National Rock Fest "Hotalich" – Sevlievo 2026

National rock fest Hotalich is on 28–29 August 2026 at Hotalich fortress near Sevlievo. Free entrance. Headliners: Marco Mendoza, Ronnie Romero, Johnny Gioeli, SEVI, John Steel and Bulgarian bands.

Why this festival matters

Hotalich is not a city beer weekend with three headliners and a high ticket. Free entry and a medieval fortress change the stake: you come for the music and the place, not a VIP zone.

The bill holds real hard-rock names — Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy), Romero (the Rainbow line), Gioeli (Hardline) — next to SEVI, John Steel and a strong Bulgarian block. This is not a local fest with one guest. For two days the fortress becomes a stage that rarely repeats on the calendar.

For northern Bulgaria it is one of the more logical August dates: close, no ticket, camping. For everyone else it is worth the trip if hard rock and an open stage beat a club crush.

What to expect

Friday 28 Aug from 19:00: Puh i Prah, Ace Bullet, Hellion Stone, SEVI with Johnny Gioeli.

Saturday 29 Aug from 18:00: Django Ze, Elit, Atlas, Marco Mendoza, John Steel with Ronnie Romero closing.

The order is published — do not rely on last-minute reshuffles, but check the official page for times. Expect hard rock and metal outdoors, not a symphonic package.

Practical information

28–29 August 2026, Hotalich fortress, Sevlievo. Entrance is free. Free camping and parking; organised transport from the Fairgrounds area (GPS around 43.022213, 25.105848).

The fortress sits on a hill — shoes for rough ground, water, a layer for the evening. August can be hot by day and cool after sunset.

Follow hotalich.bg for the running order and logistics. If you come for one night only, still leave time for the walk down and the road back.