The 34th edition of the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival came to a close on 11 June with the performances Flies Without Heads by Konstantin Velichkov Drama and Puppet Theatre – Pazardzhik and The Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk by Varna State Puppet Theatre. For eleven days, Bulgaria’s sea capital once again became the
This year, the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival once again invites audiences to experience the festival not only through the encounters in the theatre halls, but also through its blog — a space for conversations, reviews, and diverse perspectives on the events in the programme. Follow the festival atmosphere at varnatheatrefest.viafest.org. Every day, the blog
The 34th edition of the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival has officially begun, once again turning Varna into one of the important stages for theatrical dialogue in Bulgaria and Europe. From the very first festival days, Varna came alive with the energy of theatre, while the host stages gave this year’s edition a powerful start.
The team of the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival and the Via Fest Foundation invite journalists and media representatives to an official press conference on the occasion of the opening of the 34th edition of one of Bulgaria’s most significant theatre events. The press conference will take place on 2 June 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Dear audience members, We would like to inform you that, due to circumstances beyond our control, there has been a change in the programme of the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival. Instead of the previously announced production “People, Places and Things” by Sava Ognyanov Drama Theatre – Ruse, audiences will have the opportunity to see
The Varna Summer International Theatre Festival — Bulgaria’s most anticipated theatrical event — brings with it not only the feeling of a sea breeze, but also a carefully curated selection of the finest Bulgarian stage achievements, high-quality international drama, and outstanding guests from abroad. The 34th edition of the festival will transform Varna, Bulgaria’s sea
In June and July, Sofia will once again become a stage for major international theatre. World Theatre in Sofia celebrates its 20th edition with a programme that brings Bulgarian audiences five outstanding titles from the contemporary European and international stage. The platform is part of the Cultural Calendar of Sofia Municipality for 2026 and continues
The performances “Nostalgic Divertimento” by Sfumato Theatre Workshop and “The Eyes of Arabia” by Varna Puppet Theatre marked the finale of this year’s edition of the country’s largest international theatre event on 11 June. We extend our gratitude to our audiences, partners, and collaborators, and look forward to new encounters!
The Varna Summer International Theatre Festival launches the Theatre Bridges programme with performances from Southeastern Europe. It aims to bring the Bulgarian stage closer to the achievements of the theatre in the region and promote cross-border creative collaborations.
Theatre professionals from the USA, South Korea, and Eastern Europe are arriving in Varna for the Varna Summer International Theatre Festival. From 6th till 10th June, they will attend the special Theatre Showcase module featuring Bulgarian performances from the festival programme, presented with surtitles in English. The module aims to promote Bulgarian theatre abroad by providing a platform for dialogue and exchange between local and international performing arts makers and professionals
