Varna truly bears the name “the city of festivals.” As early as 1926, with the beginning of the first “Bulgarian National Music Celebrations,” the foundation was laid for a vibrant and enduring tradition that continues to shape the cultural identity of the city today.
Today, Varna offers one of the richest cultural calendars in Bulgaria, featuring nearly 50 festivals across various genres and hundreds of events throughout the year. Music, cinema, dance, theatre, and visual arts bring to life both established venues and open-air spaces-from the Summer Theatre and the Sea Garden to iconic urban and historical locations.
Among the highlights of this vibrant cultural calendar is the International Music Festival “Varna Summer,” which laid the foundation for this tradition back in 1926.
Alongside it, Varna also hosts a number of other notable festivals:
The International Theatre Festival “Varna Summer” is the largest international theatre event in Bulgaria. It takes place every year from June 1 to June 11 in Varna, as part of the “Varna Summer” Arts Festivals. Its main goal is to present key trends in Bulgarian and international stage practice and to create a space for intercultural dialogue, exchange, and networking.
The program is structured as a mosaic of modules. The “Selected Bulgarian Performances” module focuses on the achievements of the Bulgarian theatre scene during the current season. The international selection showcases a diversity of stage forms and leading trends from Europe and around the world. The Showcase program highlights innovative productions in contemporary theatre, dance, and performance, presented to international programmers and selectors. The parallel program is open to a wide range of partner initiatives, including discussions, workshops, theoretical conferences, lectures, book presentations, exhibitions, and concerts.
Venues: Drama Theatre “Stoyan Bachvarov”, State Puppet Theatre - Varna, City Art Gallery “Boris Georgiev”, Archaeological Museum - Varna, Roman Baths - Varna, and others.
The International Jazz Festival “Varna Summer” was founded in 1992 and is held annually, featuring world-renowned musicians from Bulgaria and abroad. In addition to collaborative international projects, the festival program also includes a stage dedicated to young Bulgarian jazz musicians.
Venue: Archaeological Museum (courtyard)
A modern jazz festival featuring both international and Bulgarian artists.
Venue: Karantinata
The mission of the “Varna WINEkend” festival is to create and enrich wine culture among young people, bringing together technologists and representatives of various Bulgarian wineries in an informal and friendly atmosphere.
Venue: Archaeological Museum
The “Pagur” Festival brings together young chefs, bartenders, pastry chefs, and waiters in an international celebration of culinary art and hospitality. During the event, young talents showcase their skills before an international jury, learn from top professionals through masterclasses, and take their first steps toward a successful professional career. The festival is organized by the Bulgarian Association for Culinary Culture with the support of the Municipality of Varna.
The “Wine and Food” Festival brings together enthusiasts and professionals from the fields of gastronomy and winemaking in a celebration of flavors and the senses. During the event, visitors have the opportunity to taste a selection of Bulgarian and international wines, discover culinary delights prepared by renowned chefs, and explore the latest trends in gastronomy. The festival also offers demonstrations, masterclasses, and meetings with experts, turning it into a platform for the exchange of ideas and inspiration. It is organized by the Bulgarian Sommelier Association with the support of the Municipality of Varna.
A summer season of opera and ballet performances under the open sky.
Venue: Summer Theatre
The International Folklore Festival “Varna Summer” was established in 1992 at the initiative of the Municipality of Varna. It takes place annually during the first week of August. According to its statute, participating ensembles include youth and adult groups from all over the world, as well as groups presenting authentic folklore traditions.
Venues: Summer Theatre, “Rakovina” Stage, and various open-air stages and venues across Varna.
The RADAR Festival aims to expand the boundaries of Varna’s cultural life by presenting musical projects in which diverse art forms-such as film, video art, poetry, contemporary theatre, and dance-intersect in a coherent way, alongside perhaps the most creative sector of modern life: technology.
Venues: Various locations across the city of Varna
The Buna Forum is the largest platform for contemporary visual art, bringing together the Bulgarian contemporary visual arts scene. The festival is organized by the BUNA Foundation through a broad network of partnerships with artistic organizations in Bulgaria and abroad. BUNA is an innovative, decentralized forum in which participants are also co-producers of the event.
Venue: Talyana Quarter
Since 1982, the competition has been named after the prominent Bulgarian composer Georgi Dimitrov, the founder of the modern Bulgarian choral school.
Since 1989, the International May Choir Competition has been a member of the organizing committee of the International Competition “Grand Prix Europe,” which is held successively in Arezzo (Italy), Debrecen (Hungary), Tours (France), Maribor (Slovenia), Varna (Bulgaria), and Tolosa (Spain).
These six choir competitions are among the most prestigious in Europe and enjoy high authority due to their long-standing traditions, excellent organization, and high artistic standards.
Venue: Festival and Congress Centre - Varna and open-air stages
www.choircomp.org
In October 1979, the First World Animation Film Festival “Varna ’79” was held. A total of six editions took place, the last of which was in 1989. Since 2011, the festival has been revived in Varna.
Venue: Festival and Congress Centre - Varna
www.varnafest.org
Pictoplasma is the world’s largest platform for contemporary art, design, and illustration related to the creation of visual stories with characters and heroes. The project promotes interdisciplinary discussion, development, and the popularization of a new visual language-from illustration to animation, from games to interactive design, and from urban to graphic art.
Venue: Yunashki Salon, Hall 3
The festival was established in 1961. Until 1974, with the exception of 1965, when a one-time Balkan Film Festival was organized, it was held annually. The first edition included feature, documentary, educational, and animated films. A special jury awarded prizes for: Best Contemporary Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Direction, Cinematography, Best Actress and Best Actor, among others.
Venue: Festival and Congress Centre
www.zlatnaroza.bg
The mission of VARNA JAZZ DAYS FESTIVAL is to enrich the musical and cultural environment of Varna in the field of jazz music by creating a connection between the traditional and the modern.
Its main goal is to develop a younger generation of audiences, as well as those who wish to study contemporary musical styles, embracing music as a universal language with shared roots.
The festival was established in 2004 at the initiative of the “Elit Music” agency. Its program includes symphonic and chamber concerts, as well as recitals.
Cinelibri is the result of a passion for great literature, the magic of cinema, and the ways in which the two interact. The festival is based on the symbiosis of cinema, literature, and education, aiming to present completed works of high artistic value.
The “Let’s Share Nikulden” Festival is a charitable culinary event dedicated to the Nikulden tradition, held annually on December 6 in Varna. It brings together young talents and professionals from the culinary sector who present fish dishes and specialties in a competitive atmosphere.
The event is accompanied by a festive program, and the proceeds from sales are donated to charitable causes. It is organized by the Varna Tourist Chamber with the support of the Municipality of Varna and partners.
