site.btaVarna Intends to Restore International Ballet Competition as Early as 2026

In an interview with BTA, Varna Deputy Mayor Pavel Popov said that the city leadership is determined to restore the International Ballet Competition as soon as possible, and a major step toward this goal would be allocating a substantial amount in the municipal budget to support its organization. According to him, the intention is to bring the competition back as early as 2026, but for now this remains only a plan, as the 2026 financial framework has yet to be discussed.

Commenting on the selection of an artistic director, Svetoslava Georgieva, head of the Culture Municipal Directorate in Varna Municipality, said that members of the ballet community in Bulgaria and abroad will be invited to take part. Once selected, a new statute and specific documentation, including matters related to copyright, will be drafted. She voiced confidence that the state would support the Varna International Ballet Competition, as it does with other major national events, especially those with a longstanding tradition.

Georgieva added that the revival of the ballet competition must take into account the schedules of other biennials and cultural events in Varna, such as the International Print Biennial, which is scheduled for a new edition in 2027, as well as 2026’s centenary of the Varna Summer International Music Festival. Work is also underway on programming related to Varna’s membership in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network of Media Arts, which likewise requires significant resources.

Asked who would organize the International Ballet Competition going forward, Georgieva said that the task could be entrusted to an external cultural operator capable of managing the event. If the foundation that organized the competition until 2019 proves it can resume its work, it is welcome to participate, she noted. She emphasized, however, that the foundation’s claims regarding the trademark “International Ballet Competition” are unfounded. According to her, this is a private legal dispute in which the placement of the name “Varna” within the title is also relevant. As BTA previously reported, the Municipality of Varna registered the International Ballet Competition trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office in September 2025, which prompted objections from the foundation bearing the same name, which had registered the mark years earlier.

Asked whether the municipality would continue its dialogue with the foundation’s representatives, Sonya and Dimitar Dimitrovi, Georgieva and Popov said the administration would not seek another operator but would rely on the capacity of the Bulgarian and international ballet community to ensure that the competition continues with the same standards and reputation. Its revival will begin with consultations with experts, while the competition’s regulations should be drafted by the ballet community, Georgieva said, adding that the municipality can provide organizational and promotional support.