Whisper of Lights gives Sofia an after-dark glow
A luminous walk through the Botanical Garden, with glowing flowers, floating candles and a little cosmic escapism.
Ongoing · 5 Sep – 29 Nov 2026 · 19:00–22:00; last entry 21:20; closed Mondays · BAS Botanical Garden
Sofia is hosting Whisper of Lights for the first time.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Botanical Garden becomes an evening world of light, music and art installations from 5 September, with the run now extended to 29 November 2026. This edition has been designed around the garden itself. Light works thread through the planting along a route of distinct spaces, each with its own mood and visual language. Existing installations have been reimagined for the setting, with new elements added along the way. The centrepiece is a vast arrangement of thousands of luminous flowers among the garden’s living plants. After dusk, the whole scene becomes a sea of colour, with nature and installation art sharing the same stage.
It’s the setting that gives Sea of Flowers its particular magic:
you don’t simply stand back and admire it. You walk among the glowing flowers and real greenery in one of the Sofia edition’s most distinctive spaces.
Elsewhere, the route takes in the Emerald Tunnel, Magic Forest, Levitating Candles, Crystal Safari, Path of Symbols, Cosmic Garden and Tree of Life. In the Magic Forest, mist, laser beams and mysterious creatures surround you; the Crystal Safari brings encounters with luminous animal figures. The Cosmic Garden sends part of the walk into orbit, with planets, starbursts and light compositions inspired by space.
The Botanical Garden is a natural home for Whisper of Lights,
allowing the installations to sit right within the landscape. Each area has its own character, and the path leads gently from one illuminated world to the next. There’s no single start time: arrive during opening hours and wander at your own pace, allowing around 30 to 60 minutes. Families, couples, friends and visiting groups can all make an evening of it. Until 29 November, opening hours are 19:00–22:00, with last admission at 21:20; closed on Mondays. The garden is at 22 Okolovrasten Pat. Check the organiser’s website before setting off, as bad weather can affect opening.
What’s happening in the city? Follow GoGuide on Instagram to hear about it first.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for a closer look at the city, and a wider view.
