The representative folk song and dance ensemble “Kitna Trakiya” from the “Trakiya – 2008” Community Center in Haskovo, with artistic director Rusko Rusev, choreographer Ivan Ivanov, and choir conductor Rositsa Deleva, won first place at the 10th World Cup of Folklore – Veliko Tarnovo 2025. The ensemble received the grand cup, a diploma, the title “Absolute World Folklore Champion,” and a €500 voucher for participation in the World Championship of Folklore “World Folk.”

Second place in the World Cup was awarded to the dance group “Srednogorski Polyah” from Ihtiman, led by Desislava Ivanova. The group received a silver medal and a voucher worth €300 for participation in the “World Folk” championship.

Third place went to the folklore dance group from the Department of Education in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The group received a bronze medal, a cup, a diploma, and a €200 voucher for participation in the “World Folk” championship.

As part of the 15th Bulgarian National Folklore Championship “Euro Folk 2025,” first place was awarded to the representative folklore group “Neranza” from the “Napredak – 2001” Community Center in Nova Zagora, led by Dima Yordanova. The group’s strong stage presence and connection to Bulgarian folklore earned them a gold medal and the title “Absolute National Folklore Champion.” They were also awarded the Golden Orpheus and a check worth 1,000 BGN, provided by EAFF.

Among the distinguished participants in the National Championship were the representative dance group “Hemus” from Vratsa, led by Genoveva Spasova, who took second place and the silver medal, and the children’s dance group “Novohanche” from the “Ivan Vazov – 1928” Community Center in Novi Han, led by Mladenka Pavlova and Teodora Serafimova, who took third place and a bronze award.

Special prizes were awarded to the youngest participants Daria Kurova and Sofia Manolova from the dance group at the “Boryana” Kindergarten in Plovdiv, which was also recognized by Event Vacation Ltd. The Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo awarded the Malaysian group from Putrajaya, and EAFF presented a prize to the folklore trio “Avliga” from Dupnitsa.

From May 7 to 12, Veliko Tarnovo hosted the 28th Stara Planina Fest “Balkan Folk,” the 15th Bulgarian National Folklore Championship “Euro Folk,” and the 10th World Cup of Folklore – forums that gathered over 3,000 participants from Bulgaria and abroad. The concerts filled the stages of the Summer Theater in Marno Pole Park and the “Vasil Levski” Palace of Culture and Sports with energy, turning the city into a stage of living tradition.

The President of the European Association of Folklore Festivals, Mr. Kaloyan Nikolov, closed the forums with gratitude to all participants, emphasizing their role in preserving and passing on cultural heritage. He congratulated the groups for their high-level performances and encouraged them to continue their mission as ambassadors of folklore in Bulgaria and around the world.

The events were supported by the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and held as part of the Euro Folk Music Holidays, organized by the European Association of Folklore Festivals – EAFF.