Bansko in the Key of Jazz: A Festival of Spirit and Style

From August 1 to 10, 2025, the mountain town of Bansko becomes the jazz capital of the Balkans. In its 28th edition, the Bansko Jazz Festival promises ten unforgettable nights, three main stages, and nearly 200 performers from across the globe—Bulgaria, the USA, Japan, Canada, France, Sweden, and more.

The festival’s heart beats strongest at the open-air main stage on Nikola Vaptsarov Square, where music takes over the town every evening at 8:00 PM. From classic jazz to funk, swing, ethno, and avant-garde improvisation, the program offers a rich and diverse soundscape. By day, visitors can enjoy “Jazz in the City” mini concerts in the park, spontaneous jam sessions, and intimate late-night gigs—creating a town-wide celebration that unites artists and audiences well past midnight.

This year’s highlights include the John Beasley Trio, Grammy-awarded and opening the festival; Sweden’s funk master Nils Landgren and his Funk Unit; and a long-awaited Bulgarian debut from the iconic vocal group New York Voices. From the Bulgarian side, standout performances include the brass-heavy CapriHorns (featuring Mihail Yosifov, Ventsi Stoyanov, and Dimitar Lolev), a soulful set by Kristian Aleksandrov and Shanon Gaye, jazz diva Kamelia Todorova, and a powerful closing night with the Jerry Bergonzi & George Garzone Quintet, featuring NYC-based Bulgarian bassist Petar Slavov.

A signature element of the festival is the Jazz Academy, an educational program where young talents from Bulgaria and abroad participate in masterclasses and perform live before audiences and peers—bringing generations of musicians together through shared experience and improvisation.

Organized by “Festivals in Bulgaria” with the support of Bansko Municipality and the Ministry of Culture, the Bansko Jazz Festival is free to attend, with ticketed seating only for the front rows.

More than a music event, the Bansko Jazz Festival is a living platform—blending internationally acclaimed legends, emerging artists, and a vibrant local atmosphere. It’s a place where music spills out into the streets, wine flows alongside jam sessions, and jazz becomes part of the mountain’s rhythm.