The Cherry Holiday – the Most Delicious Traditional Festival in Bulgaria

For the Bulgarians, the cherries are a symbol of good. They are harbingers of the summer and the new beginning. In the city of Kyustendil, the cherry is grafted into the life and culture of the people. It’s guarded and cared for with love, surrounded by magical rituals and poetry.

When is the Cherry Festival in Bulgaria

The festival takes place in Kyustendil, the Orchard of Bulgaria, from the 26th to the 28th of June, 2026.

The event has been organized annually since 2008 with the help of the Kyustendil municipality and the Institute of Agriculture – Kyustendil.

During the Cherry holiday in Bulgaria, you can:

• Try more than a hundred different sorts of sweet cherries from all over the country.
• See unique works of art created with bright cherries.
• Participate in competitive games with cherries.
• Taste a variety of Bulgarian traditional dishes.
• Listen to songs inspired by the cherry fruit.

The festival opens under the banner “The Cherry in Crafts.” Dozens of artisans from across Bulgaria display their work in the City Garden: dolls, jewellery, sculptures, icons, and handcrafted pieces all inspired by the cherry.

Alongside the folklore festival, choirs, dance ensembles, and solo performers celebrate the cherry’s place in Bulgarian folklore.

The centrepiece is a competitive exhibition open to community centres, NGOs, schools, and kindergartens from Kyustendil and the surrounding region. Tables are arranged and adorned with this bright, delicious fruit, and the Institute of Agriculture in Kyustendil showcases new cherry varieties developed locally. Winners are announced for the most creative and attractive displays, and the cherries are shared and enjoyed by all.

In the diligent hands of Kyustendil chefs, cherry is widely used – beautiful cakes, jams, alcohol, and syrups from cherries adorn the competition tables. That’s right, during the cherry festival, you can try all this and explore the cherry world.

Official Program: What’s on in 2026

Throughout all three days in the city centre: cherry market, crafts alley, traders & producers exhibition, and cherry chill zone in the park.

June 26th (Friday) – opening day

• Evening art workshops;
• Official opening ceremony with cherry games;
• Open-air concert in the evening.

June 27th (Saturday) – main day

• Official welcome from the Mayor;
• Institute of Agriculture cherry variety showcase;
• Competitive exhibition judging with a guest chef;
• Children’s performance;
• Open-air concert in the evening.

June 28th (Sunday) – culinary day

• “Cherries in the Kitchen” exhibition;
• Live cooking demo by guest chefs.

History of the Cherry Festival: a Tradition Rooted in 1896

Two days in June are dedicated to the Cherry Festival, celebrating Kyustendil’s legacy as the Orchard Garden of Bulgaria. The story begins in 1896, when the city hosted the very first National Fruit Exhibition, earning the proud title “Mother of Bulgarian Fruit Growing.”

Cherries here are more than fruit; they are woven into local life, culture, and ritual. Chosen by God and beloved by the spirits of folklore, the cherry is a symbol of goodness, the herald of summer, and the key that opens the season’s abundance.

How to get from Sofia to Kyustendil for the Cherry Festival 2026?

Do you want to discover more unique festivals?

The cherry holiday in Kuystendil will bring you closer to Bulgarian and Balkan customs and traditions. And it’s not the only food holiday in the country! Visit our Food Festivals page to explore all the delicious celebrations you can visit in Bulgaria year-round, or our calendar of Balkan events and festivals to see what else the region has to offer.