Varna International Folklore Festival 2027

Varna International Folklore Festival

The Varna International Folklore Festival, known locally as “Varna Summer”, has been running since 1992 on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Varna Municipality started it, and today it belongs to the CIOFF network of international folklore festivals. Over the years more than 150 folk ensembles have taken part, with upwards of 15,000 dancers and musicians from around 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Bulgaria’s own leading companies have performed too, including Pirin, Filip Kutev, Thrace and Strandzha. The festival’s motto is “For friendship – together today, to stay friends forever.”

It takes place every year around the turn of July into August. The main evening concerts are held at the Open-air Theatre in Varna’s Sea Garden, a large seaside park, and further outdoor stages are set up in the Asparuhovo and Vladislavovo districts.

Folklore Festival Highlights:

• Evening Gala Concerts in the Sea Garden: Visiting ensembles take turns on the open-air stage, performing traditional dances, songs and instrumental music in national costume.
• Street Processions Through Varna: Dancers and musicians parade in full costume through the city center, which turns the streets into a lively procession of the world’s folk traditions.
• Neighborhood Stages: Concerts in Asparuhovo and Vladislavovo take the festival beyond the center to local residents, in a more relaxed and intimate setting.
• Folklore Meetings & Exhibitions: Alongside the stage shows there are exhibitions and discussions with the groups’ artistic directors about preserving and staging folk art.

Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:

• Free Entry: The concerts and processions are free and open to everyone. You don’t need tickets, so you can simply drop in and catch as many performances as you like.
• Getting a Good Seat: The Open-air Theatre fills up on summer evenings, so arrive early for the main concerts. The street processions are best watched from the pedestrian streets in the city center.
• Getting There: Varna Airport is only a short drive from the city and has many seasonal flights in summer. Trains and intercity buses connect Varna with Sofia and other Bulgarian cities, and the Sea Garden is within walking distance of the center.
• What to Wear: Early August on the Black Sea is hot and sunny. Bring light clothing, a hat and sunscreen for daytime events, and a light layer for evening concerts by the sea.
• Accommodation: The festival falls at the height of the beach season, when hotels in Varna and nearby resorts such as Golden Sands fill up quickly, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
• Explore Varna: Make a longer trip of it with a visit to the cliffside Aladzha Monastery, the Roman Baths, the Stone Forest or a Black Sea cruise — browse top Varna tours and activities here.

Varna Municipality publishes the full concert schedule and list of participating ensembles before each festival. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.