2026
Ulpia Serdica Festival MMXXVI
2–3 October 2026
Second edition with a proclamation in Vrabnitsa, a city-centre parade and living-history demonstrations.
Marks 1,920 years since Emperor Trajan declared Serdica a municipium (106 AD)
Festival editions
Day 1 · 2026-10-02
The lawn behind the Vrabnitsa district administration building
Day 2 · 2026-10-03
Western Gate of Serdica Archaeological Park
Parade through the city centreThe Sredets district mayor received a symbolic key to ancient Serdica.
Highlights
- Reenacted proclamation "The Message of Emperor Trajan and the Senate to the Citizens of Serdica" ("From this day I declare Serdica a Roman city!")
- Parade through the city centre and a symbolic key to ancient Serdica
- Gladiator combat
- Roman legionaries in full gear
Funding: Sofia Municipality, Programme Europe 2026
Partners & Supporters
- Serdica Aeterna Association
- Sofia Municipality – Programme Europe
- Sredets District, Sofia Municipality
- Vrabnitsa District, Sofia Municipality
- Regional Historical Museum – Sofia
- Archaeological Park "Western Gate of Serdica"
- "Dokova & Dokov For Future" Foundation
- Global Solar Bulgaria LLC
- Sofia Mel
Historical groups that took part in the second edition.
- Legio I Italica
- Ad Putea
- Ulpia Pautalia
- Wolves from Kabile (LudusLupercalis)
- Romanitas.it
- Gruppo Storico Romano
- Terra Dacica Aeterna
- Gruppo Storico Sabino
- Legio V Macedonica (Spain)
- Grupo Vindicta Recreación Histórica
- Istrum Getica
Photos were also taken at Serdica II metro station.
Partner event: children’s tour of ancient Serdica, 3 October 2026 at 11:00, meeting point House of Cinema (by Scandinavian cinema), guide Mirella Vasileva.
The festival coincided with the national reception of the remains of Tsar Samuil; the programme was rearranged and reenactors joined the ceremony at Battenberg Square.
In the media
- Bulgaria ON AIR — The second return of Antiquity: Ancient Serdica comes to life