Bulgaria

• Type: Country
• Location: Southeastern Europe
• Owner/Residents: Notable Bulgarian wizards include Viktor Krum and Minister Oblansk.
• Key Features: Home to a world-class National Quidditch Team and native magical creatures such as Veela.

Bulgaria is a country in the Wizarding World with its own Ministry of Magic, which was headed by Minister Oblansk in 1994. The country is most famous within the wizarding community for its formidable National Quidditch Team, which reached the final of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. Bulgaria is also the home country of the internationally famous Seeker, Viktor Krum. Krum was a student at the Durmstrang Institute, a school of magic known for teaching the Dark Arts. While Viktor Krum is Bulgarian, Durmstrang Institute itself is not located in Bulgaria, but rather in the far north of Europe (Pottermore). The nation's magical culture appears to have a strong connection to Veela, beautiful and enchanting magical beings who served as the mascots for the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team.

Bulgaria's primary role in the series occurs during the events of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, detailed in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Thousands of Bulgarian wizards, including Minister Oblansk, attended the Quidditch World Cup final against Ireland. The Bulgarian team, dressed in blood-red robes, was accompanied by their Veela mascots, whose dancing entranced the male members of the crowd, including Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. During the match, the Bulgarian team played a physical and aggressive game. The game concluded in a highly unusual fashion when the Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum, caught the Golden Snitch, earning his team 150 points but failing to close the 160-point lead held by Ireland. Bulgaria lost the match 170-160. Following the match, the Bulgarian Minister for Magic, Mr. Oblansk, was seen in the Top Box with Cornelius Fudge. Their conversation was limited, as Minister Oblansk did not speak English and politely pretended to understand Minister Fudge's comments. Bulgaria remained relevant to the plot through Viktor Krum, who later arrived at Hogwarts as the Durmstrang Institute champion for the Triwizard Tournament.

No specific wizarding towns, villages, or significant locations within the borders of Bulgaria are described in the original novels.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Bulgarian Minister for Magic is not named Oblansk but is referred to as Minister Maxim (film).
• On Pottermore (now Wizarding World), J.K. Rowling confirmed that despite Viktor Krum's Bulgarian nationality, Durmstrang Institute is located in the northernmost regions of either Norway or Sweden, clarifying a long-held fan assumption that the school might be in Bulgaria (Pottermore).
• The spelling of the Bulgarian minister's name is inconsistent in some sources and editions, appearing as both Oblansk and Obalonsk.