The “Surva” Festival is the largest event in Southeastern Europe dedicated to traditional masquerade games. It has a history of more than half a century, with thousands of masked performers taking part in it – kukers, survakars, babugeri, etc. – from Bulgaria and many other countries. The event is a cultural forum of international importance, which brings together in one place various forms of intangible cultural heritage related to ritual, clothing, sound environment and local beliefs.
In 2015 the national holiday “Surova” in Pernik region was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which was a recognition of its authenticity and cultural value. Such recognition obliges both local communities and institutions to make additional efforts for its preservation and promotion.
The edition of the festival in 2026 will be dedicated to the 60th anniversary of its first holding and will aim to highlight the cultural diversity and importance of masquerade traditions as a form of intercultural dialogue and social continuity. Over 120 groups from Bulgaria with more than 12,000 bearers of the tradition will participate, as well as representatives of over 15 countries, including communities with elements of intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.

The historical Museum - Tchiprovtsi intends to enrich the carpet hall by introducing more carpets, providing more opportunities for visitors to engage in this craft with interactive activities. The museum will have in display more information about wool’s dyeing process, the progress of carpet weaving through the 20th and 21st centuries in Tchiprovtsi. For the children there will be games, allowing them to memorize some of the main features of the Tchiprovtsi carpets and make their own projects.