Golden Sands, Bulgaria · Dates TBA
Sunwaves
A beach festival of minimal and house that began in Mamaia, Romania in 2007 and now travels, with its 20th anniversary Spring Edition set for Golden Sands on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Known for marathon sets, including Marco Carola's 24 hours in 2015.
History
Sunwaves began in 2007 as a beach festival at Mamaia on Romania's Black Sea coast, with Wikipedia naming Sunrise and Kristal Club as its organizers. Mixmag describes it as having started life as a twice-yearly event, and over the years it became the clearest expression of the minimal and house sound that Romania is known for, with Ricardo Villalobos, Chris Stussy, Margaret Dygas, Seth Troxler and Sonja Moonear among the guests Mixmag lists. Home-grown Romanian names such as Rhadoo, Raresh, Priku and Petre Inspirescu were on the final Mamaia bill alongside them.
The festival also built its reputation on marathon sets. In May 2015, Marco Carola played a solo set of 24 hours at Sunwaves, on a bill that also carried Carl Cox, Ricardo Villalobos and Craig Richards, and Mixmag noted he sat on a stool for part of it. The record kept moving: tINI and Bill Patrick went back to back for 31 hours in 2016, Dubfire played a solo set of about 26 and a half hours, and Joseph Capriati later took the solo mark with 27 hours and 40 minutes. When Carola returned for the final Mamaia edition in 2025, he played 15 hours.
That final edition, SW35, ran in early May 2025 at Sunwaves Beach in Mamaia Nord. The team announced on April 28, 2025 that it would be the last in Romania, saying only that things were "out of our control." The brand did not stop. Sunwaves had already played outside Romania, in Zanzibar in 2021 and Ras Al-Khaimah in the UAE in 2023, and since 2024 it has held a September edition at Roquetas de Mar in southern Spain. In spring 2026 it staged its first Spring Edition at Golden Sands on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, from April 30 to May 5, with Traumer, Marco Carola and Joseph Capriati on the announced bill alongside tINI, Sonja Moonear, Raresh and Rhadoo.
For 2027, the festival's own site lists SW39, a Spring Edition at PR Beach in Golden Sands, as its 20th anniversary. The page mentions early bird tickets but does not publish a full date range. Its countdown points to April 30, 2027, so we list the start as an estimate until an official schedule appears.
festival facts
- Founded: 2007, in Mamaia, Romania
- Organizers: Sunrise and Kristal Club (per Wikipedia); the festival is run today under the Sunwaves brand
- Venue: PR Beach, Golden Sands, Varna, Bulgaria (SW39, spring 2027)
- Format: beach festival of minimal and house music known for extended and marathon sets; also runs a September edition in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, and club editions
- Last Romanian edition: SW35, early May 2025, Mamaia Nord
Getting there and practical info
The 2027 Spring Edition is at PR Beach in Golden Sands, a resort on the Black Sea about 17 km north of downtown Varna. No street address is published for the beach site.
- Airport: Varna Airport. The organizers describe it as close to the site, and Wikipedia notes a public bus linking Golden Sands with the airport via Varna city centre.
- Accommodation: the organizers have pointed to an Accommodation section on their website, with hotels near the beach listed through local travel partners.
- Tickets: sold through the festival's official site, which currently carries early bird tickets for SW39.
FAQ
When is Sunwaves 2027?
The next edition is SW39, the Spring Edition at Golden Sands, Bulgaria. The official site does not yet publish a full date range, and a countdown on it points to April 30, 2027.
Is Sunwaves still held in Mamaia, Romania?
No. SW35 in early May 2025 was the last edition in Romania. Since then the festival has moved to Roquetas de Mar in Spain for its September edition and to Golden Sands in Bulgaria for its spring edition.
Where is Sunwaves 2027 held?
At PR Beach in Golden Sands, near Varna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
Who played the 24-hour set at Sunwaves?
Marco Carola played a solo set of 24 hours at Sunwaves in May 2015. Dubfire and Joseph Capriati later played longer solo sets at the festival.
Who has played Sunwaves that has an RTS.FM artist page?
Marco Carola played the 24-hour set in 2015 and returned in 2025. Joseph Capriati set a solo marathon record there, and Traumer, Marco Carola and Joseph Capriati were on the announced 2026 Golden Sands bill.
How do I buy tickets?
Through the official Sunwaves website. The page for SW39 refers to early bird tickets, but check the site for the current status and price before buying.
RTS.FM artists connected to this festival
Only sourced appearances at past editions or on announced lineups are listed.