Plovdiv cultural events

HAAi, Daniel Avery, Erol Alkan, Sofia Kourtesis Announced for PHILLGOOD Electronic Music Stage, PHILLRAVE

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17 – 19 July | 19:00 – 01:30 

Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

PHILLGOOD is stepping into its next phase. Alongside a new wave of artists, the festival has announced a third stage dedicated entirely to electronic music, expanding its eclectic programming across 17–19 July at Plovdiv’s Rowing Canal. The 2026 edition now unfolds across three distinct spaces: the main PHILLGOOD Stage, the leftfield PHILLCOOL, and the newly launched electronic hub, PHILLRAVE.

Designed as a home for electronic music and contemporary club culture, PHILLRAVE brings together internationally recognised artists from across techno, acid, house and leftfield electronic scenes. Opening night sees Acid Arab, Daniel Avery and Erol Alkan set the tone, joined by Ison. On 18 July, the focus shifts to forward-facing club sounds with Sofia Kourtesis, HAAi, Bulgarian favourite KiNK and Raredub. The final night closes with Kelly Lee Owens, Pretty Girl, Swimming Paul and Liubo Ursiny, bringing the stage to a close with immersive, dance-led sets.

Alongside the new stage, PHILLGOOD has announced a further wave of artists across its already revealed programming, continuing to expand its musical scope. The festival’s growing international profile is reflected in its audience, with over 25% of tickets already sold outside Bulgaria, including attendees travelling from across Europe as well as Iceland, China, Mexico, Brazil and Kazakhstan, positioning Plovdiv firmly on the global summer festival map.

On the PHILLGOOD main stage, new additions join The Cure, Gorillaz, Moby and Wolf Alice. British indie mainstays The Subways arrive on 17 July with their high-energy live show and sharp guitar hooks. Son Lux take the stage on the final day, bringing their cinematic blend of electronics, post-rock and experimental composition, while Los Bitchos appear on 18 July with their vibrant, instrumental surf-exotica sound that has made them a consistent festival favourite.

PHILLCOOL continues to champion cult, modern and genre-defying artists. Highlights include a rare appearance from Bulgarian pioneers KLAS, marking 40 years on the country’s music scene, alongside contemporary acts such as Bulgarian Cartrader, Zhluch & Gena, Jin Monic, Lunikk and Hug or Handshake, offering a snapshot of Bulgaria’s current independent landscape.

More details about the program and festival format are available at https://phillgood.ink/ Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketstation.bg. 

LINE UP
THE CURE. GORILLAZ. MOBY. SUEDE. WOLF ALICE. SLEAFORD MODS. KNEECAP. EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN. THIEVERY CORPORATION. SON LUX. DANIEL AVERY. EROL ALKAN. KELLY LEE OWENS. LOS BITCHOS. KADEBOSTANY. ACID ARAB. KINK. HAAI. SOFIA KOURTESIS. PERTURBATOR. APACHE & BRASS ORCHESTRA. THE SUBWAYS. JUST MUSTARD. KLAS ISON. ALI, HAYES & Y, КЛАС, PRETTY GIRL. SWIMMING PAUL. BULGARIAN CARTRADER. ГЕНА / ЖЛЪЧ. LIUBO URSINY. LUNIKK. RAREDUB. HUG OR HANDSHAKE. JIN MONIC

PhillGood Festival
Website | Instagram 

The Cure, Gorillaz, and Moby Headline Bulgaria’s New Festival, PhillGood

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17 – 19 July | 19:00 – 01:30 

Rowing Canal, Plovdiv, Bulgaria

In summer 2026, Plovdiv will host PhillGood, a new three-day music festival that continues to place Bulgaria firmly on the European festival map. Taking place from 17 to 19 July at the city’s iconic Rowing Canal, PhillGood joins the Fest Team family and arrives with bold intentions that combine legendary artists with some of the most relevant contemporary voices in global music and high-spec production. 

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Plovdiv’s seven hills, PhillGood will transform the city into the Balkans’ newest large-scale music destination. Known as The City of Seven Hills, this is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, blending Roman ruins, Ottoman heritage and a thriving contemporary arts scene. PhillGood embraces this unique setting, placing music within a landscape shaped by centuries of culture and creativity.

This first edition comes at a pivotal moment for Bulgaria. With the country officially joining the Eurozone, introducing a digital nomad visa and rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s fastest-growing cultural and festival destinations, PhillGood reflects Bulgaria’s expanding presence on the global music and tourism stage. Easily accessible from across Europe and beyond, the festival makes Plovdiv a vital new meeting point for international music lovers.

The opening night of PhillGood is headlined by The Cure, one of the most influential bands of the last five decades, performing in Bulgaria for the first time after more than 1,800 shows worldwide. They are joined by Wolf Alice with their expansive alternative sound alongside Irish dream-rock outfit Just Mustard and French producer Perturbator, whose dark, dystopian electronics are sure to thrill.

On Saturday 18 July, Gorillaz take over the Rowing Canal with their futuristic blend of music, visuals and storytelling. The day also features cult Belfast hip-hop trio and activists Kneecap, known for their confrontational energy and cultural commentary, and Sleaford Mods, whose stripped-back electro-punk continues to cut sharply through modern life.

On Sunday 19 July, the festival concludes with Moby, whose varied work as an artist, producer and activist has shaped electronic music for decades. 

Beyond the main stage, PHILLGOOD will feature two additional stages, each with its own distinct atmosphere and musical direction reinforcing the festival’s commitment to true musical range and exciting discovery.

Three-day, single-day, VIP and camping tickets are on sale now at https://phillgood.ink.

LINE UP
THE CURE・GORILLAZ・MOBY・WOLF ALICE・KNEECAP・SUEDE・EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN・JUST MUSTARD・SLEAFORD MODS・APASHE & THE BRASS ORCHESTRA・THIEVERY CORPORATION・PERTURBATOR・HAYES & Y・KADEBOSTANY・ALI

PhillGood Festival
Website | Instagram