On December 13, 2025 (Saturday), the new winter season 2025/2026 will be launched in Bansko. And this year the opening will be at Banderishka Polyana, where hundreds of avid mountaineers, skiers and guests of the city will gather.
The event will begin with the two traditional games – “Join the Champion's Team“ and “Treasure Hunters“, which always cause a real competition and many smiles. The little talents from the ski clubs in Bansko will make a mass descent, and the mountain stage will be conquered by Dj Alexandros Traw & Anstasis Voukis Percussion Show, which will bring rhythm and mood to the snowy slopes.
In the afternoon, the celebration moves to the center of Bansko. From 5:30 p.m. on the square "Nikola Vaptsarov", guests will enjoy the "Unique Bansko" - a culinary presentation with tastings of famous local dishes.
At 6:00 p.m., the official start of the season will be given in the presence of special guests - ski legends Giorgio Rocca and Marc Girardelli, who will be part of the grand opening. Rocca - the 50-year-old ace in skiing, is one of five, along with Ingemar Stenmark, Marc Girardelli, Alberto Tomba and Marcel Hirscher, with five consecutive slalom victories in the World Cup. The Italian won the small slalom World Cup in the 2005/2006 season. In his 17-year career, Rocca has 11 victories for the World Cup and a total of 22 podiums. In the all-time ranking of successes for the World Cup, he is number 10. From world championships, the alpine skier born in Schurr (Switzerland) has two bronze medals in slalom in St. Moritz 2003 and Bormio 2005. Rocca has third place in the world championship and in the combined in 2005. He has performed less well only at the Olympic Games, where his peak is the fifth place in the combined at the Games in Turin 2006.
The festive day in Bansko promises a lot of emotions for all winter sports lovers – meetings with world champions, delicious Bansko cuisine and a real mountain atmosphere that turns Bansko into a unique winter center.