Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

International mummer festival Surva in Pernik cancelled due to water crisis

The 28th edition of Surva International Festival in Pernik attracted more than 7,500 participants
Photo: BGNES

Because of the ongoing water shortage in the town of Pernik, the traditional mummer International Festival Surva will not be held this year, Pernik Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov has told media. On Tuesday Bulgaria's Minister of Healthcare Kiril Ananiev and the Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev visited the town. The firm opinion of health authorities is that because of the risk of diseases, it was better to cancel the forthcoming edition of the festival. The Regional Health Inspectorate has also called against conducting Surva 2020. The risk for human health is big, so we had to make this difficult decision, Vladimirov said. 

The 29th edition of the festival, which is part of UNESCO’s World Intangible Cultural Heritage, was to be held from 24 to 26 January. Nearly 6,000 mummers from more than 100 groups had registered for taking part in this year's festival. Every year the festival attracts participants from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria as well as numerous foreign guests. The first edition of the festival was held in 1966. 




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Phenomena STEAM Museum opens in Sofia

Sofia has a new spot for curious minds. Phenomena is a museum where science and art come together — a place to experiment, discover, and get hands-on with the wonders of how the world works. Rooted in the spirit of STEAM education — that’s Science,..

published on 11/2/25 11:05 AM

A politician, diplomats and military figures: the heroes of Sofia's new museum.

‘In my view, the period between Bulgaria’s liberation and 1944 was especially significant because I believe that the country was then on the right developmental path,’ says collector Filip Milanov. ‘That era produced many people of exceptional integrity..

published on 11/2/25 10:15 AM

Fearless Bulgarian Women Who Said “No” to the Rules

On 1 November, Bulgaria’s National Awakeners' Day, Sofia’s Gina Kuncheva Square will come alive in a truly remarkable way. From midday, the Oborishte Municipality and the Buditelkite Foundation will unveil the country’s first interactive outdoor museum,..

published on 11/1/25 7:40 AM