World Stars Salsa Festival - Video
Introduction
The World Stars Salsa Festival is an annual Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba (SBK) festival held in Bulgaria, highly respected within the international dance community. It is considered one of the largest, most prestigious, and highest-quality events in the world, focusing on Latin dance while also featuring vibrant live music concert. The festival stands out with its high-quality workshops, impressive night shows, parties with live music, and exceptional organizational structure. The motos of the festival Come and Live Your Legend! and HQ festival for HQ people!
History
The World Stars Salsa Festival was first organized in Varna, Bulgaria, in 2012. The founder and main organizer is Onur Koda, the owner of Koda Production Ltd. The event is currently held at the luxurious seaside resort complex, Albena Resort, on the Black Sea coast.
All-in-One Festival Concept
A unique aspect of the festival is that all activities take place within the same five-star hotel, right by the sea, including outdoor pool parties. This allows attendees to have a fully integrated experience without needing to between different venues, ensuring a comfortable and continuous dance atmosphere.
World Dance Stars
The name 'World Stars' represents the festival's goal of bringing together the world's best dancers. Each year, the most renowned instructors in salsa, bachata and kizomba from all over the world attend the festival. Examples include: Eddie Torres (The Mambo King), Bersy Cortez, Antonio & Jasmina Berardi, Terry & Cecile, Fadi Fusion, Yoyo Flow, Marco & Sara, Ronald & Alba, Gabi & Estefy, Alfredo & Andrea, Albir, Jp & Stephy and many other star names.
Live Music Concerts
One of the most significant features that sets the World Stars Salsa Festival apart is its strong focus on live music. While most Latin dance festivals today are limited to DJ performances, World Stars brings the world's leading salsa and bachata orchestras to the stage. It is one of the rare global events that combines high-level dance festival experience with live salsa and bachata concerts. Some of the notable bands include: Oscar D'Leon, Grupo Extra, Cuba Libre Son Band, Pinto Picasso, Calle Vapor and many others.
World Stars Championship
The World Stars Championship, a highly competitive and prestigious salsa and bachata competition, takes place on the first day of the festival, a Thursday. This renowned competition offers a platform for dancers to engage in fierce rivalry. The total prize pool for World Stars Championship 2025 was 4000 euros.
Event Content
- Live Music Concerts
- High Quality Shows
- Social Dance Parties
- Advanced Workshops
- Competitions
- Bootcamps
Festival's Own Songs
The festival has two of its own songs:
- World Stars of Salsa - created by the group La Maxima 79
- Vamo's Bailar - created by the group Cuba Libre Son Band
Attendees and Impact
Every year, the festival hosts thousands of attendees from more than 60 countries, Its high quality, global energy, and stage performances provide a memorable experience from both a cultural and social perspective.
International Recognition
The World Stars Salsa Festival is recognized by many participants, artists, and platforms as the best salsa festival in the world.
High Demand
The World Stars Salsa festival limits ticket sales to maintain the quality of the event. All tickets typically sell 3-4 months before the festival date. This underscores the festival's popularity and reliability.
Shuttle Service
The festival provides a shuttle transfer service to facilitate travel to and from the festival from Varna Airport and Varna city center.
