On Europe Day, 22 light works transform Sofia's most famous facades, parks and squares during the LUNAR Festival of Lights

The third edition of the cultural event takes place with the institutional support of the Ministry of Tourism

Twenty-two light works will transform Sofia into an open-air gallery in the evenings from 9 to 12 May 2024. Video and static 3D projections on buildings, light installations, immersive experiences and a laser show will create a parallel reality on a number of the capital's favourite landmark buildings and parks. For the first year, the Lunar Lights Festival is held with the institutional support of the Ministry of Tourism, together with the support of the European Parliament in Bulgaria, the Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Sofia Municipality and the National Culture Fund.

Over 20 artists from around the world will present their art in the event's 4.5 km route and new designated festival area, South Park 2, completely free to all residents and visitors, and the lights will be on between 9pm and 12am on each of the four nights.

Some of the locations are the National Gallery ‘Square 500’, the City Garden, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the State Agency ‘Archives’ and the Sofia Largo, Slaveykov Square and the monument to Petko and Pencho Slaveykov, which will come to life, the underpass between the Vasil Levski Blvd. and Rakovski street.

At the beginning of the light journey, the audience will be greeted by a projection on the facade of the Hyatt Regency Sofia of the surrealist work ‘Traveller’ by Polish artist Ari Dykier, which will recreate the beauty and enjoyment of the journey — no matter the destination.

One of the highlights of this year's Lunar Festival is the final of the international 3D video mapping competition, organized by MP-STUDIO with the support of the Ministry of Tourism. The significant competition is held for the second time in Bulgaria, and the theme of this year's edition ‘Myths and Legends’ challenged twenty-nine artists and artistic collectives from all over the world to tell through light art the stories that accompany their cultures. Authors from 18 countries took part in the championship, inspired by one of the most beautiful buildings in Sofia — that of the Regional History Museum — Sofia, on 1 Banski Square, The nine finalists from Bulgaria, Great Britain, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Poland and Ukraine were selected by a five-member jury and their works will transform the former Central Mineral Bath in the days between 9 and 12 May. The three big winners will be announced on the last night of the festival.

The full programme can be found at: https://lunarlights.eu/program.