Unda Bugeacului marks 40 years as Moldova’s first Bulgarian‑language TV program

The television show Unda Bugeacului, broadcast on Moldova 1, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. First aired in 1986, it was the inaugural Bulgarian‑language programme on the national television of the Republic of Moldova and quickly became a chronicle of the Bulgarian community’s life, traditions and cultural identity.

Founded by Ivan Covalov and Maria Velicsar, the early editions ran 45 minutes and were split between Bulgarian and Gagauz segments. Over the decades the programme expanded its coverage to include history of Bulgarian‑settled villages, school activities, cultural events and the transformations of communities in southern Moldova, especially the Bugeac region. The anniversary also coincided with the 40th year of the related radio programme Radio Megdan, which began the same year.

Unda Bugeacului continues to air weekly, preserving the literary Bulgarian language and promoting the heritage of the Bulgarian minority in Moldova.