The 22nd edition of the International Folklore Festival “Euro Folk – Black Sea 2026” concluded with the presentation of the Grand Prix “Golden Orpheus” and an official award ceremony. The festival took place from 25 to 28 June in Kiten, as part of the Euro Folk Music Holidays.

The overall winner of this year’s edition was the Ensemble of Folk Songs “VOLNITSA” of the Liepaja Folk Art and Culture Center, Liepaja, Latvia, under the artistic direction of Tatjana Belikova. The ensemble received the Grand Prix – Golden Orpheus 2026, while its artistic director was awarded the honorary title of Maestro-Academician.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the jury announced the first two Golden Orpheus awards. In the category “Folk Songs – Arranged Folklore”, the first prize went to the group “Tetevenski Bozhurcheta”. In the category “Folk Instrumental Ensembles”, the Golden Orpheus first prize was awarded to the “Altan Teteven” Folk Ensemble of the Saglasie 1869 Community Centre, Teteven, under the artistic direction of Asen Asenov.

Among the other recipients of the prestigious Golden Orpheus award were the “Totka Shandurkova” Authentic Folklore Ensemble of the Gabrovo – 2002 Community Centre, Gabrovo, directed by Stefan Marinov, which won in the category “Authentic Folk Dance Groups”, and the vocal group “Diagonal” of the Bratolyubie – 1884 Community Centre, Lyubimets, directed by Toni Teneva, which received the first prize in the category “Folk Singing Groups – Modern Arrangement of Folk Music”.

In the category “Arranged Folk Dance Groups”, the Golden Orpheus first prize was awarded to the Romanian ensemble Ansamblul Folcloric “Flori De Mar” from Poiana Mărului, Brașov, under the artistic direction of Florin Naciu. During the ceremony, the ensemble’s artistic director also received a gift set from the natural cosmetics family brand INA Essentials, a partner of the festivals organized by the European Association of Folklore Festivals.

The awards were presented by Kaloyan Nikolov, President of the European Association of Folklore Festivals, together with the members of the international jury chaired by Maestro Georgi Yankov. In his address to the participants and guests, Kaloyan Nikolov thanked everyone for the festival’s high artistic standard and officially declared the 22nd edition of “Euro Folk – Black Sea” closed.

During the ceremony, it was also recalled that, in addition to the awards received, participants earn points for the World Folklore Ranking, an initiative of the World Association of Folklore Festivals.

This year’s edition of the International Folklore Festival “Euro Folk – Black Sea” brought together singers, dancers and instrumentalists from Bulgaria, Romania and Latvia, who showcased the richness of their national traditions over two festival evenings.

The organizers invited all participants to meet again in 2027 for the 23rd edition of the festival, as well as at the upcoming 16th World Folklore Championship – World Folk 2026, which will take place at the end of August in Nessebar, Sveti Vlas and Sunny Beach.