Bucharest mayor Ciprian Ciucu proposes new rules for private events on public spaces

Mayor Ciprian Ciucu told event organisers that Bucharest needs "events with flair" rather than "fair‑ground stalls with grill smoke and noisy music." He announced a draft regulation to simplify the licensing of private events held on public land. Under the plan organisers would submit a single request, after which the city would coordinate all required permits and issue a clear yes, no or conditional decision.

The new system would rank applications with a points‑based score that considers the event type, its impact on traffic and the diversity of cultural offer. Overlapping events in the same area or on the same day would be limited to avoid congestion. Fees for occupying public space would be differentiated by location and activity – higher for central food festivals, lower for children’s programmes in peripheral districts. A transition year is set for 2026, with full implementation expected in 2027. Ciucu said the aim is to attract vibrant, high‑quality events that benefit the city and its residents.