site.btaSurva Turns Pernik into a Two-Weekend Carnival Festival

The Surva International Festival of Masquerade Games opened in Pernik, Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov said on Friday. He described the festival as a symbol of the city and part of its identity, making Pernik recognizable in Bulgaria and abroad.

“Surva has been a symbol of Pernik for decades and an integral part of our identity. It is what makes us recognizable not only in Bulgaria, but around the world,” Vladimirov said. “From Friday, Pernik becomes Surva. The bells will ring, you will see terrifying masks, and behind them are people with big hearts and strong spirits, ready to drive away evil. In the days ahead, Pernik will be the center of a truly large-scale festival,” he added.

Attendees at the official opening included Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, President of the Federation of European Carnival Cities (FECC) Lars Algell, Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South East Europe under the auspices of UNESCO Executive Director Irena Todorova, Pernik Regional Governor Lyudmil Veselinov, former president Georgi Parvanov, MPs and guests from Bulgaria and abroad.

Georgiev said that Pernik was becoming the venue for one of the oldest, most colourful and largest cultural events not only in Bulgaria, but also across the Balkans, Europe and the world. “Surva is our calling card to the world and proof of the unifying power of culture,” he said.

Todorova thanked the Municipality of Pernik and Vladimirov for bringing together, on a single stage, representatives of various institutions and political groups, united by their shared commitment to Bulgaria’s cultural heritage.

The official opening continued with a large-scale dance-and-music spectacle, The Legend of the First Survakar, staged at Krakra Pernishki Square. The 32nd edition marked 60 years since the festival’s first staging in 1966 and was held under UNESCO patronage.

More than 250 performers took part in the show, bringing to life elements of the traditions, mythology, and ancient rites at the heart of the Survakar tradition.

Due to a record number of participants, the festival parades will be held for the first time over two consecutive weekends: January 17–18, 2026, and January 24–25, 2026. Nearly 13,000 participants from Bulgaria and abroad are expected, including more than 30 international groups from the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Indonesia, and other countries.

The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is a media partner of the 32nd Surva International Festival of Masquerade Games.