July 23th - August 1st 1926

First public music celebrations in Varna. The idea originated from Varna culture promoters Ghertcho Ghertchev, Ivan Kamburov, Vassil Stavrev, Naiden Naidenov, Yordan Todorov, warmly supported by the composers Dobri Hristov, Pantcho Vladigerov, Maestro Georgi Atanasov. After a break of 3 years (1932 - 1935) the celebrations are resumed and last until 1939 (in 1938 it was first attempted to make the celebrations international) and are stopped again with the beginning of 
World War II. 

1957
Varna summer music celebrations are resumed under the name of "Varna Summer". Gradually they attract the best Bulgarian performers and ensembles as well as world-famous foreign performers. 

1964
The First International Ballet Competition in the world was held. 

1966
The Festival became yearly under the name of "Varna Summer". 

1987
Varna Summer International Music Festival became a member of the European Festivals Association, with a seat in Geneva. 


The first Varna Music Celebrations 
took place at the Summer Theater from July, 23 to August, 1 1926. On seven consecutive nights, on the stage made their appearance eminent Bulgarian singers and musicians - Christina Morphova, Constantsa Kirova, Peter Zolotovitch, Pancho and Ljuben Vladigerov, Iliana Dobri Christov. In the symphonic and choral concerts besides the titular conductors were included Dobri Christov, Maestro Georgi Atanassov, Pancho Vladigerov, Assen Naidenov, Venedict Bobchevski, Dimitar Mladenov. 

The first of the three symphonic concerts was wholly dedicated to Bulgarian musical art. Dobri Hristov conducted for the first time in his native town his Symphonic Fantasy "Epopee of Toutrakan". 
Also for the first time there appeared before his fellow-townsmen the young conductor from the Sofia National Opera Assen Naidenov with Nicola Atanassov's G-minor Symphony.

The last and final vocal concert was also dedicated to Bulgarian music. There were heard works by Dobri Christov, Angel Boucurestliev, Emanuil Manolov et al. 

The first Varna music celebrations were met with enormous interest. Fully justified as Dimiter Slavov's prediction quoted on the eve of the festival by the newspaper "Varna Post": "Through the music celebrations will be demonstrated the height of our native musical art and will be proved beyond doubt that the Bulgarian people deserves to be guaranteed conditions for spiritual development."