Bulgaria's Burgas officially launches Giro d’Italia 2026

At a ceremonial event held at the Summer Theatre in Burgas, the 23 teams participating in the 2026 edition of Giro d'Italia - one of the world’s most prestigious - were officially presented.

Giro d’Italia kicks off with official ceremony at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

A total of 184 riders from 23 teams appeared before fans just hours ahead of the start of the legendary race, while the atmosphere in the Black Sea city was filled with music, applause and pink flags, BGNES reported.

For the first time, Bulgaria is part of the route of the Giro d’Italia. The race will begin on 8 May in Nessebar and finish in Burgas. A day later, the peloton will depart from the coastal city toward Veliko Tarnovo, while on 10 May the route will continue from Plovdiv and conclude in Sofia.

Burgas welcomes Giro d’Italia teams ahead of historic race start

“This is a historic moment for us. A sporting event of such magnitude is taking place here for the first time. I believe it will leave unforgettable memories both for the competitors and for all spectators,” said the Minister of Youth and Sports Dimitar Iliev. He added that Bulgaria would leave the impression of a superbly organised sporting event, with routes passing through unique natural beauty and remarkable scenery.

Also unveiled on stage were the race’s four official leader jerseys - the pink jersey (Maglia Rosa), the cyclamen jersey (Maglia Ciclamino), the blue jersey (Maglia Azzurra) and the white jersey (Maglia Bianca).

The ceremony culminated with the official appearance of the Giro d’Italia trophy - the Trofeo Senza Fine (“The Endless Trophy”), BTA reported.

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Edited by Diana Tsankova