Although native to Prekmurje, it has achieved the status of a national specialty of Slovenia.

The name gibanica comes from the dialect expression güba and in this case refers to a fold.

For centuries, prekmurska gibanica was served as a festive and ritual dish in Prekmurje.

The oldest extant document (1828) by József Kossics described a wedding (Prekmurje Slovene: gostüvanje) as never being held without gibanica, which is done as follows: "The dough is rolled until thin, sprinkled with grated cabbage, turnips, or quark.

Since March 2010, prekmurska gibanica is protected in the EU as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.