More than 15 000 visitors gathered from 17 to 19 July 2026 for the 11th edition of Uzana Fest, Bulgaria’s major eco festival, held in the spectacular mountain landscape of Uzana near Gabrovo.
This year’s edition was dedicated to one powerful theme: BALANCE – between people and nature, progress and preservation, the outer world and our inner wellbeing.
What made the 2026 festival special was its expanded focus on knowledge, self-discovery and creative participation. Two dedicated spaces – Knowledge and Self-Knowledge – brought together scientists, doctors, researchers and practitioners to discuss sustainability, climate, health, food, conscious living and our relationship with nature.
Visitors could also take part in a wide range of hands-on creative workshops, from textile printing and mosaic making to natural cosmetics, jewellery and crafts, turning the festival from something to watch into something to experience and create.
Another memorable highlight was the participation of children from the Bulgarian community in Romania, who presented traditional songs and dances and created a beautiful cultural bridge between Bulgaria and Romania.
For the first time, the festival also hosted an open blitz chess tournament, alongside football and volleyball competitions that attracted a record number of participants – adding a new dimension of play, movement and community to the festival experience.
Music, traditional culture, local products, environmental initiatives, creative workshops and the spectacular mountain setting came together to create an experience where sustainability is not simply discussed – it is lived.
Uzana Fest 2026 once again showed how a festival can become a platform for creative tourism, cultural exchange, conscious living and meaningful connection with nature.
