Summary
The First Professional Football League (BUL1) is the top professional league in the Bulgarian football system. At completion of the 2025-2026 regular season, the ENG1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play::
- 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 1st place 2025-2026 BUL1 Championship Group team
- 2026-2027 UEFA Europa League - 1st Qualifying Round:
- 2nd place 2025-2026 BUL1 Championship Group team
- 2026-2027 UEFA Europa Conference League - 2nd Qualifying Round:
- 3rd place 2025-2026 BUL1 Championship Group team
- winner of 2025-2026 BUL1 UEFA Europa Conference League Playoffs
The winner of the 2025-2026 Bulgarian Cup, typically a BUL1 team, also receives a berth in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the 2026-2027 UEFA Europa Conference League.
Leagues Pyramid - Bulgaria
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| BUL1 | efbet League (First Professional Football League) | 16 |
| BUL2 | Second Professional Football League | 17 |
| BUL3 | Third Amatuer Football League | 69 |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Regular 18 Jul 2025 - 21 Apr 2026 | Champ/Releg Rounds 25 Apr 2026 - 29 May 2026 | UEFAECL Playoffs 8 Jun 2026 - 31 May 2025 | 14: BUL1 (13 minimum), BUL2 (3 maximum) |
Season Format
The 2025-2026 BUL1 consists of a double round robin format where each BUL1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 15 BUL1 teams, for a total of 30 regular season matches per team. At the end of regular season, the top 6 teams play in the Championship group, teams placed 7th through 10th place teams play in the UEFA Europa Conference League (UEFAECL) group, and teams placed 11th through 16th place play in the Relegation group. In the Championship and Relegation rounds, each team plays 1 match against the other 5 teams in their group for 5 more matches (35 total per team). In the UEFAECL group, each teams play Home/Away matches against the other 3 teams in their group for 6 more matches (36 total per team). Table ranking ties are broken by (1) head-to-head points, (2) head-to-head goal difference, (3) head-to-head goals scored, (4) head-to-head away goals scored (if only 2 teams), (5) goal difference, (6) total goals scored, (7) Fair-play ranking, then (8) a drawing.
Playoffs
Upon completion of the 2025-2026 BUL1 Championship and UEFAECL Playoffs rounds, the 3rd place Championship team enters into Home/Away highest aggregate goals wins matches against the 1st place UEFAECL Playoffs team.
Relegation
At the end of the 2025-2026 BUL1 Relegation Round, the 7th and 8th place teams will be relegated to BUL2, and the 5th and 5th place teams will enter into a Promotion/Relegation with the 3rd and 4th place BUL2 teams.
More Info...
2nd Stage
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | PFC Levski Sofia | 32 | 24 -4-4 | 76 | - | 68 | 23 | 45 | 16 | 14 -1-1 | 43 | 39 | 9 | 30 | 16 | 10 -3-3 | 33 | 29 | 14 | 15 |
| 2 | CSKA 1948 Sofia | 32 | 19 -5-8 | 62 | - | 52 | 33 | 19 | 15 | 9 -3-3 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 10 -2-5 | 32 | 27 | 16 | 11 |
| 3 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 32 | 17 -9-6 | 60 | - | 58 | 23 | 35 | 16 | 9 -5-2 | 32 | 29 | 11 | 18 | 16 | 8 -4-4 | 28 | 29 | 12 | 17 |
| 4 | CSKA Sofia | 32 | 17 -8-7 | 59 | - | 45 | 26 | 19 | 17 | 11 -4-2 | 37 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 6 -4-5 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| Relegation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | PFC Slavia Sofia | 33 | 11 -10-12 | 43 | - | 39 | 38 | 1 | 17 | 7 -5-5 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 16 | 4 -5-7 | 17 | 16 | 20 | -4 |
| 2 | POFC Botev Vratsa | 33 | 10 -13-10 | 43 | - | 29 | 30 | -1 | 16 | 6 -6-4 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 17 | 4 -7-6 | 19 | 15 | 19 | -4 |
| 3 | FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia | 33 | 10 -12-11 | 42 | - | 46 | 42 | 4 | 17 | 5 -8-4 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 16 | 5 -4-7 | 19 | 22 | 23 | -1 |
| 4 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | 33 | 6 -12-15 | 30 | - | 26 | 47 | -21 | 17 | 3 -7-7 | 16 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 16 | 3 -5-8 | 14 | 13 | 25 | -12 |
| 5 | FK Spartak 1918 Varna | 33 | 5 -13-15 | 28 | - | 28 | 55 | -27 | 17 | 4 -5-8 | 17 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 16 | 1 -8-7 | 11 | 8 | 23 | -15 |
| 6 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | 33 | 7 -7-19 | 28 | - | 28 | 62 | -34 | 16 | 4 -4-8 | 16 | 15 | 26 | -11 | 17 | 3 -3-11 | 12 | 13 | 36 | -23 |
| 7 | FC Dobrudzha Dobrich | 33 | 7 -6-20 | 27 | - | 24 | 48 | -24 | 16 | 7 -3-6 | 24 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 17 | 0 -3-14 | 3 | 6 | 27 | -21 |
| 8 | PFC Montana | 33 | 4 -10-19 | 22 | - | 19 | 48 | -29 | 16 | 3 -5-8 | 14 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 17 | 1 -5-11 | 8 | 9 | 28 | -19 |
| UEFAECL Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 32 | 12 -13-7 | 49 | - | 32 | 34 | -2 | 16 | 8 -4-4 | 28 | 14 | 16 | -2 | 16 | 4 -9-3 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 2 | PFC Cherno More Varna | 32 | 12 -12-8 | 48 | - | 34 | 26 | 8 | 15 | 5 -6-4 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 17 | 7 -6-4 | 27 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| 3 | FK Arda Kardzhali | 32 | 12 -9-11 | 45 | - | 33 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 7 -5-5 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 5 -4-6 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| 4 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | 32 | 12 -7-13 | 43 | - | 42 | 39 | 3 | 16 | 5 -4-7 | 19 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 16 | 7 -3-6 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 6 |
UEFAECL Playoffs 2026-2027 UEFACL 2026-2027 UEFAEL 2026-2027 UEFAECL Relegation Playoff Relegation to BUL2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
1st Stage
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | PFC Levski Sofia | 30 | 22 -4-4 | 70 | - | 64 | 22 | 42 | 15 | 13 -1-1 | 40 | 38 | 9 | 29 | 15 | 9 -3-3 | 30 | 26 | 13 | 13 |
| 2 | Ludogorets Razgrad | 30 | 17 -9-4 | 60 | - | 57 | 20 | 37 | 15 | 9 -5-1 | 32 | 28 | 9 | 19 | 15 | 8 -4-3 | 28 | 29 | 11 | 18 |
| 3 | CSKA 1948 Sofia | 30 | 18 -5-7 | 59 | - | 50 | 31 | 19 | 15 | 9 -3-3 | 30 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 15 | 9 -2-4 | 29 | 25 | 14 | 11 |
| 4 | CSKA Sofia | 30 | 16 -8-6 | 56 | - | 43 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 10 -4-1 | 34 | 26 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 6 -4-5 | 22 | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| 5 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | 30 | 11 -13-6 | 46 | - | 30 | 33 | -3 | 15 | 8 -4-3 | 28 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 15 | 3 -9-3 | 18 | 16 | 18 | -2 |
| 6 | PFC Cherno More Varna | 30 | 11 -11-8 | 44 | - | 33 | 26 | 7 | 15 | 5 -6-4 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 6 -5-4 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| 7 | FK Arda Kardzhali | 30 | 12 -8-10 | 44 | - | 33 | 27 | 6 | 15 | 7 -4-4 | 25 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 5 -4-6 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| 8 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | 30 | 11 -7-12 | 40 | - | 40 | 37 | 3 | 15 | 5 -4-6 | 19 | 18 | 19 | -1 | 15 | 6 -3-6 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 4 |
| 9 | PFC Slavia Sofia | 30 | 10 -9-11 | 39 | - | 36 | 33 | 3 | 15 | 6 -4-5 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 4 -5-6 | 17 | 16 | 17 | -1 |
| 10 | POFC Botev Vratsa | 30 | 9 -11-10 | 38 | - | 24 | 26 | -2 | 15 | 5 -6-4 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 4 -5-6 | 17 | 12 | 16 | -4 |
| 11 | FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia | 30 | 9 -10-11 | 37 | - | 40 | 39 | 1 | 15 | 5 -6-4 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 4 -4-7 | 16 | 19 | 23 | -4 |
| 12 | FK Spartak 1918 Varna | 30 | 5 -12-13 | 27 | - | 25 | 50 | -25 | 15 | 4 -4-7 | 16 | 18 | 29 | -11 | 15 | 1 -8-6 | 11 | 7 | 21 | -14 |
| 13 | FC Dobrudzha Dobrich | 30 | 7 -5-18 | 26 | - | 23 | 43 | -20 | 15 | 7 -3-5 | 24 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 0 -2-13 | 2 | 5 | 25 | -20 |
| 14 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | 30 | 7 -5-18 | 26 | - | 25 | 58 | -33 | 15 | 4 -3-8 | 15 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 15 | 3 -2-10 | 11 | 11 | 33 | -22 |
| 15 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | 30 | 4 -11-15 | 23 | - | 19 | 44 | -25 | 15 | 2 -6-7 | 12 | 8 | 20 | -12 | 15 | 2 -5-8 | 11 | 11 | 24 | -13 |
| 16 | PFC Montana | 30 | 3 -8-19 | 17 | - | 15 | 45 | -30 | 15 | 2 -5-8 | 11 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 15 | 1 -3-11 | 6 | 6 | 25 | -19 |
Championship Group UEFAECL Playoffs Relegation Group | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fixtures
 | FK Arda Kardzhali | Stadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) |
 | CSKA Sofia | Stadion Bistritsa |
 | FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia | Ogosta Stadium |
 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | Ticha Stadium |
 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Stadion Georgi Asparuhov |
 | PFC Slavia Sofia | Stadion Spartak (Varna) |
 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Stadion Hristo Botev (Vratsa) |
 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | Stadion Druzhba |
| PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Ticha Stadium |
| FK Arda Kardzhali | Stadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv) |
| FC Dobrudzha Dobrich | Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov |
| CSKA 1948 Sofia | Stadion Vasil Levski |
| PFC Levski Sofia | Huvepharma Arena |
| FK Spartak 1918 Varna | Stadion Lokomotiv (Sofia) |
| PFC Montana | Stadion Hristo Botev (Vratsa) |
| PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | Stadion Lokomotiv (Sofia) |
| CSKA Sofia | Stadion Georgi Asparuhov |
| Ludogorets Razgrad | Stadion Bistritsa |
| PFC Cherno More Varna | Stadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv) |
| PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Arena Arda |
Results
| 11 | FC Dobrudzha Dobrich | Stadion Spartak (Varna) |
| 21 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov |
| 22 | POFC Botev Vratsa | Stadion Lokomotiv (Sofia) |
| 22 | PFC Montana | Beroe Stadium |
| 10 | Ludogorets Razgrad | Stadion Vasil Levski |
| 02 | PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv | Stadion Hristo Botev (Plovdiv) |
| 00 | PFC Cherno More Varna | Arena Arda |
| 10 | CSKA 1948 Sofia | Stadion Georgi Asparuhov |
| 21 | FK Spartak 1918 Varna | Stadion Hristo Botev (Vratsa) |
| 30 | PFC Slavia Sofia | Beroe Stadium |
| 03 | FC Lokomotiv 1929 Sofia | Stadion Druzhba |
| 11 | PFC Montana | Stadion Lokomotiv (Sofia) |
| 11 | PFC Septemvri Sofia | Stadion Lokomotiv (Sofia) |
| 10 | FC Dobrudzha Dobrich | Ogosta Stadium |
| 02 | PFC Botev Plovdiv | Arena Arda |
| 01 | PFC Cherno More Varna | Stadion Lokomotiv (Plovdiv) |
| 11 | POFC Botev Vratsa | Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov |
| 13 | PFC Levski Sofia | Stadion Vasil Levski |
| 12 | CSKA 1948 Sofia | Huvepharma Arena |
| 12 | PFC Beroe Stara Zagora | Stadion Spartak (Varna) |