This article covers the 2025 edition of Sofia’s A to JazZ Festival. Looking ahead, the 2026 edition will be held from July 2-5. Check the complete guide for the festival or atojazz.bg.
When: 3-6, July (Thursday – Sunday), 2025
Where: South Park, the festival venue is right behind the Park Center Mall and the Toplocentrala Event Space.
Open Air festival, free access
The A to JazZ Festival transforms Sofia’s South Park into a vibrant urban oasis each summer, uniting thousands with its celebration of jazz, world music, and improvisation. Since 2011, this free, open-air event has become a cultural highlight, consistently marking the start of the season with performances by international legends, as well as rising talents. Over 60 000 visitors gather annually to experience genres spanning funky soul, ethno-fusion, and real-time improvisation, with past lineups featuring Grammy-winning artists. Furthermore, beyond big names, the festival nurtures Bulgarian and global emerging artists, offering them a stage alongside established acts. While jazz is its core, the program also thrives on diversity featuring everything from Balkan rhythms to African grooves.
In 2025, the festival runs from July 3-6 (Thursday – Sunday), promising four days of open-air concerts, workshops, and cultural exchange.
Discover what to expect in 2025 and remember that A to JazZ is more than a festival, it’s Sofia’s soundtrack to summer.
- What to Expect at Sofia’s A to JazZ Festival in 2025
- Festival Highlights in 2025
- DJ sets & Afterhours
- Program for July 3 (Thursday)
- Program for July 4 (Friday)
- Program for July 5 (Saturday)
- Program for July 6 (Sunday)
- How to Get to A to Jazz-Fest
- Where to Stay in 2025
- Essential Things to Bring to A to JazZ
- FAQ About A to JazZ Festival
- Make the Most of Your Time in Sofia
- Useful Links
What to Expect at Sofia’s A to JazZ Festival
The A to JazZ Festival 2025 is a major free summer music event held in Sofia’s South Park. It has become an urban oasis celebrating music, arts, and improvisation.
The festival attracts thousands of visitors with performances from international stars and emerging talents. Additionally, beyond the main stage, the festival features late-night jam sessions at indoor venues such as nearby event venues and clubs in the city centre of Sofia. Professionals can attend the A to JazZ Talks conference and workshops on the music industry. Even if you’re not a professional, no problem! A to Jazz is made for you. Visitors are welcome to bring picnic mats and hammocks and simply enjoy the open-air setting.
Themed activities like musical yoga and dance workshops encourage movement and participation. A to Jazz fest is very family-friendly, meaning you can enjoy these activities together with your little ones! The experience also includes a vibrant art bazaar with handmade items and local crafts.
Meanwhile, a wide variety of food and drink stalls cater to all tastes, from street food to healthy snacks.
A dedicated A to JazZ Kids program offers music games and educational activities for children. Amenities like clean toilets and nearby shopping centers make it convenient for families with young children.
For those preferring a more relaxed experience, the comfort zone welcomes adults with comfy seating and a special bar. The best part is that it’s still within the festival environment!
Festival Highlights in 2025
Sofia’s A to JazZ Festival 2025 turns South Park into a pulsating hub of musical discovery, where eclectic sounds, from global fusion to spontaneous jams, draw crowds of hundreds of people.
Here are some of the artists announced for 2025:
ИБАR (Serbia)
ИБАR delivers strange rhythms, simple harmonies, and strong melodies, seamlessly mixing Balkan ethno influences with progressive rock. Since 2021, this Belgrade-based band has captivated audiences with their instrumental debut Prevrnu se vedro nebo, subsequently earned the nickname “The Iron Maiden of Šumadija.”
Aleph Quintet (Belgium)
Aleph Quintet fuses modern jazz with North African traditions, a synergy that showcased in their award-winning album Hiwar (Arabic for “dialogue”). As a result of their unique style, the Brussels-based ensemble has earned accolades like Jazz Magazine’s “Revelation” and now performs globally, celebrating cultural exchange through music.
Amaro Duho (Hungary)
Amaro Duho (“our soul”) revives Hungarian Roma traditions through founder Mathild Dobi’s collaboration with her children. With a prolific career spanning over 1,000 concerts and five albums, the band blends Oláh gypsy music with contemporary soulful melodies.
Anatolian Spaceship (Turkey)
Anatolian Spaceship merges Anatolia’s ancient musical heritage with futuristic fusion, often performing in historic landmarks. In this way, this project bridges past and present, preserving cultural legacy through interstellar-inspired albums and live shows.
Bicho Carpinteiro (Portugal)
Bicho Carpinteiro resurrects near-extinct Portuguese guitars (Viola Beiroa and Toeira) alongside electronic beats and vintage field recordings. Consequently, their debut album transforms tradition into a dance-club spectacle with immersive visuals.
Denitza Seraphim – The Pilgrim’s Road (Bulgaria)
Denitza Seraphim’s acoustic project weaves medieval and Renaissance influences with viola da gamba, Celtic harp, and multilingual lyrics. Previosly known as Irfan’s former lead singer, she now crafts ethereal journeys through European folk and classical traditions.
El Pony Pisador (Spain)
El Pony Pisador’s eclectic mix spans Catalan folk, Balkan polyrhythms, and Tuvan throat singing, and it is all delivered with humour and high energy. Unsurprisingly, the Barcelona band thrives at festes majors, where they specialize in turning concerts into communal celebrations.
Elana Sasson Quartet (Spain)
Elana Sasson Quartet blends Persian/Kurdish roots with jazz and Mediterranean grooves, all while exploring identity through emotive vocals. The success of this approach is clear, their album Golestan earned a 4-star Songlines review for its arresting beauty.
Esinam & Sibusile Xaba (Belgium)
Esinam & Sibusile Xaba unite Belgian-Ghanaian and South African roots in Afro-electro-spiritual jazz collaborations. Their partnership began with 2018’s Flowing River and has since evolved into a cosmic live duo.
Mehmet Polat Quartet (Netherlands)
Mehmet Polat Quartet merges jazz with global traditions, and notably featuring virtuosos like pianist Franz von Chossy. Their collaborative spirit is evident in their 2023 album Embodied Poetry, which thrives on improvisation and cross-cultural storytelling.
Trinka (Portugal)
Trinka’s Afro-Brazilian EP blends Candomblé spirituality, lusophone poetry, and synth-driven grooves. Fronted by Dandara Modesto, the trio consistently radiates joyful, organic energy.
Vangelis Vrachnos Quartet (Greece)
Vangelis Vrachnos Quartet explores Greek-Balkan jazz fusion in Astrografia, which was recorded in Thessaloniki. Furthermore, the Codarts-trained artist balances tradition with cosmic improvisation.
DJ sets & Afterhours
At the nearby Toplocentrala Event Center, the 5 Corners project teams up with beloved local DJs Ilko, Jijo, Buckshot, Ihou, Visitor Q, and Zimone for a dynamic party. These vinyl masters will take you on a global sonic journey through Japanese disco, Guadeloupean guoka jazz, Brazilian boogie, and desert afrobeat.
A to Jazz is a cultural phenomenon that defines the city’s summer spirit. Explore highlights from past editions and discover how to plan your A to JazZ Sofia this year.
Program for July 3 (Thursday)
Main Stage at the Park
18:00 Denitza Seraphim – The Pilgrim’s Road (BG)
18:50 ИБАR (SRB)
19:40 Anatolian Spaceship (TR)
20:30 ALEPH QUINTET (BE)
21:20 Bicho Carpinteiro (PT)
22:10 El Pony Pisador (ES)
Hall 1, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 Amaro Duho (HU)
23:50 Elana Sasson Quartet (ES)
00:40 Mehmet Polat Quartet (NL)
Hall 2, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:20 ESINAM & Sibusile Xaba (BE)
00:10 Trinka (PT)
01:00 Vangelis Vrachnos Quartet (GR)
Program for July 4 (Friday)
Main Stage at the Park
18:00 UKE DUO (BG)
19:00 IVAN MELIN QUINTET (BG)
20:00 EMILE LONDONIEN (FR)
21:30 KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION (USA)
Hall 1, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 Jam Session with Evden Dimitrov EVDN
Hall 2, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 DJ room
Program for July 5 (Saturday)
Toplocentrala Event Space
08:00 YOGA BREAKFAST
10:00 A to Jazz Workouts
10:30 A TO JAZZ KIDS
Main Stage at the Park
18:00 ANGEL DEMIREV (BG)
19:00 ROSEYE (NL)
20:00 ZONE C (BG)
21:30 KEYON HARROLD (USA)
Hall 1, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 Jam Session with Mihail Yossifov & Angel Zaberski Quartet
Hall 2, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 DJ room
Program for July 6 (Sunday)
Toplocentrala Event Space
08:00 YOGA BREAKFAST
10:30 A TO JAZZ KIDS
Main Stage at the Park
18:00 VI:TKOV (BG)
19:00 JET VESPER (AU)
20:00 GILIPOJAZZ (ES)
21:30 ADI OASIS (USA)
Hall 1, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 Jam Session with Sofia Jazz Sessions
Hall 2, Toplocentrala Event Space
23:00 DJ room
How to Get to A to Jazz Fest in 2025
The A to JazZ Festival 2025 unfolds in South Park (Южен парк, Yuzhen Park), located within Sofia’s broader city center.
Nearby landmarks include Park Center Mall and the Hilton Hotel, both well-known reference points for finding your way around. The festival grounds are just a short 5–10-minute walk from the National Palace of Culture (НДК, NDK). If you’re staying in that area, the most pleasant route is to stroll across the Lover’s Bridge, which leads directly into the park.
If you’re driving to the event, keep in mind that parking spaces are limited and paid, and traffic tends to become quite congested during festival days. It’s worth checking a local parking guide before you set off, to save yourself time and frustration.
The easiest and most convenient way to reach the festival is by public transport. The M2 metro line runs through Sofia’s central districts (Serdika, NDK), and you can get off at European Union Station. Once you exit the metro, you’ll spot Park Center Mall right in front of you — the festival site is located just behind it.
Where to Stay in 2025
While the festival is easily accessible by metro from anywhere in the city, staying nearby lets you fully immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere while avoiding the commute.
We recommend booking early, as the most convenient hotels tend to sell out fast. Within walking distance, you’ll find excellent options ranging from international chains like Hilton and Best Western to charming boutique hotels and the stylish Rosslyn Hotels. The best hotels are quite close to the festival venue.
If you prefer to rent an apartment in the area, there are many options for every budget and taste. Look for places in the areas of “Ivan Vazov”, “Lozenets” or city center (ideally NDK area, the National Palace of Culture is 5-10 minutes walk from the festival venue).
Essential Things to Bring to A to JazZ
First and foremost, bring something comfortable to sit on. A blanket or a hammock is essential for claiming your spot on the meadow and ensuring a relaxed experience. If you don’t have one, affordable options are available at Decathlon in the city centre. Shop online for huge discounts and collect from their store on Alabin Street. The Park Mall also has various shops, though their prices may be higher.
Therefore, given the summer weather, come prepared. Specifically, pack sun protection like hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen, particularly for afternoon visits. As the festival is in a park, it is also wise to bring personal insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, and perhaps some lotion to soothe any bites. These items can also be purchased from the pharmacy in Park Mall or other local shops.
Lastly, dress for comfort. For example, opt for light, breathable clothing as daytime temperatures in July often reach 32-34°C. Since evenings can be cooler, a light jacket or blouse is recommended. Most importantly, wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on grass and park paths.
FAQ About A to JazZ Festival
Yes, for the A to JazZ Festival 2025 the open air stage is free, as per tradition.
Yes, it is in the park and everyone can come and leave anytime. Since admission is free, access is very relaxed.
Afternoon-early evening is ideal: the sun is still out, providing great light for photos and less crowding for choosing a spot.
Picnic blankets and hammocks are encouraged. You can bring your own food and drinks; however, you can also buy something tasty from the food court at the festival.
Absolutely. This year there are two zones for children and activities for them.
If you’re attending with a baby or toddler, don’t worry — the nearby Park Center Mall has a large Billa supermarket that stocks baby food and snacks. You’ll also find shops selling baby cosmetics, diapers, and other essentials, plus a pharmacy in case you need anything urgently.
Pets are welcome, but ensure they have a tag with your phone number on their collar. Pets are welcome but just like any new place, the environment can make them feel curious to explore.
The main stage and the meadow are in a fairly open, accessible space.
Make the Most of Your Time in Sofia
A to Jazz festival in 2025 is one of the best things to do in Sofia in July. To make the most of your trip, pair the festival with a city break: explore Sofia’s architecture, cafes, and museums. Do not miss to visit the Regional History Museum of Sofia where you will see the first royal vehicles in the country (a chariot and a car) and peek inside a home from early 20th century.
Since summer is hot and July starts with extremely high temperatures, you might also consider a relaxing splash in the mineral waters of Sofia! Aquapark Vazrazhdane, located in the B5 district, right next to the city center and very close to the A to Jazz festival venue) offers good mixture of fun and relaxation.
You can also check the day tours from Sofia for a quick escape from the city and return to A to Jazz in the evening, full of new memories to match the great music at the festival.
Useful Links
- A to Jazz (official website): atojazz.bg
- A to Jazz (official Facebook): facebook.com/atojazzfestival
- A to Jazz (on YouTube): youtube.com/@atojazzfestival
- Park Center Mall with stores for necessities: parkcenter.bg
- Decathlon for your budget festival picnic blankets: decathlon.bg
Visit the official website of the festival page or their official social media channels for updates and news!
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