site.btaSixteenth Sofia Paper Art Fest to Be Held Under Motto "Beyond the Surface"

The 16th edition of Sofia Paper Art Fest will be held under the motto "Beyond the Surface". It will open on April 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the National Palace of Culture (NDK). The forum will run until May 16 and is part of the 23rd edition programme of the Salon of the Arts, the festival team announced.

The festival is organized by the Amateras Foundation in partnership with NDK. This year's theme draws attention to the hidden layers of memory, identity, and cultural transformation, presenting paper not only as a material but as a carrier of ideas, time, and artistic expression, the organizers said.

As part of the event, large-scale international exhibitions will be presented, including the Biennial of Contemporary Paper Art in the West lobby and the 17th annual Amateras Exhibition-Competition in the Marble lobby. A total of 117 artists from 18 countries are participating.

The programme includes art tours, meetings with curators, and additional events, as well as a series of curated exhibitions featuring participants from Bulgaria, Japan, Brazil, Poland, and Taiwan. Some of the projects will also be included in the Autumn Salon of the Arts.

During the opening, an award ceremony will take place as part of the Amateras competition. A highlight of this year's edition is the participation of young Bulgarian artists, including students from the National Academy of Art, as part of efforts to promote contemporary art in the country.

The official programme also includes a special presentation of Japanese calligraphy by calligrapher Minoru Goto, as well as a demonstration by Phenix Varbanov on April 30. The festival has received the European Commission's Innovation Label and over the years has established itself as an international platform for contemporary paper art and cultural exchange, the organizers added.

Sofia Paper Art Fest 2026 is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sofia Municipality, the National Culture Fund, and private partners.