The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) has launched a Festive Bulgaria section showcasing festivals and cultural events across the country, BTA Deputy Director General Evgenia Drumeva said at the presentation of the October issue of LIK magazine, dedicated to the Varna Summer International Music Festival.

The event took place at BTA’s National Press Club in Varna on Wednesday.

The new BTA feature will provide calendar-style information about festivals, events and holidays through BTA’s online reference guide. Readers will be able to plan weekend visits based on their interests and explore events by region and municipality on a map. The feature also offers English-language articles, photos and videos covering festivals held across Bulgaria.

Drumeva recalled attending a concert at the Odesa Opera House in 2024 when an air raid alert interrupted the performance. Despite the war, the hall was full. The audience calmly evacuated to a bomb shelter, waited 20–25 minutes for the all-clear and returned to their seats, she said. The experience made her reflect on how music and art bring people together through shared emotions in both joyful and difficult times.