site.btaOpen Buzludzha Festival to Mark Decade of Efforts in Preserving Buzludzha Monument on August 15–17

The fifth edition of the Open Buzludzha Festival will take place at the Buzluzdha Monument in Central Bulgaria from August 15 to 17, the Buzludzha Project Foundation said on their official website. Under the theme “A Story to Share”, the 2025 celebration marks the 10th anniversary of the foundation’s efforts to preserve and transform one of Bulgaria’s most emblematic landmarks.

The festival offers a mix of daytime and nighttime programming, including artistic performances, exhibitions, and discussions in the open air, set against the backdrop of the Buzludzha Monument and the scenery of the Balkan Mountains. Entry to the event is free.

The main highlight of the festival is a 3D mapping show that animates the monument’s facade after sunset, produced by the internationally renowned MP-STUDIO. The studio is known for its pioneering work in light art and has completed more than 700 projects across 27 countries. In Bulgaria, it is also recognized as the organizer of Sofia’s LUNAR Festival of Lights.

Over the course of three days, visitors will be able to engage with the ongoing mission of the Buzludzha Project Foundation, which has spent a decade working towards the conservation and adaptive reuse of the Buzludzha Monument. Rather than a full restoration, the foundation advocates for a sustainable approach that retains the building’s historical character while enabling safe public access and educational use. On-site exhibitions will showcase the progress made, including plans for the installation of a new roof, windows, and the monument’s first permanent exhibition.

The festival is non-political and open to all, emphasizing shared heritage and inclusive dialogue around contested sites. It aims to create a platform where personal memories and collective visions converge, uniting generations and perspectives through art, culture, and storytelling.

Open Buzludzha 2025 is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, under the international project “Developing an Inclusive Process for Communicating Contested Heritage”.

The Buzludzha Monument was built in 1981, as a memorial house of the Bulgarian Communist Party. After the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria in 1989, the new democratic government had no interest in maintain the Monument, as it was seen as the most significant symbol of the previous government's ideology, so the construction was abandoned and left to crumble. In early 1992, the Monument was nationalized under the Totalitarian Organizations' Property Confiscation Act and has been a state property administrated by the Regional administration of Haskovo and then of Stara Zagora since then. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, experts, and international supporters, the monument now enters a new chapter, one of transformation, dialogue, and hope.