“Rivers of Sofia” draws residents to the coolness of the Perlovska River

The 2026 edition of the “Rivers of Sofia” festival features more than 150 events and takes place from August 28 to 30 along the banks of the Perlovska River in South Park. The festival’s seventh edition once again highlights the potential of Sofia’s rivers to become an important part of a greener urban environment. Last year, the festival drew more than 80,000 visitors over the three days.

For the last weekend of August, “Rivers of Sofia” 2026 offers a combination of family activities, craft workshops, and a wide range of artistic events. Popular performers including Kottarashky & Sando, Tlen, Peyotoff, Ivan Shopov and Rosen Zahariev, and Desy & The Visual Madmen will take the stage across the festival’s three music stages, along with international guests Coals from Poland and French Fry from Greece.

A new feature this year is a sports zone on the Great Lawn in the park, where visitors can play volleyball, mini-football, spikeball, or take part in various sports challenges.

The art program features illuminated boats made of recycled plastic, appearing to float in the air, as well as art installations featuring a monumental seven-meter-long illuminated sturgeon, “Vanishing Ecosystems”, by Alexander Lazarkov.

The festival has been held since 2020 on the initiative of The Collective. Over time it has grown into a cause bringing together numerous organizations, institutions, and artists around the goal of cleaner, livelier urban rivers that offer more opportunities for recreation, sports, and culture.

Events on Saturday and Sunday run from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Edited by Yoan Kolev

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov