The second half of September brings international concerts, film festivals, fairs, monumental projections, science activities and free outdoor events to Bucharest. The busiest period is the weekend of 18–20 September, when Bucharest Days overlaps with BIFF, the David Garrett, Cargo and Garou concerts, as well as the final days of the George Enescu International Competition.

The calendar continues until the end of the month with Bucharest Science Festival, BIEFF, Slow Coffee Festival, two K-pop events and Jack Savoretti’s concert at the Roman Arenas.

Events from 16 to 20 September

The first part of the period is dominated by music, film and events celebrating Bucharest’s anniversary. If you wish to attend several of them, check the times carefully: some programmes overlap during the weekend of 19–20 September.

Some activities organised as part of Bucharest Days are free. Indoor concerts, film festivals and performances at the Roman Arenas require tickets or advance reservations.

• 16 September – PRIME Orchestra: Rock Sympho Show IV
  Palace Hall. A crossover concert featuring rock songs performed with a symphony orchestra.

• 16–22 September – European Mobility Week
  Historic vehicles at Basarab Railway Station, visits to depots and bus garages, access to the Romanian Railway Museum and the Royal Waiting Room, as well as activities dedicated to public transport.

• Until 19 September – George Enescu International Competition
  The final rounds of the Piano Section take place at the National University of Music and the Romanian Athenaeum. The final is scheduled for 19 September, but ticket availability must be checked separately.

• Until 20 September – Bucharest International Poetry Festival
  More than 50 readings, meetings, concerts and debates featuring guests from approximately 30 countries. Events are held at several cultural venues. Details are available in the official festival programme.

• 17–20 September – Bucharest Feminist Film Festival
  Cinema Muzeul Țăranului, Horia Bernea Studio. The programme includes Romanian and international films, short films, discussions and events exploring the idea of community.

• 17–20 September – BIFE-SIM
  Romexpo. A fair dedicated to furniture, interior design, equipment and new solutions for the woodworking industry.

• 18 September – David Garrett: Millennium Symphony World Tour
  20:00, Palace Hall. The violinist returns to Bucharest with a show combining symphonic music, rock and film scores.

• 18 September – Cargo: “Te chem”
  Roman Arenas. An anniversary concert featuring one of Romania’s best-known rock bands.

• 18 September – “Sinfonia do Brasil”
  18:30, Bucharest National Opera. A concert featuring Mădălina Ioana Petre and the Bucharest National Opera Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Jinga.

• 18–27 September – Bucharest International Film Festival
  Romanian Peasant Museum Cinema and Apollo111. BIFF presents auteur cinema, competition entries, premieres, retrospectives and meetings with filmmakers.

Bucharest Days brings the largest number of free events

Bucharest celebrates 567 years since its first documented mention with a programme held on 19 and 20 September. The main locations are Constitution Square, Calea Victoriei, the Arch of Triumph, Bucharest City Hall and the museums around Kiseleff and Piața Victoriei.

The highlight is iMapp Bucharest Winners League. The façade of the Palace of Parliament becomes an approximately 23,000-square-metre screen for seven international video-mapping works. The edition’s theme is “Past. Forward.” and admission is free.

• 19 September – Rudimental and iMapp Bucharest
  Rudimental DJ & Production takes the stage in Constitution Square at 20:00. The video-mapping competition begins at 21:30 and includes “NADIA – The Perfect 10”, a special moment dedicated to Nadia Comăneci.

• 19–20 September – Open Streets
  Calea Victoriei hosts theatre and circus performances, concerts, debates and guided tours. “Battle of the Beats”, a project that transforms sounds made by the audience into music, is scheduled for 19:30 on both evenings.

Outdoor concerts are among locals’ favorite events, as long as the weather still allows them to take place. (Photo source: Facebook/Bucharest City Hall)

• 19–20 September – Open doors at Bucharest City Hall
  Four free guided tours provide access to the City Hall headquarters. Advance registration is required and places are limited.

• 19–20 September – Weekend Sessions
  The garden of Filipescu-Cesianu House hosts live music, DJ sets, children’s activities, tours of the Museum of Ages and screenings of Spanish films.

• 19–20 September – Museum Triangle
  The Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the National Geology Museum offer workshops and family activities inspired by Dobruja.

• 19–20 September – Back to Dichisar
  A fair dedicated to Romanian creators, featuring clothing, ceramics, jewellery, accessories and homeware. The programme and list of exhibitors should be reconfirmed before visiting.

• 20 September – Recital at the Arch of Triumph
  A guitar and violin recital begins at 16:00. Admission is free, while the monument can be visited between 10:00 and 18:00.

• 20 September – “D’alles Bucureștilor de altădată”
  19:00, Sala Dalles. A performance featuring interwar music, period photographs and Belle Époque costumes. A ticket is required.

• 20 September – Garou: “The Best Of”
  20:00, Roman Arenas. The French-Canadian artist presents some of his best-known songs and pieces associated with the musical “Notre-Dame de Paris”.

• 20 September – WhoMadeWho Hybrid DJ Set
  20:30, Constitution Square. A free concert included in the Bucharest Days programme.

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Film, science and technology during the final part of the month

After Bucharest Days, attention shifts towards cinemas, laboratories and exhibition venues. Bucharest Science Festival and BIEFF overlap between 23 and 27 September, allowing visitors to combine daytime experiments with evening film screenings.

Romaero and Romexpo host exhibitions dedicated to energy, furniture, specialty coffee and pets. Some days are reserved for professionals, so public opening hours should be checked before setting out.

• 22 September – K-POP All Stars
  Roman Arenas. A show dedicated to K-pop music and choreography.

• 23 September – Robin and the Backstabbers
  Hard Rock Cafe. Admission requires a ticket.

• 23–27 September – Bucharest Science Festival
  Experiments, workshops, conferences, laboratory visits and meetings with researchers. The programme is designed for both adults and families with children.

• 23–30 September – Bucharest International Experimental Film Festival
  Cinema Union, Elvire Popesco Cinema, Apollo111 and other cultural venues. The theme of BIEFF 2026 is “Vanishing Futures”, while the selection includes feature films, short films and experimental visual projects. Individual tickets start at 15 lei, according to the official BIEFF website.

• 24 September – Direcția 5 double anniversary concert
  Palace Hall. The band celebrates 35 years since it was founded and 35 years since the release of its first album.

• 24–26 September – Energy Expo 2026
  Romaero Băneasa. An exhibition dedicated to energy, storage, mobility and green technologies for homes and businesses.

• 25 September – Bucharest Prog Day II
  Quantic. A progressive rock concert headlined by Green Carnation.

• 25–27 September – Slow Coffee Festival
  Pavilion A at Romexpo. The anniversary edition marks ten years of specialty coffee through tastings, competitions, workshops and meetings with producers and roasters. Friday focuses on industry professionals, while the weekend is open to the general public.

• 25–27 September – European Researchers’ Night
  Experiments and meetings with researchers in Bucharest and other locations. Each participating institution establishes its own programme.

• 26–27 September – SofistiCAT
  Romexpo. A feline exhibition featuring pedigree cats, breeders, competitions and pet products.

The final concerts of the month

The end of September brings two different K-pop events, a rock festival and Jack Savoretti’s concert. KBK Fest should not be confused with K-POP All Stars: it takes place on 27 September and has its own artistic programme.

QFest begins on 28 September and continues into October. If you are interested in a particular band, check the day on which it is scheduled, as festival passes and daily tickets may have different conditions.

• 27 September – KBK Fest – East European K-Pop Festival
  Roman Arenas. The artistic programme begins at approximately 18:45, even though some tickets issued earlier may show 20:00.

• 27 September – Bosquito
  Hard Rock Cafe. Admission requires a ticket.

• 28 September–1 October – QFest
  Quantic. The line-up includes Scandal, Celelalte Cuvinte, Conexiuni, Krypton, Dirty Shirt, Om la Lună and other bands.

• 29 September – Jack Savoretti
  Roman Arenas. A concert by the British artist of Italian heritage.

• 30 September – Andrei Ursu
  Hard Rock Cafe. The final major concert in the month’s calendar.

What to choose if you are visiting Bucharest for the first time

For a foreign visitor, iMapp Bucharest is the most accessible choice. The projections rely on music and visual storytelling, so language is not a barrier. During the same day, visitors can walk along Calea Victoriei, where the Open Streets programme provides an opportunity to discover several historic buildings and cultural institutions in the city centre.

Another suitable combination is the Arch of Triumph followed by the museums along Șoseaua Kiseleff. International film festivals offer an alternative on rainy days, but subtitle languages should be checked for each screening. Concert tickets should be purchased in advance.

A possible itinerary for the weekend of 19–20 September could look like this:

• Saturday afternoon: Calea Victoriei and Open Streets;

• Saturday evening: Rudimental and iMapp in Constitution Square;

• Sunday morning: museums along Șoseaua Kiseleff;

• Sunday afternoon: the Arch of Triumph;

• Sunday evening: WhoMadeWho in Constitution Square or Garou at the Roman Arenas.

Foreign visitors interested in a more local atmosphere can choose the interwar music performance at Sala Dalles or activities included in Bucharest Days. However, they should check whether guided tours and presentations are also available in English.

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What to check before setting out

An announced event does not necessarily still have tickets available. This is especially relevant for international concerts, the George Enescu Competition final and screenings held in smaller cinemas.

For outdoor events, check for possible weather-related changes. Bucharest Days and Open Streets may also lead to temporary traffic restrictions, making the metro and other forms of public transport the most practical ways to travel between locations.