Tinariwen Return to Sofia in 2026
The desert legends live at NDK on May 15 with The Hoggar Tour
Following the outstanding success of their first concert in Bulgaria in 2024, the pioneers of desert blues and Grammy Award winners Tinariwen are returning once again. This spring, on May 15, 2026, the collective from Northern Mali will take the stage at Hall 3 of the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia as part of their world tour, The Hoggar Tour, named after the mountain range in the central Sahara in southern Algeria.
With their flowing desert robes and Tuareg turbans, Tinariwen are the creators of the style known as desert blues, music they themselves call assouf (translated from Tamasheq as “longing” or “nostalgia”). Born in the harsh landscapes of the Sahara and shaped by the realities of civil conflict, the musicians famously replaced Kalashnikov rifles with guitars following their participation in the Tuareg rebellion in 1990. Since then, their hypnotic guitar riffs, deep vocals, and rhythmic handclaps have become symbols of resistance, identity, and the endless poetry of the desert.
Over the past two decades, Tinariwen have performed hundreds of concerts around the world, establishing themselves as some of the most recognizable African artists on the global stage. They are regular guests at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella, and Roskilde, and among their admirers and collaborators are Robert Plant, Carlos Santana, Thom Yorke, Bono, Warren Ellis, Mark Lanegan, Kurt Vile, and Josh Klinghoffer. Their album Tassili (2011) won a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album, and each subsequent release has further cemented their reputation as the authentic voice of the Sahara. In 2023, the band unveiled Amatssou, recorded at Jack White’s studio and produced by Daniel Lanois. Now, The Hoggar Tour promises a deep musical journey through the desert landscapes of Mali and the spirit of Tuareg culture.
Tinariwen’s first appearance in Sofia, presented by Fest Team in 2024, was met with true enthusiasm—a packed hall and electrifying atmosphere, with their hypnotic and unmistakable sound leaving no one untouched. In May 2026, Bulgarian audiences will once again have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary fusion of tradition, rebellion, and magic live, once again at Hall 3 of NDK.
Tickets start at 66 BGN and go on sale this week: the fan club presale begins on Wednesday, October 29 at 10:00 AM; Fest Club members gain access on Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 AM; and general sales begin 24 hours later, on Friday, October 31 at 10:00 AM.
More information: https://www.tinariwen.com/
Tickets: ticketstation.bg