Planning a trip
Hearing music in Romania
Be clear about the status first: Sunwaves no longer takes place at Mamaia. The last Romanian edition, the 35th, ran from 1 to 5 May 2025, and no edition is scheduled there. Romanian editions ran in spring and autumn. Do not plan a trip to the Black Sea coast for the festival. The official site lists where it is now, including SW39, a spring edition at PR Beach in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, tied to the festival's twentieth anniversary in 2027, and a Wednesday residency at Playa Soleil in Ibiza.
What made it matter was the music and the setting. The festival was the home of Romanian minimal techno, with names such as Raresh, Petre Inspirescu, Rhadoo and Praslea, and sets that routinely ran to 12 hours with the sea as the back wall. Its styles were minimal techno, Romanian minimal and house.
If you still want to see the setting, Mamaia is a sand spit on the Black Sea, 250 km east of Bucharest, reached via Constanța or Bucharest. For the festival as it exists now, follow the official site for the location and plan your travel from there.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Sunwaves Festival still held in Romania?
No. The 35th edition at Mamaia, from 1 to 5 May 2025, was the last in Romania. The festival now runs abroad, and the official site lists the current editions.
Where is Sunwaves Festival held now?
The official site lists SW39, a spring edition at PR Beach in Golden Sands, Bulgaria, and a Wednesday residency at Playa Soleil in Ibiza. Check the site for current dates and locations before you travel.
How do you get to Mamaia?
Mamaia is a sand spit on the Black Sea, 250 km east of Bucharest, reached via Constanța or Bucharest airports. Note that Sunwaves no longer runs there, so do not travel to Mamaia for the festival.