Surva Masquerade Festival 2025, Pernik, Bulgaria

The International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in Pernik is the most authoritative in Bulgaria and Europe of traditional folk games and customs with masks. It popularizes the variants of ancient rituals that have survived to this day, part of the Bulgarian folklore tradition. With its competition program, the festival is a meeting of survakars, kukers, babugers, jamalars and many others. Every year, thousands of bearers of the tradition from all ethnographic regions of Bulgaria and guests from Europe, Asia, America and Africa participate in the festival competition. Participants come to Pernik for the emotion, the fun, to share the magic of “Surva”, to feel renewed, to wish themselves health and luck.