Municipalities today

From 31 July to 4 August 2026, the Borovets mountain resort will host the 29th edition of the Dr Emil Iliev International Jazz Festival, one of the most prominent musical events in Bulgaria’s cultural calendar.

Over the course of five festival evenings, the stage will welcome renowned Bulgarian and international jazz performers. This year’s programme features musicians from Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain, Cameroon and France, while the special guests include Richard Bona Trio, Vinsen Garcia, The Eastern Quartet, Spectrum Vocal Band, Emil Tasev Quartet, YAVI, and Big Band Blagoevgrad.

In addition to the concert programme, the festival will offer a meeting with acclaimed Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova, screenings of documentary films dedicated to jazz music, and a Summer Jazz Academy for Children.

The event is free of charge and traditionally attracts large audiences from Bulgaria and abroad, further strengthening the position of Borovets and Samokov Municipality as an important centre of cultural and festival life in Bulgaria.

Source: Samokov Municipality