The revived Salon of Arts Festival at the National Palace of Culture has an impressive autumn edition

published on 9/21/25 5:10 AM

Photo: Ani Petrova

In the spring of 2025, the National Palace of Culture resumed its most genre-rich festival after a 10-year hiatus. For the first time in the history of "Salon of Arts", a second edition will be held this autumn. From October 1 to November 15, the festival offers a kaleidoscope of exhibitions, exciting concerts, performances and literary events. This time, the format is enriched with a lot of music in a colourful palette of genres - jazz, folklore, children's concerts, Old Bulgarian chants and musical with the participation of renowned names and young talents.

Georgi Bozhilov - Slona

On October 1 - International Music Day, the festival begins with two events. For the first time in Bulgaria, "Gallery 33" from Varna presents the exhibition "Rediscovered Art. The Austrian Collection of Herwig Hadwiger (1945 – 2021)" with over 200 works by prominent Bulgarian artists. The collection is among the most significant collections of native art brought back from Austria to Bulgaria. It includes paintings by artists such as Nikola Manev, Georgi Bozhilov – Slona, Georgi Kovachev, Georgi Stoyanov, Georgi Radulov, Georgi Baev, Dolores Dilova, Dimitar Cholakov, Dimitar Voinov, Encho Pironkov, Ivan Obretenov, Ivan Slavov, Yordan Kisyov, Krasimir Kolev, Marin Markov, Nikola Terziev, Nikolay Yanakiev, Nikifor Tsonev, Rumen Chitov – Kasho, Svetlin Rusev. The opening is at 6:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. in Hall 9 of the National Palace of Culture, an exciting journey through time begins with a concert-performance by vocal ensemble "Elitsi".

Immediately after "Rediscovered Art" - from October 16 to 31, the young authors from the Four Ears Foundation present "Eleven Years Later". In addition to their exhibition in the art gallery of the National Palace of Culture, an exhibition by artist Dosi Dimchovski will be presented. In early November, the "knight of the steel ladies" Zhivko Sedlarski will be present at the National Palace of Culture with his exquisite sculptures and sketches inspired by female grace. The exhibition is called "Haute Soudure".

This year, the "Bon-Bon" vocal group celebrates its anniversary at the National Palace of Culture on October 18 in Hall 2/Azaryan Theater. The celebration includes favourite children's songs by Borislava Taneva.

On October 20, the "OctoHarpis" concert will bring on the stage of Hall 3 a harmony of eight exquisite harps. Performers are Kohar Andonian, Lili Stoeva, Bojana Bozhilova, Nikol Samareva, Gergana Nikolova, Yana Georgieva, Natalie Mihaylova and Gabriela Orozki.

The magical story of Aladdin comes to life in the musical of the same name by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, presented by the ensembles of the State Opera - Varna on November 2 in Hall 1. The lavish stage production is conducted by Stratsimir Pavlov and directed by Petko Bonev.

The National Academy of Music "Pancho Vladigerov" is a guest at the "Salon of Arts" with jazz and a folklore concert.

The community centers of the "Triaditsa" district will hold a gala concert dedicated to the Day of the Bulgarian Enlighteners in Hall 11 (Lumiere Cinema) on November 5.

The literary program of the "Salon" continues with the presentation of Demetra Duleva's new novel "Avenue Versailles" on October 29, as well as the book "Contour of a Life" by Jaap Robben on October 30.

The theatre salon at the National Palace of Culture offers two interesting performances in Hall 2/Azaryan Theater: "Lavender Girls" by the Drama Theatre "Stoyan Bachvarov" in Varna on November 5 and "Art" by the Plovdiv Drama Theater on November 12.