The seventh "Deep Blue Sea" festival for young artists runs from 12 to 17 October in Burgas under the motto "The Eurovision Emotion in Burgas". Burgas council and the National Academy of Art (NHA) organise it, with help from DAS Marina Burgas Hotel. Over six days, young painters, writers, musicians and video creators will meet established artists and professionals.

Young people up to 25 can send in literary work, including pupils from Burgas secondary schools and students from the city's universities and art branches. The deadline is 12 October 2026. Entries go by email to [email protected], and a competition will pick the works.

The festival opens on Monday 12 October at 18:00 in Magaziya 1, home of the NHA's Burgas branch. Pupils from the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National School of Music and Dance Arts (NUMSI) will play at the opening. The next day at 10:00, participants work outdoors at Magaziya 1. On Wednesday at the same time, they are on St Anastasia island.

On Wednesday 14 October at 10:00, a masterclass on short video clips starts at the Sea Casino cultural centre, led by Kiril Todorov. To sign up, email [email protected]. The clips will be shown on Thursday at 18:30 in the Petya Dubarova hall at the Sea Casino, again hosted by Kiril Todorov.

On Thursday at 10:00, young writers have an outdoor session and a creative workshop on St Anastasia island. On Friday at 10:00, Lyubov Dzhungurova and Zhivka Ivanova lead a workshop for young writers at the Sea Casino, while the outdoor session runs at Magaziya 1. At 18:00 that evening, pupils and teachers from the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov school in Burgas give a concert at the Sea Casino.

The festival closes on Saturday 17 October at 11:00 with a literary matinee at DAS Marina Burgas Hotel, where participants will meet the public for a talk about their work. Pupils from NUMSI will play there too.

The organisers say this year's programme ties in with the international spirit of Eurovision 2027 and with Burgas's push for new chances for creative work and cultural exchange. They describe the festival as a meeting place for generations, genres and ideas, where young people show their art and form new creative partnerships.

The festival is part of the programme backing Burgas's bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2032.