Participant information
Welcome to Sofia International Improv Fest 2026!
We’re so happy you’re here. This page has everything you need to navigate the festival — workshops, shows, venues, schedules, food, transport, and all the little things that will make your festival experience easier.
Check out:
Community
Join our community groups - for posting photos, arranging meetings, etc.
Volunteers and checking in
We have a great team of Bulgarian- and English-speaking volunteers who will be more than happy to assist you whether you have a question or you need some help. You will find them every evening at the main venue space behind the counter or having a “VOLUNTEER” sticker on their t-shirts.
You can register at the Venue space after 18:15 pm on Wednesday - 23 September. If you purchased a FESTIVAL PASS in advance, you will get a goodie bag and a wristband that gets you into all the shows!
Workshop locations
Workshops will take place Wednesday to Sunday at two main locations:
1) Venue space, where ShiZi Improv Club and the Main Stage are
2) our training center ShiZi Chaos Space
Six and 12-hour workshops have one hour of lunch break included.
Here is a program day by day:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
📍 VENUE SPACE:
🤔 10:30-17:30 - Imposter Syndrome
Ronald Harvey
📍 SHIZI CHAOS TRAINING CENTRE:
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Playing The Lead - Day 1
Tim Orr
🧠 10:30-13:30 - Brain Games
Will Luera
🌬️ 14:30-17:30 - Breathing Through Improv
Jacintha Damstroem
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
📍 VENUE SPACE:
🎶10:30-17:30 Singing in characters and style - Day 1
Stacey Smith
📍 SHIZI CHAOS TRAINING CENTRE:
✨ 10:30-13:30 - Magical Realism
Paula Galimberty
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Playing The Lead - Day 2
Tim Orr
🧩 10:30-17:30 - Quest
Will Luera
🛠️ 14:30-17:30 - Fun With Improv Tools
Harmony McElligott
🎭FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
📍 VENUE SPACE:
🎶10:30-17:30 Singing in characters and style - Day 2
Stacey Smith
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Characters Groundings Style - Day 1
Harmony McElligott
📍 SHIZI CHAOS TRAINING CENTRE:
🦵 10:30-13:30 - Legs In Improv
Jacintha Damstroem
💬 10:30-17:30 - Truth
Zlatin Tsvetkov
😈 10:30-17:30 - Politically Incorrect
Paula Galimberty
🤝 14:30-17:30 - In It Together
Tim Orr
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
📍 VENUE SPACE:
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Characters Groundings Style - Day 2
Harmony McElligott
🧘 10:30-13:30 - Finding Your Strong Neutral
Tim Orr
👀 14:30-17:30 - In-To-Me-See
Paula Galimberty
📍 SHIZI CHAOS TRAINING CENTRE:
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Stories: Now, Later, Elsewhere - Day 1
Will Luera
🧠 10:30-17:30 - Group Mind
Stacey Smith
🤸 10:30-17:30 - Acrobatics In Improv
Jacintha Damstroem
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
📍 VENUE SPACE:
🔄 10:30-17:30 - Transitions
Tim Orr
📍 SHIZI CHAOS TRAINING CENTRE:
🎭 10:30-17:30 - Stories: Now, Later, Elsewhere - Day 2
Will Luera
🩺 10:30–17:30 - Diagnostic Improv: Elevate Your Play
Stacey Smith
Here is visual representation of locations:
Shows - location, seating and program
SHOWS will start at 19:00 and last until around 22:00 Wednesday to Saturday. There will be a 20 min. intermission after the third show.
Tickets for individual shows can be purchased here.
The Venue Stage (where all the shows will take place) is located in the same hallway, opposite the entrance for the ShiZi Improv Club.
We will have after-Parties in the Club every evening!
SEATING - if you are a FESTIVAL PASS holder, we have reserved the first 6 rows of the main floor and the first row of the balcony of the Main Venue Space for you. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Check out the program for the shows:
Explore Sofia!
Sofia has a lot to offer: art, history, food, and its people. It is the perfect mix of tradition and spontaneity - just like great improv!
Sofia is generally a really safe city, even at night. Of course as in every big city be careful for your belogings on crowded places. Locals like to hang out in the parks for drinks and socializing. Many of the younger Sofians speak English and will be happy to meet visitors!
We curated a Special Google Map map with many options to select and choose from: restaurants, bars, clubs supermarkets as well as some cultural spots. Do not hesitate to ask one of us and the volunteers for recommendations!
A nice (and free!) activity is to join the daily Free Sofia Tour. Click on the link for details and meeting times of their walking and bike tours.
Travel around Sofia
Sofia has a very convenient metro line connecting the airport with the Sofia city center. We recommend using it instead of taking a taxi or the bus. If you arrive at Terminal 2, just turn left and go to the end of the airport (it's a small airport). The metro entrance is just outside Departures. Metro line is working between 05:30 – 24:00. On night there is a bus line N4 to the airport on every hour. Google maps gives very accurate directions for public transport.
Ticket price is just 0.80 € for a single metro, tram, or bus trip.
Payment for a trip can be made via a touch-enabled credit or debit card at the metro turnstile at the station, or in the tram or bus where a successful validation is automatically registered. (Make sure you see the smiley face displayed on the payment screen on a tram or bus. An inspector will sometimes ask for validation, and fines for non-payment are steep.)
There is a free-of-charge transportation between the two airport terminal buildings if you happen to arrive at Terminal 1.
If you are staying near the Main Venue Space, take the metro to SU St. Kliment Ohridski Station. The next station - Serdika is located between the venue space and the ShiZi Chaos Space - our training center, where half of the workshops will take place. Serdika station is also a central metro station for connections with other metro lines.
If you prefer taking a taxi from the airport, please make sure you use the official airport taxi operator Yellow which has a permanent taxi stand at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 just outside of Arrivals. Most taxi drivers understand a little English, but Google translate or a map pin to your destination is always helpful. Taxis can accept euros or a touch credit/debit card.
There is no Uber in Sofia, but official taxi trips are very affordable.
For taxis within Sofia, we HIGHLY recommend you download the Yellow! or TaxiMe app here: Google play, Apple Store. DO NOT hail a taxi on the street or accept a ride if someone approaches you at the airport or anywhere else. Always order a taxi!
Real people in real time!
We’re SO excited to have you here and can’t wait to share these days of improv, chaos, and fun with you!
Have an amazing time, enjoy every moment, and let’s make real connection in real time!