BULGACON is an annual national festival of fiction, held in various locations across the country since 2000. It covers all genres (science fiction, fantasy, horror, alternative history) and forms (literature, fine arts, cinema, music, applied writing and world-building workshops, science and education).

Among all literary genres, fiction is unique in that it creates sustainable communities of readers and fans (the so-called fandom), who maintain close ties with writers and other figures in the field of art and culture. Active participation in fandom circles helps to develop the intellectual and creative potential and is the basis for the formation of the personalities of a number of artists and scientists - there are many examples of this worldwide. A traditional manifestation of fandom activity around the world are the so-called conventions (festivals) - world, European and national ones. The Bulgarian one is called BULGACON and has been held every year since 2000. since. In 2004, it also had the status of EUROCON - a festival of European fandom. Within the framework of BULGACON, meetings of fans with various creators and figures in the field of fantasy and between them are held, exchange of experience, knowledge and impressions, lectures, presentations of various works, etc., as well as various educational and creative events.

The organizers of BULGACON 2025 are the club of Science Fiction, Heuristics and Prognostics "Arkady and Boris Strugatsky" (Pazardzhik) and the Youth Centre - Pazardzhik, with the help of other clubs and communities from the country.

Novels/anthologies by promising young authors from Bulgaria will be presented. The festival will include a scientific conference that examines the problems of science fiction through the prism of social, humanitarian and applied sciences. The festival has a popularizing, scientific, educational and entertainment focus, especially for young people.

BULGACON 2025 will be held with international participation (official guests are Adrian Czajkowski – Great Britain, Alex Schwartzman – USA, Neil Clark – USA, Francesco Verso – Italy) on September 6–8, 2025 in the town of Pazardzhik.

In 2025, a significant anniversary is celebrated: 50 years since the founding of the "Arkady and Boris Strugatsky" Science Fiction, Heuristics and Prognostics Club in the city of Pazardzhik. In order to appropriately celebrate this anniversary and build on the successful practices of previous editions of Bulgacon, the organizers of BULGACON 2025 wish to organize an expanded and enriched event with a parallel program, held in 3 halls, and a number of accompanying events:

– a scientific conference with sections in the field of social, humanitarian and natural sciences;

– workshops for writing, drawing and applied art, which will be led by professional artists in the relevant fields;

– traditional exhibitions of paintings, photographs, video art, art installations with fantastic content;

– short story and drawing competitions with a prize fund, and a collection of the best competition works will also be published;

– concerts, recitals, film screenings, Asian animations (anime), theatrical performances, performances;

– literary readings in front of an audience by official guests and other willing participants;

– presentation of new fantasy books by young and already established writers in front of an audience;

– quizzes in the field of fantasy art with a prize fund of books;

– use of the game element as an educational and training tool – presentation and holding of thematic games (computer, board, role-playing, book-games), including those created by Bulgarian artists;

– other events, including creative workshops for children.

The leading theme of BULGACON 2025 will be “The bright future we all dream of. How to fight for it?” It unites leading aspects of fiction – the interest in the future and in the different, the search for the strange and unusual, the steps/actions that need to be taken – individual and public, with the long-standing practice of the fiction, heuristics and prognostics club “Arkady and Boris Strugatsky” in the town of Pazardzhik. to support and develop a creative and at the same time critical view of reality.