site.btaBulgarian Dancers from 21 Countries Take Part in Great Bulgarian Horo Initiative in Munich

The folklore initiative “The Great Bulgarian Horo” brought together Bulgarian dance groups and individual participants from 21 countries on Sunday at Max-Joseph-Platz in the Bavarian capital Munich. The event, which began with a performance of the Bulgarian national anthem, is part of the programme of the 11th edition of the travelling Bulgarian folklore festival Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance, organized between May 15 and 17 under the hosting of Lazarka Ensemble in Munich, led by Plamen Petkov.

Among those attending the initiative were Milena Dimitrova, Secretary to the President of Bulgaria for Culture, Education and Relations with Bulgarians Abroad, Bulgaria's Consul General in Munich Stefan Ionkov, as well as representatives of the Consulate General, Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad (EABA) Executive Director Raina Mandzhukova, Eli Basheva, chief expert at the EABA’s Bulgarian Communities and Information Activities Directorate, and the Director of the Directorate, Valery Radolov.

Some of the official guests also joined “The Great Bulgarian Horo”.

The square also hosted special guests from Bulgaria participating in the festival - Danislav Kehayov and the Dimitar Mechev Representative Youth Wind Orchestra and Majorette Ensemble from Velingrad.

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.