VODA Festival 2025: Contemporary Art in Burgas

Burgas is preparing for a spectacular event – the International Festival for Contemporary Arts "WATER 2025".

Its eighth edition, taking place from October 6 to 8, promises to transform the city landscape and immerse the audience in a world of interactive art installations and performances by artists from Bulgaria, Germany, France, Ukraine, and Hungary.

The festival is larger than ever, focused on active audience participation and establishing Burgas as a city open to innovation in contemporary art.

Central Location: "The Hole"

The festival's central location is unusual – "The Hole" in Troykata Square, a remnant of an unfinished construction from the 1990s. This ten-hectare space, a huge overgrown concrete basin hidden behind high fences, is a relic of a demolished picturesque neighborhood. Transforming it into an arena for contemporary art is an ambitious project, part of Burgas' investment program for its bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2032. An international architectural competition has been announced for the future of the area, planning the creation of a park combined with an art space. The festival itself is a vivid example of how such spaces can be transformed and brought to life.

Motto: "In the Heart of the City"

The festival's motto – "In the Heart of the City" – is eloquent. It not only reflects the location but also emphasizes the intention to bring art closer to people's hearts. The festival is expected to attract numerous visitors, filling "The Hole" with life and energy. The air will be filled with music, visual effects, and the sounds of audience interaction with the art.

Interactive Performances

This year, the festival focuses on interactivity. Five performances are specifically designed to actively involve the audience.

• Hungarian choreographer and interdisciplinary artist Dávid Somló will challenge visitors in "Delicate Balancing of a Stick" to discover the fine balance between man and nature through the simple act of balancing a wooden stick.
• "Live trance circle/ Musical trance circle" by the Theatre of Senses (Sofia), also known as the Institute for the Study of Silence, offers nonverbal communication through sound and music, using a rich collection of instruments.
• The French collective Scenocosme will present the interactive visual spectacle "Synergies", where the audience is the main character.
• "House of the Heart" by Ukrainian artist Daria Pugacheva
• "FIELD" by Dance Company DYUN will invite the audience on improvised creative journeys.

In addition to the interactive performances, the festival will also present large-format installations – "Whiteout" and "Habitat" by German visual artist Abel Korinsky. Romanian artist Adistu will open the festival with a 3D projection. A mysterious musical concert, whose performer will be announced at the last minute, is planned for the finale, adding extra anticipation.

The "WATER" festival is implemented by TANTS BG Association and the Burgas 2032 Foundation with financial support from Burgas Municipality, the Ministry of Culture, and the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Institute Sofia. The project is also funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Partners are BNR-Burgas, Community Center "Asen Zlatarov 1940", VIJ, and Barbossa bar. The festival curators are choreographer Petia Stoykova and architects Mariana Sarbova and Desislava Stoyanova. Admission to all events is free.