Discover Romania’s 2025 Festival Magic

Romania’s festival scene is a vibrant fusion of ancient folklore and modern creativity, where medieval citadels host electronic beats and Black Sea shores pulse with cinematic energy. As 2025 unfolds, the country invites travellers to lose themselves in celebrations that blend myth, music, and the avant-garde. Here’s your passport to the year’s most extraordinary events—each a doorway into Romania’s soul.

UNTOLD Festival: Where the World Dances Under Transylvanian Skies

 Cluj-Napoca | August 7–10

Celebrating a decade of magic, UNTOLD has grown from a local gem into a global phenomenon. Imagine 400,000 revellers united under Cluj-Napoca’s starry skies, dancing to Grammy-winning headliners and groundbreaking visual spectacles. The 2025 edition teases holographic stage designs and a surprise reunion of a legendary 2000s pop group. By day, unwind at the “Silent Forest” chill-out zone; by night, surrender to bass drops echoing through Central Park.

Why it’s unmissable: The festival’s “Alchemy of Light” show—a fusion of fireworks, lasers, and drone constellations—has been called “Europe’s most Instagrammable moment.”

Electric Castle: A Fairy Tale with a Bassline

Bánffy Castle, Bonțida | July 16–20

Picture this: a 15th-century castle ruin, its crumbling towers lit by neon lasers, while indie bands and techno DJs soundtrack the night. Electric Castle is where history and hedonism collide. The 2025 lineup features Mercury Prize winners and rising Balkan stars, while daytime adventures include archery lessons and AI-generated art workshops. Camp under the stars in the castle’s shadow and wake up to yoga sessions by the Someș River.

Secret gem: The “Time Traveler’s Banquet,” a five-course medieval feast with actors, mead, and fire dancers.

Sighișoara Medieval Festival: Knights, Minstrels, and Dragon Tales

 Sighișoara Citadel | July 25–27

Step into a living storybook at this UNESCO-listed fortress, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Blacksmiths hammer glowing steel, jesters juggle fire, and artisans sell handwoven cloaks. The highlight? A midnight reenactment of Dracula’s siege, complete with horseback riders and pyrotechnics. Sip vin fiert (spiced mulled wine) as troubadours play lutes in cobblestone alleys.

Don’t miss: The “Dragon’s Lair” escape room inside the citadel’s 14th-century tunnels.

Transilvania International Film Festival: Where Cinema Meets Carpathian Charm

 Cluj-Napoca | June 13–22

TIFF transforms Transylvania into a cinephile’s paradise. Watch Oscar contenders under the stars in Unirii Square, or dive into gritty Romanian New Wave films in art deco theaters. The 2025 spotlight shines on Balkan directors tackling themes of identity and rebellion. After screenings, join midnight debates at “CafeTIFF,” where filmmakers and fans dissect plot twists over cozonac (sweet bread).

Cinephile hack: Snag a “Golden Pass” for rooftop parties with A-list directors.

George Enescu Festival: A Symphony for the Senses

 Bucharest | August–September

Every two years, Bucharest’s gilded concert halls vibrate with the works of Romania’s greatest composer. The 2025 festival marks 80 years since Enescu’s death, featuring rare performances of his opera Oedipe by the Berlin Philharmonic. The Athenaeum’s frescoed dome amplifies every note, making violins weep and cellos roar.

Elegant touch: Pre-concert champagne tastings in the Athenaeum’s marble foyer.

Sibiu International Theatre Festival: The Streets Become Stages

 Sibiu | June 20–29

Sibiu’s baroque squares, bridges, and even cemeteries morph into performance spaces during FITS. Brazilian samba dancers’ parade past Gothic churches, while Polish avant-garde troupes reinterpret Kafka in parking garages. The 2025 theme, “Borders & Beyond,” includes a Ukrainian puppet show about resilience and a floating opera on the Cibin River.

Unexpected highlight: Midnight shadow theater performances projected onto the city’s medieval walls.

Neversea Festival: Summer’s Wildest Beach Rave

📍 Constanța | July 3–6

Romania’s Black Sea coast becomes a four-day playground of sun, sand, and superstar DJs. Dance to tropical house anthems with your toes in the waves or unwind at the “Zen Den” with sunrise sound baths. The 2025 edition adds a floating stage 200 meters offshore—reach it by kayak or paddleboard.

Local flavor: Feast on saramură de pește (salt-cured fish) at beachside stalls.

Bucharest International Film Festival: Bold Stories, Big Screens

📍 Bucharest | September 22–28

BIFF is where Romanian cinema’s raw, unflinching narratives grab global attention. The 2025 program includes VR experiences exploring Ceaușescu’s bunkers and a retrospective of feminist Eastern Bloc filmmakers. After screenings, mingle with directors at after-parties in Old Town’s hidden speakeasies.

Iconic venue: A 35mm film screening inside the Palace of Parliament’s 1,000-seat marble cinema.

Sunwaves Festival: Techno’s Sacred Pilgrimage

📍 Mamaia Beach | May 1–5

Minimal techno purists flock to Sunwaves for its legendary nonstop parties. DJs like Ricardo Villalobos spin sunrise sets as the crowd dances barefoot on the sand. The 2025 spring edition debuts a “Silent Disco Yacht” cruising the coast at dawn.

Pro tip: Nap in hammocks strung between palm trees by the “Chillout Lagoon.”

Bran Castle Halloween: A Night of Gothic Grooves

 Bran Castle | October 31

Trade trick-or-treating for a vampire ball inside Dracula’s legendary lair. The 2025 Halloween bash features a costume contest judged by Bram Stoker’s great-grandniece, a midnight tour of the castle’s secret tunnels, and a DJ spinning darkwave in the courtyard. Sip “Vlad’s Elixir”—a blood-red cocktail of blackberry brandy and rosemary—under flickering torches.

Spooky secret: Rumor says a crypt beneath the castle hosts an after-party for “immortals only.”

Festival Survival Guide: Tips to Master Romania’s 2025 Events