Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria
Bansko Events
What is on in Bansko through winter and summer: from the season opening to the jazz festival.
Bansko events calendar
-
Ski season opening Mid-December
The season opens on the town square with concerts, local food and fireworks. The 2025/26 season opened on 13 December.
-
New Year and Kukeri traditions Late December - early January
New Year week is Bansko's busiest time; bell and masked Kukeri performances are the region's winter tradition.
-
FIS Snowboard World Cup January
Parallel giant slalom races were held in Bansko in 2025 and 2026. The 2027 date will be added when it appears in the FIS calendar.
-
Season closing and spring skiing Early to mid April
In April ski pass prices drop and spring skiing starts on sunny slopes. The 2025/26 season closed on 12 April.
-
Pirin summer hiking season June - September
The gondola also runs in summer; routes to Vihren peak, the glacial lakes and Baikushev's pine open up.
-
Bansko Jazz Festival Late July - early August
Held since 1998, one of the best-known jazz festivals in the Balkans, with free open-air concerts on the main square. In 2026 it took place from 31 July to 9 August.
This page and the @bansko Instagram account are updated as exact dates are announced.
Latest Bansko articles
Bansko package tour options
Bansko package tours come in two main types: bus tours with an overnight journey departing from Istanbul, and...
Bansko ski resort guide
Bansko ski resort is located in Bulgaria's Pirin Mountains. The town is at 936 meters, and the highest point a...
Bansko ski tour prices 2026-27: hotel, lift pass and transport
The Bansko ski tour budget for the 2026-27 season is the sum of accommodation, lift pass, transport and equipm...
Early booking for New Year in Bansko
New Year week is Bansko's busiest time. Hotels fill up early, so book your place now.
Flight deals for Bansko
All dealsFrequently asked questions
When does the Bansko ski season open and close?
The season usually starts in mid-December with an opening event in the town square and closes in mid-April. The 2025/26 season opened on 13 December and closed on 12 April.
When is the Bansko Jazz Festival held?
Held since 1998, the festival takes place every year between late July and early August, and the concerts in the square are free. In 2026 it was held from 31 July - 9 August.
How is New Year celebrated in Bansko?
New Year week is the busiest period in Bansko. Kukeri shows, with bells and masks, are the region's winter tradition.
Is the Snowboard World Cup held in Bansko?
Yes. The FIS Snowboard World Cup parallel giant slalom races were held in Bansko in January 2025 and 2026. The 2027 date will be added once it is announced in the FIS calendar.
Last updated: 16 October 2026 · Information compiled by the Orjinaltur Bansko team.
More from the Bansko guide
Follow Bansko every day on @bansko
Snow reports, slope photos, events and season news. Bansko's official account @bansko is run by the Orjinaltur team.