site.btaMunich Deputy Mayor Praises Bulgarian Community at Folk Festival Opening
At the opening of the 11th edition of the Bulgarian folk arts convention "Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance" opening in Munich Friday, Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl praised the Bulgarian community as an important part of the city’s cultural and social life, describing diversity as one of Munich’s greatest strengths.
"More than 14,000 Munich residents with Bulgarian roots are a natural part of the life of our city," Dietl said. "They contribute every day through associations, schools, companies, culture and our neighborhoods."
During the opening of the event in BMW Park in Munich, Dietl welcomed guests and more than 120 participants from 21 countries attending the international folklore gathering.
She described the festival as "a place filled with music, colors and encounters", where more than 100 ensembles come together through Bulgarian music and dance traditions. Referring to the traditional horo ring dance, Dietl said, "When the dancers close the circle, we see unity in motion."
Calling the event "Europe at its most beautiful - diverse, open and connected", she stressed that culture has the power to unite people across borders.
"Music creates closeness, regardless of which language we speak," she said. "That is the special strength of this festival."
Dietl also welcomed the announcement that Munich will host the festival for the first time in 2026, saying it reflects the city’s identity as a place where diversity is truly lived and where people from different backgrounds build a shared future together.
She concluded by thanking Munich-based Ensemble Lazarka, its longtime leader, and the volunteers, artists and musicians behind the event.
Also participating in the official opening were Bulgarian Consul General in Munich Stefan Ionkov, the Bulgarian President's Secretary for Culture, Education, and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad Milena Dimitrova, Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova, Western and Central European Metropolitan Anthony, Bulgarian News Agency Director General Kiril Valchev, the event's initiator and dance troupe Ot Izvora director Anita Ekenova, as well as Association of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad Chair Radoslava Nedyalkova.
The travelling gathering "Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance" was created as a forum for amateur Bulgarian folklore ensembles active outside Bulgaria. It was initiated by the Ot Izvora group in Lyon, which hosted both the inaugural edition in 2015 and the 10th edition in 2025. Over the years, the festival has been held in Montpellier (2016), Gandia (2017), Milan (2018), La Nucia (2019), Verona (2020), Copenhagen (2022), Prague (2023) and Palma de Mallorca (2024).
In the lead-up to the event, BTA featured participating groups and related coverage through its BG World section, including English-language reports, and is providing on-site reporting throughout the three festival days in Munich.
Bulgarian Communities in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg maintain strong cultural presence
Bulgarian communities in the German federal states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg continue to expand their cultural, educational and religious activities, supported by a growing diaspora and an active network of organizations.
According to the Bavarian State Office for Statistics, 53,891 Bulgarian citizens were living in Bavaria as of December 31, 2024, accounting for 2.6% of all foreign nationals in the province. In Munich alone, the Bulgarian community numbers 14,561 people, according to the city’s statistical office.
The Bulgarian presence in Bavaria includes a wide network of Sunday schools, folklore ensembles, cultural associations and church communities. Bulgarian schools operate in Munich, Regensburg, Straubing, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Landshut, Schweinfurt and Neumarkt, helping preserve Bulgarian language and traditions among younger generations.
A number of Bulgarian folklore groups are also active across the province, particularly in Munich and Augsburg, contributing to the visibility of Bulgarian culture through music and dance performances. Cultural and academic organizations based in Munich further support community life and integration.
Bulgarian Orthodox church communities have also been established in Munich, Nuremberg and Regensburg. In March 2026, a Bulgarian-language Holy Liturgy was celebrated for the first time in the city of Landshut as part of a newly formed church mission.
In neighboring Baden-Wuerttemberg, official statistics show that 51,145 Bulgarian citizens were residing in the province at the end of 2024. Of them, approximately 47,000 were born outside Germany, while more than 4,000 were born in the country.
The Bulgarian community in Baden-Wuerttemberg likewise maintains an extensive network of educational and cultural institutions. Bulgarian schools operate in cities including Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Tübingen, Freiburg, Stuttgart and Konstanz.
Folklore dance groups and cultural organizations across the province organize events promoting Bulgarian traditions and community engagement, while Bulgarian student associations remain active in university centers such as Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Mannheim.
Bulgarian Orthodox church communities are also established in Stuttgart and Mannheim, serving as important spiritual and cultural centers for the diaspora.
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