Burgas Blues Fest
Burgas Municipality is pleased to announce the return of the "Burgas Blues Fest" - one of the most beloved musical events, which has left a bright mark on the cultural life of the city and in the memories of generations of blues music fans. The festival will be held on August 21, 2026 on an open stage in the Sea Garden /next to the Flora/, with free admission, as tradition dictates. The organizer of the festival is the remarkable Mariyana Dobreva-Veleva, vocalist, composer and instrumentalist of the band "Silhouette" and organizer of the annual July Morning festival. After a long hiatus, the festival is being revived in memory of the unforgettable Burgas musician Plamen Stavrev - its main driving force and inspirer. Called the “soul of the festival”, Plamen Stavrev initiated the “Burgas Blues Fest” together with Stefan Koradov and Sonya Koradova back in 1994. The first edition was held behind the Summer Theater in the Sea Garden. In the years until the musician’s death in 2011, the festival had eight editions at different locations in the Sea Garden and attracted thousands of fans with the participation of iconic artists from the Bulgarian and international blues scene – Georgi Minchev, Vasko Krupkata, Boogie Barabata, Vili Kavaldzhiev & Blues Traffic, Vili Kazasyan Big Band, The Blues Brothers Band, Ruth/Steve Hartley and many others. After Plamen Stavrev's death in 2011, the festival was briefly revived in 2012 as a tribute to him. The return of Burgas Blues Fest in 2026 continues this tradition – to preserve and honor the work of Plamen Stavrev and once again bring together fans of this timeless music. To the delight of fans, the festival's headliner this year will be Vasko Krypkata - a living legend of Bulgarian blues and an integral part of the festival's history. He is among the first Bulgarian bluesmen, the creator of the Poduene Blues Band in 1989, and songs like "Let There Be Light", "Bureaucrat", "Sunny Beach Blues" and "Day After Day" continue to sound relevant today. Expect the full program soon with Bulgarian and international performers who will take the stage on August 21, 2026.
