Apollonia Festival of Arts

Аполония фестивал на изкуствата

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Arts & CultureSozopol
Dates27 August–6 September 2026Confirmed listing
Duration11 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsApollonia is unusual for its breadth: a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: BGN
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Apollonia Festival of Arts in Sozopol

Sozopol's ten days of theatre, literature, film, music and visual art take their name from Apollonia Pontica, the Greek city that once stood on this stretch of Black Sea coast. Founded in 1984 and run since 1991 by the Apollonia Art Foundation, the festival spreads across the old town's churches, galleries and courtyards rather than a single venue, alongside the resort's beaches and seafood restaurants.

Professor Dimo Dimov named his new arts festival after a city that had vanished from maps by the Middle Ages: Apollonia Pontica, the Greek name for what is now the walled fishing town of Sozopol.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Apollonia is unusual for its breadth: a single festival covers theatre premieres, literature readings, concerts, film screenings, ballet and visual art rather than focusing on one discipline, drawing participants from across Bulgaria and abroad

02

The mystery stays covered

Its stages are the old town itself, church courtyards, the Art Gallery, open squares and seafront terraces in Sozopol's stone-and-wood historic quarter, one of the Black Sea coast's best-preserved old towns

03

The city starts moving

The festival has run continuously since the mid-1980s, surviving Bulgaria's post-1989 political transition, and is managed independently by the Apollonia Art Foundation rather than a single state cultural body, giving it unusual programming freedom for a Bulgarian festival of its size

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival deliberately stages events inside Sozopol's Bulgarian National Revival-era stone houses and church courtyards rather than purpose-built venues

Water and renewal

Living ritual

treating the old town's architecture as part of the program

The sacred route

Living ritual

readings and concerts in these settings are a signature format rather than a one-off staging choice

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

27 August–6 September 2026

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Smart-casual for evening theatre and concerts held in church courtyards and galleries; beachwear is fine for daytime swimming but not for festival venues; comfortable shoes for the old...

Safety

At Apollonia Festival of Arts, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Sozopol you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

BGN

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map42.42 N, 27.70 EOpen in Google Maps

Sozopol, Burgas, Bulgaria

Nearest airportBOJ — Burgas
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Sozopol you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sozopol via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sozopol, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearSmart-casual for evening theatre and concerts held in church courtyards and galleries; beachwear is fine for daytime swimming but not for festival venues; comfortable shoes for the old town's cobblestones.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Bulgaria and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Apollonia Festival of Arts?

Apollonia Festival of Arts is listed for 27 August–6 September 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Apollonia Festival of Arts take place?

The festival is listed in Sozopol, Bulgaria. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

11 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sozopol, Burgas, Bulgaria

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLapollonia.bg
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates27 August–6 September 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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