Municipalities today

Sofia Municipality will mark Sofia Day – September 17 with a wide range of initiatives. Information about all events throughout September, organized by the municipality, district administrations, municipal cultural institutions, and partner organizations, can be found by date on the Events section of the Sofia Municipality website.

The Bulgarian National Radio is a media partner of the municipality in promoting the festive initiatives for Sofia Day.

Highlights:

September 17 – Free admission for visitors to:

• Sofia City Art Gallery and its branches: Dechko Uzunov Gallery Museum and Vaska Emanuilova Gallery

• Regional Historical Museum – Sofia and its branches: permanent and temporary exhibitions at Pl. Banski No.1, Serdica Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex, the Archaeological Level of St. Sofia Basilica, West Gate Archaeological Park, Tomb of Prince Alexander I, National Reconciliation Exhibition, and the Triangular Tower of Serdica

The Municipal Cultural Institute – Science and Educational Children's Center “Muzeiko” will also open its doors free of charge for students from Sofia schools to visit interactive educational and scientific installations.

September 17 – Official ceremony for the presentation of the Sofia Municipality Awards for outstanding achievements in culture

September 17, 11:30 a.m., in front of St. Sofia Church – Official flag-raising ceremony and blessing

September 17, 7:00 p.m., square in front of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – Concert “Sofia Sounds with Faith, Hope, and Love”. Free admission.

The concert will be streamed live on Facebook via @StolicaKultura and @ArtSofia.

Participants include:

• Big Band of the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy

• Students from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov”

• Hilda Kazasyan, Michaela Fileva, Vasil Petrov, Orlin Pavlov

• Representative Guards Brass Band

Spectacular acrobatics will be performed by Louisa Dushkova and artists from “New Circus.”

The orchestra of the Pop and Jazz Department at the Vocal Faculty of the National Music Academy, under artistic director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Yosifov, embodies youth, boldness, and innovation. The ensemble has already left its mark on Sofia’s cultural life through festivals such as A to JazZ, Music Elevator, the New Year’s Music Festival at NDK, and anniversary celebrations at the NMA. On July 1, 2025, the young jazz musicians shared the stage with the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra at the concert “Jazz Across Generations”, celebrating continuity between classical and new talents.

Students of Acting for Drama Theatre (Musical profile) under Prof. Dr. Penko Gospodinov will perform songs from popular musicals.

In the square in front of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the photo exhibition “Graduates’ Exhibitions – NHA Class of 2025” will showcase achievements of young artists from the National Academy of Arts.

The concert “Sofia Sounds with Faith, Hope, and Love” is part of the activities under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed in April between Sofia Municipality and the National Academy of Arts, the Pancho Vladigerov National Music Academy, and the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov.”

The Bulgarian National Radio is a media partner in promoting the festive events for Sofia Day.

National Academy of Arts – Children’s Workshops and Exhibitions

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., St. Kliment Ohridski Garden (in front of the Academy Gallery) – Creative workshops for children and youth:

• “Draw Sofia” – Drawing landmarks and favorite places on a 60-meter paper roll with NHA students

• Ceramics Workshop – Creating clay works with professors from the Ceramics Department

• Graphics Workshop – Graphic techniques demonstration by Assoc. Zoran Mishe

Gallery Terasa, 5th Floor, New Academic Building, NHA, Shipka St. No.1 – 5:30 p.m.: Opening of “Sofia Etudes: Walk into the Past”, featuring engravings by Ukrainian artist Vasil Mironenko (1910–1964).

National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts – Open Day

• 10:00 a.m., NATFIZ Puppet Theatre – Free entry: “Theatrical Exhibition”, family performance for ages 7+

• 10:00 a.m., Building B foyer – Exhibition of scenography projects by students: “Projects on Shakespeare’s Plays”

• 7:30 p.m., NATFIZ Hall 47 – “Cry of the Cursed” based on J. Genet’s The Maids, directed by Thea Sugareva

Regional Historical Museum – Sofia

Free admission to all sites and branches from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (last entry 8:00 p.m.), except the Archaeological Level of St. Sofia Basilica: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Commemorating 10 years since the opening of the permanent exhibition at Pl. Banski No.1

Highlights:

• Exhibition “Chronicles from the Atelier” – 130th anniversary of artist Vasil Zaharieff

• Exhibition “8,000 Years Ago – Slatina-Sofia. The World of the Neolithic Man” – 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Meet archaeologists Acad. Vasil Nikolov and Assist. Prof. Desislava Takorova

• Digitalized permanent exhibition: games, digital maps, archival photos, films

• Treasure UP – New free mobile app turning the Museum of Sofia into an interactive, gamified experience for visitors

Children’s workshops:

• “Design Your Own Banknote” – Inspired by Vasil Zaharieff

• “Prehistoric Figurine” – Clay crafting based on the Neolithic Slatina settlement

Lectures and guided tours:

• 6:00 p.m., meeting point: RIM – Sofia – “Targovska Street”

• 5:00 p.m., Archaeological Level of St. Sofia Basilica – Guided tour: “Walk in Serdica Necropolis”

• MiMU digital game for children launches September 15

Serdica Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex

• Hall 2 (Largo) – 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: “Magical Nature” exhibition by Assoc. Prof. Maria Marikina

• Hall 3 – 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.: “Alone, But Not Quite” by Emanuel Vasilev

• Hall 1 – 7:00 p.m.: Lecture “Sieges in the Middle Ages: How Khan Krum Conquered Serdica” by Assist. Prof. Dr. Mario Filipov

Educational center at Ancient Serdica – 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Free children’s workshops under “School of Archaeology”

Triangular Tower of Serdica – Virtual reality presentation and “Messages” exhibition by EGT artists

Concerts and Events

• September 16, 7:00 p.m., Central Military Club – Symphonic concert by Sofia Symphony Orchestra (free)

• September 17, 6:30 p.m., Druzhba Park – Sofia Brass Orchestra with soloists Alexander Savov and Presiyana Panova

• September 17, 5:00 p.m., Zaimov Park – “Happy Holiday, Sofia!” Concert with dance ensembles and ballet studio

Contemporary Art

• September 17 – #EnterTheRails – Interactive contemporary art at Vitosha Metro Station and along Line 3

• Puzzle of Images – Video art installation at Vitosha Metro Station, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Competitions and Festivals

• 6:00 p.m., Krasno Selo Cultural House – Winners of “Neighborhood Symbol” online competition

• September 17–18, Hippodrome Park – MustArt Short Film & Music Fest

• September 17, Central Hali Stage – Presentations and workshops: Brand Sofia, Color Sofia, Architecture lecture

• September 17–19, NDK – Urban Canvas multimedia installation

• September 19–21, Geo Milev Park – Festival “I Am Sofia”

Upcoming Events

• September 26, 6:00 p.m., Krasno Selo Cultural House, Hall 1 – Lecture: “Cultural Monuments of Sofia in Danger” (Free)

• Until September 25, Open-Air Gallery, City Garden – The Sofianer art project exhibition

• Until September 28, Open-Air Gallery, Crystal Garden – Exhibition “Once Upon a Time in Sofia”, featuring historical postcards from historicalroutes.bg