"Remember the Glory" Festival - programme

On 26 and 27 September 2026 the Festival of Medieval War Games "Remember the Glory" will take place at Tuida Fortress. The event is organized by the Regional History Museum "Dr. Simeon Tabakov" – Sliven with the financial support of the Tourism Development Programme of Sliven Municipality and in partnership with the Bulgarian School of Historical Martial Arts "Velichie".

The festival will bring together reenactors, local residents, and visitors within the ancient fortress walls, where the martial traditions, everyday life and crafts of our ancestors from the medieval Bulgarian Kingdom will be brought back to life.

For the first time, the event will be held in a combat tournament format, focusing on spectacular duels and large-scale shield-and-sword battles. Historical reenactment groups and independent fighters from seven countries, including Bulgaria, will participate.

The Festival Programme is as follows:

11:00

Gathering of the Warrior Companies (Old Bulgarian: съборъ)

Official opening of the festival and presentation of the participants, featuring historical reenactment associations from Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, France, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Poland.

11:00 to 11:30

12:00 to 18:00

Visit the Warrior Camp (Old Bulgarian: войнское становище) and the Crafts Street (Old Bulgarian: тръжище)

Experience displays of early medieval military traditions, everyday life, craftsmanship, and culture.

13:00 to 18:00

Martial Games

Visitors to Tuida Fortress will step into the world of medieval warriors and witness the traditional martial contests known as "Ristanie" (Old Bulgarian: оуристаниѥ), competitive trials of arms dedicated to the military glory of our ancestors. They will experience the excitement of fierce combats between individual fighters and entire warrior companies.

Events include:

• Armed Run (Old Bulgarian: тєчєниѥ съ орѫжиѥмь)

• Wrestling (Old Bulgarian: борениѥ)

• Fist Fighting (Old Bulgarian: пестничьноѥ борениѥ)

• Spear Throwing (Old Bulgarian: копиѥмь играниѥ и щитохранениѥ)

• Axe and Mace Throwing (Old Bulgarian: метаниѥ сєкꙑрꙑ и палицѧ)

• Sabre Cutting (Old Bulgarian: сѣчєниѥ саблѥѩ и мєчємь)

• Archery (Old Bulgarian: стрѣлѧниѥ лѫкомъ)

• Sabre Combat (Old Bulgarian: саблеборствиѥ)

• Sword and Shield Duels (Old Bulgarian: ѥдиноборство мєчємь и щитомъ)

• Company Battles (Old Bulgarian: сѫстѫплєниѥ дружинъ)

• Grand Melee (Old Bulgarian: съмѣшєниѥ браньноѥ)

20:30

Music and Songs in the Medieval Camp

By the light of the campfire and accompanied by the warriors gathered around the feast table, the ethno group "Ongala" will perform traditional songs and ballads celebrating ancient battles, victories, and heroic deeds.

27 September

10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Visit the Warrior Camp (Old Bulgarian: войнское становище) and the Crafts Street (Old Bulgarian: тръжище)

Discover demonstrations of early medieval warfare, everyday life, crafts, and culture.

Promotional Admission Fees

• €3 per adult

• €2 per child

We look forward to welcoming you to Tuida Fortress!