The European Association of Folklore Festivals presents its established Folklore Championship System – a large-scale international structure that unites national, regional, continental, international, and world folklore championships. The system provides ensembles and individual performers from different countries with the opportunity to travel the path from the local stage to the highest honor – the title of World Champion of Folklore.

In 2026, numerous prestigious forums will be held as part of the championship chain. The season will open with the XVI Bulgarian National Championship of Folklore “Euro Folk 2026”, which will take place from 7 to 11 May in Veliko Tarnovo. During the same period, the city will also host the XI World Cup of Folklore™ – Veliko Tarnovo 2026. Immediately after that, the folklore stage moves to Italy, where the World Cup of Folklore™ – Jesolo 2026 will be held from 17 to 20 May.

The regional stage of the championship system includes the XIV Balkan Championship of Folklore “Euro Folk – Ziva Voda 2026”, which will be held from 4 to 8 June in Hisarya. In the same month, the International Folklore Festival Sozopol 2026 (10–14 June 2026, Sozopol, Bulgaria) will take place as well as the Asian Championship of Folklore and Handicraft Festival “Asia Folk 2026”, which will be held from 11 to 15 June in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The summer continues with two major international folklore events on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast – the XXII International Folklore Festival “Euro Folk – Black Sea 2026” from 24 to 28 June, and the XVIII European Championship of Folklore “Euro Folk 2026” from 1 to 5 July in Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, and Pomorie. Immediately after that, from 10 to 15 July 2026, Sozopol will once again become a folklore center, hosting the World Cup of Folklore™ – Sozopol 2026, Bulgaria, which will gather some of the best ensembles from all over the world.

The final stage of the championship system will be the XXIII Black Sea Fest “Euro Folk 2026”, which will take place from 2 to 6 September in Kiten and Primorsko.

The culmination of the season will be the XVI World Championship of Folklore “World Folk 2026”, which will be held from 26 to 30 August 2026 in Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas, and Pomorie. The event will gather the best ensembles from around the world, distinguished during the previous championships.

Applications for participation are now open, and folklore ensembles, groups, and individual performers from all countries are invited to join the most prestigious system for preserving and promoting the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Full championship calendar:  https://eaff.eu/bg/championships