Dubioza Kolektiv and Beirut Join Forces on Stage at Release Sofia Festival
Two internationally acclaimed acts will take the stage of Release Sofia Festival at Sofia Live Park on June 26, bringing together the explosive Balkan energy of Dubioza Kolektiv and Beirut’s long-awaited Bulgarian debut.
Release Sofia Festival announces two more major names joining the lineup of its inaugural edition. On June 26, 2027, Sofia Live Park will welcome Dubioza Kolektiv and Beirut, the American music project set to perform in Bulgaria for the first time.
Among the most beloved international acts by Bulgarian audiences, Dubioza Kolektiv return to Sofia four years after their last major headline show in the country. Joining them is Beirut, the project of composer and multi-instrumentalist Zach Condon, whose music has held a special place on the international indie scene for years. Two distinctly different musical worlds will meet on the same night, from infectious Balkan rhythms and uncompromising social satire to melancholic orchestral indie folk and Beirut’s unmistakable sound.
More acts to be announced soon.
DUBIOZA KOLEKTIV – BALKAN ENERGY RETURNS TO SOFIA
Four years after their last major headline show in Sofia, Dubioza Kolektiv are set to reunite with Bulgarian audiences, this time as headliners of Release Sofia Festival. With their unmistakable blend of ska, punk, reggae, electronic music and Balkan folk, combined with live performances that turn every concert into a celebration, the band have long been among the most beloved international acts in Bulgaria.
Since their last encounter with Sofia audiences in 2023, Dubioza Kolektiv have continued to conquer festival stages around the world, from Glastonbury in the UK and WOMAD in New Zealand to Wacken Open Air in Germany. With numerous sold-out shows across Europe and performances in front of audiences on several continents, the band have built an impressive international career without ever compromising their identity, language, sense of humour or sharp social satire.
The story of “USA” is a perfect example of how Dubioza’s songs can transcend their original context and take on a life of their own. Originally released in 2011 as a satire on emigration from Bosnia and the pursuit of the American Dream, the song attracted renewed attention in 2026. Its refrain, “I am from Bosnia, take me to America”, became part of the celebrations surrounding the Bosnian national football team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup and a global online hit, amassing millions of views.
Dubioza Kolektiv are already looking ahead to 2027 with plans for a new album and an exceptionally busy touring schedule. Their return to Bulgaria is undoubtedly one of the encounters fans are eagerly anticipating. Here, their songs are not simply listened to – they are sung along to, from the first line to the very last.
BEIRUT – ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE VOICES IN INDIE MUSIC MAKES THEIR BULGARIAN DEBUT
Beirut are coming to Bulgaria for the first time. The long-running musical project of American composer and multi-instrumentalist Zach Condon has spent nearly two decades creating music that defies easy genre classification, blending indie folk, orchestral pop, Balkan and Mediterranean influences into a distinctive sound filled with melancholy, warmth and cinematic beauty.
From the remarkable debut Gulag Orkestar (2006) to its follow-up albums The Flying Club Cup, The Rip Tide and No No No, Beirut have created a musical world of their own, where different cultures and traditions intertwine with Condon’s personal stories and travels. Songs such as “Postcards from Italy”, “Nantes” and “Santa Fe” have established the project as one of the most recognisable names on the contemporary indie scene.
In Sofia, Beirut will also bring music from their latest album, A Study of Losses (2025) – an ambitious 18-track work commissioned by Swedish circus company Kompani Giraff and inspired by Judith Schalansky’s book An Inventory of Losses. The album explores themes of disappearance, memory and what remains after loss, expanding Beirut’s signature sound with choral, ambient and early music elements.
Following Hadsel (2023), recorded on a remote Norwegian island, the new album continues Condon’s artistic journey between real and imagined places, past and present, loss and rediscovery. The June 26 concert will offer Bulgarian audiences their first opportunity to experience this unique musical universe live.
RELEASE SOFIA FESTIVAL
Release Sofia Festival is a new festival project born from the experience and vision of Release Athens, one of Greece’s largest and most established music festivals. In 2027, the festival expands its presence in the region with its inaugural edition in Sofia, bringing its identity, vision and expertise in producing large-scale music events to Bulgaria.
The ambition behind Release Sofia is to become an annual music gathering for audiences from Bulgaria and across the region, bringing together leading international and Bulgarian artists through large-scale productions, high standards of organisation and a strong focus on the overall audience experience.
Since its launch in 2016, Release Athens has welcomed more than 1 million fans and presented over 260 artists, including more than 150 international acts, from Arctic Monkeys, Massive Attack and Gorillaz to Nick Cave and Slipknot.
Dubioza Kolektiv and Beirut – June 26, 2027, Sofia Live Park, Sofia.
Making Memories Together.
Follow Dubioza Kolektiv:
Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
X (Twitter)
YouTube
SoundCloud
Follow Beirut:
Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
Bandcamp
Follow Release Sofia:
Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Tickets go on sale on November 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM, starting at €55, via releasesofia.bg and more.com.
Additional ticket price categories will be announced in due course.
A limited number of VIP tickets will also be available, starting at €250.
VIP tickets include:
• Parking
• Complimentary drinks at the open bar
• Exclusive memorabilia
• Access to a dedicated seating area
• Priority entrance
• Separate restroom facilities within the VIP area
For further information about ticket prices, the programme, access and other details, visit www.releasesofia.bg.