The Surva Festival 2026, Pernik, Bulgaria - 24 January, 2026

The Surva Festival 2026, Pernik, Bulgaria - 24 January, 2026: https://youtu.be/wTOFnMYwXYc The Surva Festival is one of Bulgaria’s most famous traditional events, attracting visitors from across the country and internationally. Held annually in the town of Pernik, just outside Sofia, the festival celebrates Bulgaria’s rich folklore and cultural heritage, particularly through the unique tradition of masquerade rituals. For travellers based in Sofia, the festival is easily accessible, offering a fascinating day trip or weekend experience that highlights Bulgarian customs, music, and costume traditions. Surva Festival takes place in January, usually over several days, and is renowned for its elaborate masks, costumes, and performances. The event features thousands of participants known as “Kukeri,” who wear handcrafted wooden masks, animal skins, and ornate outfits designed to scare away evil spirits and bring health, fertility, and prosperity to the community. These performers parade through the streets, dance, and perform traditional rituals, providing visitors with a dramatic and colourful spectacle that reflects Bulgaria’s folkloric past. The festival is structured around competitions and performances, where groups of Kukeri from Pernik and other regions of Bulgaria showcase their skill, creativity, and traditional dances. The masks themselves are often intricately carved and painted, representing animals, mythological creatures, and symbolic motifs. For travellers, this presents a unique opportunity to witness craftsmanship and cultural expression that is rarely seen outside Bulgaria. Surva Festival is also family-friendly and accessible to all visitors. The event is held in open public spaces, allowing spectators to move freely among the performers and take photographs. Local food vendors and market stalls often accompany the festivities, giving travellers the chance to sample traditional Bulgarian dishes such as banitsa, kebapche, and homemade sweets while experiencing the festival atmosphere. For international travellers staying in Sofia, reaching Pernik for Surva Festival is straightforward. The town is about 30 kilometres southwest of Sofia, and can be accessed by train, bus, or car in under an hour. Guided tours and festival packages are also available, providing transport and insights into the historical and cultural significance of the event. The festival is more than just entertainment; it serves as a preservation of Bulgarian heritage, maintaining customs that have existed for centuries. By visiting, travellers can gain insight into Bulgaria’s folklore, traditional celebrations, and community spirit, making it an enriching addition to a Sofia-based itinerary. Overall, Surva Festival offers travellers a unique cultural experience near Sofia, combining traditional music, dancing, and mask-making with easy accessibility. The vibrant costumes, energetic performances, and historic rituals make it a must-see event for those interested in Bulgaria’s living cultural heritage. If you like my films and you’d like to support my film-making then you can tip me here on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/stuartmoss . All tips are VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Would you like £15 off of your next hotel booking with Booking.com? if so please click on this link to make your booking: https://www.booking.com/s/9bbbc531 This film is a Moss Travel Media production – http://www.mosstravel.tv If you liked this film, please subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/stuartmoss in order to receive updates of my future film uploads. If you like my travel films, you may also like my Moss Home and Garden channel, which is themed around cooking and gardening, you can find that here: www.mosshomeandgarden.co.uk You can also find my travel films and photography updates on the following social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosstravel **please like my Facebook page** Instagram: stumoss - https://instagram.com/stumoss/ Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/mosstraveltv/ X @mosstraveltv or https://X.com/mosstraveltv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stuartmoss I hope that you enjoyed this film and will return again in future, your support is really appreciated, by subscribing above you will be kept informed of my travel updates and new films uploaded. Thank you and bon voyage!