8th edition of MELBA International Festival
From 6 to 16 November 2025, Sofia will once again become a stage for creativity, innovation, and inspiration with the eighth edition of the International Design Festival MELBA, organized by Studio Komplekt.
The festival traditionally brings together leading figures from the global and Bulgarian design scenes and showcases contemporary trends, ideas, and approaches across various fields of design – graphic, product, interior, social, and digital.
MELBA INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
8 November | 11:00 – 18:00 | RCCA “Toplocentrala”, Hall 1
A highlight of the program is the MELBA International Symposium, which connects audiences with acclaimed designers from six countries:
Julie Richoz (France/Switzerland), Ineke Hans (Netherlands), Richard van der Laken (Netherlands), Martyna Wendzicka-Obuchowicz (WEDZICKA) (Poland), Mario Lombardo (Germany), Jordan Ralph (Ireland), and Studio T.O.T (Spain).
The speakers will present inspiring examples of the power of design as a tool for cultural and social change.
Tickets for the Symposium are available online and at EasyPay ticket offices.
MELBA CLASS
Creative Workshop with Mario Lombardo – “Torn Harmony: The Echo Between the Pages”
RCCA “Toplocentrala”, Hall 4
7 November, 11:00 – 16:00
A workshop dedicated to collage as a dialogue between chance and intention. Suitable for designers, artists, and students.
Registration: hello@studiokomplekt.com
(c) Martyna Wendzicka-Obuchowicz (WEDZICKA)
EXHIBITIONS
“Chushkopek – Stories in the Making”
Port.A Gallery, 5 Triaditsa St.
6 – 16 November | Opening: 6 Nov, 19:00
An exhibition that revisits Bulgarian domestic culture through the cult household appliance “chushkopek,” reimagined in a new context by contemporary artists Albena Todorova, Alina Papazova, Denitsa Boyadzhieva, Zahari Radev, Ilian Iliev, Mila Mineva, Mila Yaneva-Tabakova, and Studio TASH.
“Moment – The City of Different Perspectives” – diploma project by Vicheslava Tashkova
UniCredit Studio, 7 Sveta Nedelya Sq.
11 – 16 November | Opening: 11 Nov, 18:00
An interactive book exploring different visual perceptions and storytelling possibilities, inspired by personal experience and human sensitivity.
(c) “MIG – The City of Different perspectives” – diploma project by Vicheslava Tashkova
“As Far as the Light Goes”
Octopus Gallery, underpass at Largo
5 – 16 November | Opening: 5 Nov, 18:30
The result of an artistic residency by writer Violeta Zlatareva (Bulgaria) and designer Arianna Casarin (Italy) – a visual and textual dialogue between light and shadow, fear and courage.
PROGRAM: DESIGN INITIATIVES IN THE CITY
“Theory of Secular Temples” – exhibition by Jordan Ralph
Depoo Gallery, 12 Vrabcha St.
6 – 16 November | Opening: 7 Nov, 19:00
An exploration of the idea of sanctuaries beyond religion – as personal spaces for contemplation and the discovery of the sacred in everyday life.
“Karol Śliwka – The Legend of Polish Design”
Polish Institute, 12 Veslets St.
12 – 30 November | Opening: 12 Nov, 17:30
An exhibition featuring 20 iconic posters by Polish designer Karol Śliwka – a master of logos and symbols as a universal artistic language.
Discussion: “Creative Balkans: Contemporary Furniture Design”
Dom, 1 Angel Kanchev St.
10 November, 18:00
A conversation on the identity and potential of furniture design in the Balkans, featuring the MD platform and Bismar Publishing House.
“&NOWEAST” – And Now to the East
Entrance of Metro Station “St. Patriarch Evtimiy”
6 – 16 November
A selection of contemporary posters reinterpreting the visual language of Eastern Europe and affirming the poster as a living medium of dialogue and collective memory.
(c) “&NOWEAST”
“Design at L44”
44 Neofit Rilski St.
13 Nov / 18:30 – Opening of the exhibition Fight For Kindness
14 Nov / 18:30 – Drink & Draw
The L44 space presents the exhibition Fight For Kindness and the Drink & Draw event.
The international initiative by Italian studio Zetafonts (speakers at MELBA 2023) celebrates World Kindness Day 2025 with 760 posters by 600 authors from 75 countries, united by positive messages in 34 writing systems.
The Bulgarian edition is organized by Nako Baev and L44 Space.
The following evening, Drink & Draw invites guests to an informal evening of drawing and inspiration at L44 Café.
Photo: Mihail Novakov, 2024
The MELBA Festival 2025 is realized with the financial support of the National Culture Fund under the Festivals program and is part of the Cultural Events Calendar of Sofia Municipality. The event is supported by the Embassy of France and the French Institute in Bulgaria, the Embassy of Spain, the Polish Institute – Sofia, the Embassy of Ireland in Bulgaria, the Italian Cultural Institute, Irish Design Week, the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation, and Graphic Days Torino. We thank our partners Fashion Days, UniCredit Bulbank, IKEA, and 1664 Blanc.
Design Initiatives in the City in November are financed under the project “Capital of Culture – The Pulse of Sofia,” funded by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, procedure BG-RRP-11.021, Grant Scheme “New Generation Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities.”
This publication was created with the financial support of the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project has received funding from the European Union through the NextGenerationEU instrument. The entire responsibility for the content lies with the authors, and under no circumstances can it be considered that this document reflects the official opinion of the European Union or the Monitoring and Reporting Structure.
For full details about all events and participants, visit festival.melba.bg
