SPIKE Bulgarian Music Showcase

SPIKE Bulgarian Music Showcase is the first showcase festival in Bulgaria.

We started under the name Sofia International Music Conference during the early days of the covid pandemic. In 2022 we were able to hold our first in-person event in the ancient city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria (EU 2019 Capital of Culture).

The conference featured 22 delegates from 12 different countries coming from as wide as Canada, the USA, Estonia, Sweden, Hungary, the UK and the entire Balkan region. The conference took the shape of panel discussions, workshops and networking events.

The showcase feature 21 performances at 3 venues in Plovdiv. A total of 126 applications were received from 16 different countries. The programming includes 50% Bulgarian local artists and 50% international acts.

We are part of the Keychange initiative and we aim to be a model for inclusivity, equality and respect for all genders and gender expressions in the music industry and beyond. Our first edition had 59%/41% male-to-female performers, 70%/30% male-to-female delegates, and 5 members of the LGBTQ community.

We look forward to our second edition on May 25 -26 - 27, 2023 in Plovdiv.