On 28 May, individuals, organisations, schools, kindergartens and companies with the greatest contribution to children’s rights and wellbeing in Bulgaria over the past year will be honoured. The new edition of the “Golden Apple” Awards, organised by the National Network for Children (NNC), will take place from 7:00 PM at Hyatt Regency Sofia, Vasil Levski Ballroom.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the National Network for Children, the ceremony will be held in a new format – an official charity ball. The event builds upon the traditional awards ceremony by creating opportunities for broader engagement of the business sector in support of causes related to children.
As part of the charity ball, a special “Cause Place Setting” format is being introduced for business representatives. By purchasing a corporate place setting, companies support the community of child-focused organisations within the National Network for Children, as well as the child and youth participation initiatives of the “Megaphone” Programme – youth camps, a youth podcast, and various formats through which children and young people express their views on issues important to them.
In addition, the purchased place settings ensure the participation of representatives of child-focused organisations and member organisations of the National Network for Children, who will take part in the event and in the awards presentation process.
Choose your corporate place setting:
“Hero” Place Setting – €220
• 1 seat for a company representative
• 1 complimentary seat for an NNC member organisation
“Superhero” Place Setting – €300
• 2 seats for company representatives
• 1 complimentary seat for an NNC member organisation
For additional opportunities and corporate participation, please contact us using the details provided below.
During the evening, the charity initiative “A Brick with a Cause” will also be presented in support of the construction of the “Children’s House” – a community centre for early childhood development and advocacy for children’s rights.
In the 16th edition of the “Golden Apple” Awards, 60 nominations were submitted across four categories under the theme “20 Years of Good for Children” – “Children’s Hero”, “Child Organisation”, “School/Kindergarten” and “Corporate Partnership for Children”. Among the nominees are individuals, civil society organisations, educational institutions and companies working in support of children and families in Bulgaria.
More than 4,800 people supported their favourites online in the categories “Children’s Hero” and “Child Organisation”. In the remaining two categories, the winners will be determined by an expert jury, which this year includes Elena Atanasova from UNICEF Bulgaria, Gabriela Marinova from the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF), Boyan Zahariyev from Open Society Institute – Sofia, Daniel Kiryakov from the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, and Vladimira Kitanova from the “Megaphone” Programme. The nominations receiving the highest number of online votes will receive two additional points in the final evaluation.
Traditionally, the recipients of the “Lifetime Contribution” and “Special Award” distinctions will be selected by the members of the NNC Management Board.
Any business representative wishing to support children through the purchase of a place setting for the charity ball can contact the National Network for Children at [email protected].
The 2026 “Golden Apple” Awards are supported by UniCredit Consumer Financing, Kaufland Bulgaria, Siemens Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) and Trade Agency Business Day.
NNC’s media partners are Manager, Darik, Actualno.com and the Bulgarian National Television.
