of 2026 with a traditional swim in the chilly waters of the Black Sea.

They gathered in the city's Sea Garden at 8am sharp, warmed up, and then took the plunge.

"The air temperature is minus four and the sea water temperature is eight degrees," reported Emil Zlatev, the organiser of the event, on Facebook. Zlatev is a karate instructor as well as a general physical training, yoga and dietetics instructor.

"A long time ago, my friends and I chose the first day of the year for this sporting event to show that you can celebrate in a healthy way," he told BNR Varna.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova