Green Rock Fest Ruse celebrates 18 years with a concert by Mats Leven and Tsena Koev

Thursday, 03 September 2026

International stars and new rock hopefuls take to the stage on September 12 and 13

The traditional Green Rock Fest Ruse, which this year celebrates its 18th edition, will be held on September 12 and 13 at Svoboda Square in Ruse. The festival will once again bring together young musicians and established rock performers from Bulgaria and abroad on one stage. Both evenings, the concerts start at 6 p.m., and admission is free.

Over the years, Green Rock Fest Ruse has established itself as one of the recognizable music events in Ruse. Since its inception, the festival has followed one of its main ideas – to give young rock bands and budding musicians the opportunity to present their music to an audience, to share a stage with established Bulgarian and foreign performers, and to create new musical contacts.

On September 12, the festival program will begin with the youngest participants – the children's rock band "Kvak Kvinta" from Tutrakan. Scent of Angels from Pleven, Greesh from Sofia and the Italian rock band WakeUpCall will also take the stage.

On September 13, Green Rock Fest Ruse will continue with performances by the Ruse band Carving Sacrifice, 17’s Connection from Targovishte and Tornado from Sofia. The culmination of the festival will be the concert of TSENA KOEV. She will be joined on stage by this year’s special guest – Swedish rock vocalist MATS LEVÉN. TSENA KOEV is a Bulgarian symphonic/progressive metal band led by Tsena Koev – former vocalist of the international Vivaldi Metal Project. Tsena has worked and shared the stage with Jeff Scott Soto, Mats Levén, Snowy Shaw and Mistheria, and among her studio collaborations is a recording with Mike Portnoy.

One of the most recognizable Swedish rock and metal vocalists, Mats Levén has a career spanning over three decades and over 50 albums, with appearances and collaborations with Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion, Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Vandenberg, Treat, Gus G. and many others.

Mats Levén is a well-known name on the international rock and metal scene. In his long career, he has worked with artists and bands such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion, Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Vandenberg. On September 13, the Ruse audience will have the opportunity to hear him live on the stage of Green Rock Fest Ruse together with TSENA KOEV.

This year, the festival continues to develop connections between young musicians from different cities. Scent of Angels and 17’s Connection are part of the Green Rock Fest Ruse 2026 program after their participation in the “Waves of Rock” in Tutrakan. The presence of the youngest participants from "Kvak Quinta" complements one of the main lines of the festival - to encourage young people who are taking their first steps on the rock scene.

Green Rock Fest Ruse 2026 is held at the initiative of the Green Rock Fest Association - Ruse, with the assistance of the Municipality of Ruse and the Municipal Foundation "Ruse - City of the Free Spirit" and with the financial support of the Municipality of Ruse and business representatives.

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