Preservation and development of Old Sofia – focus of KvARTal Festival

In 2016, a new festival was born in the center of Sofia in the small streets surrounding the mosque, the Central Market Hall, and the Central Mineral Baths, an area that surprises visitors with its remarkable buildings and an atmosphere preserved from the last century. "KvARTal Fest" was one of the first attempts to answer the question, "Why haven't we noticed them until now?" while aiming to showcase the district's cultural and historical potential.

Today, in 2026, KvARTal Festival is a beloved and eagerly awaited event held around the Day of Sofia on September 17th.

This year’s program - running from September 18 to 20, features over 60 locations: galleries, studios, cultural spaces, spots for dining and tasting the flavours of Old Sofia, pedestrian festival zones, music stages, installations, exhibitions, tours, a children’s architecture zone, workshops, and other initiatives dedicated to history, architecture, and cultural heritage. We spoke with the festival’s initiator, Martina Stefanova, about the eleventh edition.

“The festival aims to invite visitors to the capital and Sofia residents to the old historic city, in order to experience it through flavours, history, and various educational programs. It is a festival where we get to feel the city and come to love our history, because without history, there is no future.”

This year, the festival’s main theme focuses on the future of Sofia’s historic center and the preservation of its cultural heritage. Prior to the festival's opening, the "Future of the Old City" forum will take place on September 16. Architects, experts, and professionals in the sphere of cultural heritage will participate in the event. Representatives from all relevant institutions have been invited to discuss topics such as 20th-century architecture, archaeology, the city's mineral water heritage, including its baths, as well as the future of museums.

"It is important that we are announcing two new initiatives this year," Martina Stefanova says. "The first is 'Adopt a Building,' which we will present to companies and citizens wishing to donate for the restoration of a historic building. The other key initiative is the 'Neighborhood Charter.' This charter will be available at various locations throughout Old Sofia. Anyone will be able to sign it. Our goal is to call upon the authorities to preserve the area and to restore it to its original state."

One of the festival events takes us back to the early 20th century, when the first chocolate factory in the Balkans was established in Sofia. It was the work of industrialist Velizar Peev, and during the three days of the festival, its building at 12 George Washington Street will serve as one of the venues offering visitors engaging experiences:

"In the hall, across various floors and in the courtyard, we will showcase vintage furniture, as some pieces have already been restored, while others await restoration and a new owner. We are creating an exhibition that bridges the past and the future, featuring old furniture alongside works by contemporary artists, including modern art, sculpture, and installations. The event will also feature a vinyl music program and a lecture on vintage furniture, as well as the styles of furniture and architecture spanning the Art Nouveau, Secession, and later Modernist periods. It promises to be a fascinating three-day program, which you can also follow on our social media channels."

"The past in the future tense" – perhaps that is how we should define the essence of KvARTal Festival, believing that its mission to preserve and develop this part of the capital will unfold right before our eyes.