Burgas has once again positioned itself on the global cultural map with the launch of the eighth and largest edition of the international contemporary arts festival WATER.
The three-day event, held from October 6 to 8 at the iconic “Dupkata” (the Hole) on Troikata Square, is transforming the city center into a dynamic space for creativity, performance, and dialogue.
The festival, which is free to attend, brings together artists and performers from Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary, South Korea, Turkey, and beyond.
With a mix of installations, performances, and interactive challenges, the WATER Festival continues its tradition of blending international artistry with local cultural identity.
A Space Reimagined for Art
The central venue, Dupkata, is itself a symbol of transformation. For years, the site was viewed as an unfinished scar in Burgas’ urban fabric.
Now, thanks to the WATER Festival and its organizers—the Dance BG Association, Dune Company, and the Burgas 2032 Foundation—it has become a functional, vibrant public space.
Access to Dupkata during the festival is carefully arranged, with visitors able to enter from two main points: the official entrance through Troika Square and St. Cyril and Methodius School, and an alternative route via the underground street near the Burgas District Court.
This deliberate openness underlines the festival’s ethos of accessibility and inclusivity. The transformation of this space is not temporary. As part of Burgas’ candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2032, Dupkata is envisioned as a permanent cultural hub.
An international architectural competition is underway to redesign the area into a blend of parkland and artistic space, ensuring its future role in the city’s cultural life.
Performances that Bridge Worlds
Every edition of WATER is known for its innovative performances, and the 2025 program is no exception.
On opening night, Hungarian artist David Szomlo presented “Delicate Balancing on a Stick,” an interactive exploration of balance and fragility that drew enthusiastic participation from the audience.
This was followed by a symphonic concert by Orchestra Lumina, providing a striking contrast to the surrounding urban landscape as the music filled the square at sunset.
Later, the visual-musical duo Adistu & Moduler from Romania and Germany lit up the festival with their 3D mapping projection “The Sustainability of Nature.”
Projected onto the wall of the Hole and the historic Hadjipetrov building, the installation combined light and sound to deliver a message about environmental resilience.
The second day brought equally compelling experiences. Theater of the Senses-Sofia engaged the audience with their interactive “Live Trance Circle,” a performance that blurred the line between artist and observer.
This was followed by “Synergies,” an interactive projection by the French collective Scenocosme, where viewers’ movements shaped fantastical visual landscapes.
The final day promised a special gift for the Burgas audience. Ukrainian artist Daria Pugacheva’s “House of the Heart” invited participation in a deeply personal exploration of emotion, while Dune Company’s flash mob “Field” transformed the city into a stage for contemporary dance.
The evening concluded with a concert by Kan Wakan, the Bulgarian-born, Los Angeles-based producer and composer known internationally for collaborations with Moses Sumney and Thundercat.
Installations that Transform the Cityscape
The festival’s installations form its visual backbone. German visual artist Abel Korinsky presented two ambitious projects: “Habitat,” an installation of 100 luminous tents resembling a miniature city within the city, and “Whiteout,” a field of swaying lights and sounds that shifted in form and emotion.
“Habitat” in particular resonated with audiences, symbolizing collective identity and shared space at the very heart of Burgas. “Whiteout,” which finally arrived in the city after two years of setbacks, represented persistence both in its creation and in its journey from South Korea to Bulgaria.
Other Bulgarian artists also left their mark. Venelin Shurelov’s “Water Crisis,” Anatoly Vanchev’s “Lendart,” and Nikolay Matev’s “Laser Art” brought issues of sustainability, technology, and urban identity to the forefront.
Installations by Hristina Decheva, Artspace Luna_collective, Stoyko Daskalov, Simeon Shivachev, and Yosif Astrukov enriched the festival with a diverse array of creative voices.
Culture as Strategy: Toward 2032
The WATER Festival is not only about celebrating contemporary art—it is also a strategic step in Burgas’ candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2032.
By transforming public spaces into artistic stages and involving both international and local talent, the festival demonstrates Burgas’ capacity to foster innovation while preserving cultural authenticity. The city’s leadership has made clear that cultural investment is part of a larger vision for economic and social development.
The festival is realized with the financial support of the Municipality of Burgas, the Ministry of Culture, and international partners such as the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Institute Sofia.
It is also backed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan under the scheme “New Generation of Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities,” highlighting the role of cultural policy in national development.
Community and Accessibility
Beyond the headline performances and installations, the festival remains deeply rooted in community engagement. Free admission ensures accessibility, while performances like the flash mob “Field” actively encourage local participation.
The “Urban Utopias” intervention by Theater of the Senses-Sofia further emphasized this connection by inviting audiences to discover mysterious characters embedded within the cityscape during daylight hours.
For many visitors, the WATER Festival is not only an artistic experience but also a reintroduction to their own city, revealing Burgas in new and unexpected ways.
An Expanding Legacy
As the WATER Festival concludes on October 8, its impact is likely to resonate well beyond these three days. Each installation, performance, and projection is part of a growing legacy that ties Burgas more closely to the European cultural network.
With global artists, innovative programming, and a commitment to public access, WATER Festival 2025 has set a new standard for international cultural events in Bulgaria. For Burgas, it is more than a festival—it is a declaration of cultural ambition and a rehearsal for its future role as European Capital of Culture.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members